GOD’S GRACE AND FORGIVENESS SERIES (part-2)

GRACE-FORGIVENESS (part-2)

In spite of the bad decisions that David made in his life (which led
to sinful actions), he accepted the ‘challenge’ from God to serve,
and he committed himself to doing the things God (and not man)
wanted him to do.

We might not be able to detect it, but God knows that the ‘new’
David is useable. Why? Because the ‘old’ David has been cast
aside. God can read the heart and sincerity of David, but all we
can observe is what we see in others, or read about those in the
Bible.

It’s the same for us, isn’t it? For God to be able to effectively use
us, we need to be willing to make a commitment to cast aside our
‘old self’, so God can transform us into the ‘new person’ He wants
us to be.
    You were taught, with regard to your former way of life,
    to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its
    deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your
    minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God
    in true righteousness and holiness.
    (Ephesians 4:22-24)

    Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old
    self with its practices and have put on the new self, which
    is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
    (Colossians 3:9-10)

We might be able to say or do things to convince others that we
have changed, but only God knows if we have really changed.
When we have sincerely changed, and have chosen to make a
new commitment to God and His purpose for us, it can open
the door to many new blessings God has available for us, since
His grace continues to be an integral part of our lives.

When we think about God’s grace, we need to consider who
we were without Jesus, and who we have become with Jesus.

We were born into sin.
    Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful
    from the time my mother conceived me.
    (Psalm 51:5)

We were guilty of breaking God’s holy laws.
    What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage?
    Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews
    and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. As it is
    written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is
    no one who understands; here is no one who seeks God. All
    have turned away, they have together become worthless; there
    is no one who does good, not even one.” “Their throats are open
    graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on
    their lips.” “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
    “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their
    ways, and the way of peace they do not “There is no fear of God
    before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says, it
    says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be
    silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore
    no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of
    the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
    (Romans 3:9–20)

    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
    (Romans 3:23)

    If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth
    is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
    forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we
    claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his
    word is not in us.
    (1 John 1:8-10)

We were ungodly and hostile enemies of God.
    You see, at just the right time, when we were
    still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
    (Romans 5:6)

    For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled
    to Him through the death of His Son, how much more,
    having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
    (Romans 5:10)

    The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God;
    it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
    (Romans 8:7)

    Once you were alienated from God and were
    enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.
    (Colossians 1:21)

We deserved death.
    For the wages of sin is death
    (Romans 6:23a)

We were unrighteous.
    As it is written: “There is no
    one righteous, not even one;
    (Romans 3:10)

We had no means of justifying ourselves and our actions before God.
    Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight
    by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become
    conscious of our sin.
    (Romans 3:20)

From a spiritual standpoint, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and
dead. Our souls were destined for an everlasting punishment. But
then came the ‘grace’ of God. He extended His favor to us with His
gift that cannot be equaled by anything the world has to offer.
    For the grace of God has appeared
    that offers salvation to all people.
    (Titus 2:11)

    And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message
    of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were
    marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit
    guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are
    God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
    (Ephesians 1:13-14)

(watch for part-3 of the series tomorrow….)

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