About Grace.

About Grace. Romans 11:1-6.

I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel, saying, "Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"? But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work. Romans 11:1-6 (NKJV)

Grace is one of the hardest concepts to understand. Many of men have been unable to fathom what grace is and ended their life in despair. Judas hung himself in remorse for surrendering Christ to the temple guard; despair was too heavy for him to bare and he did not understand grace. If there is any subject in the scriptures that we must understand it is the concept of grace.

There is a standard of right and wrong, good or bad, and yes and no, yet grace looks past a person's performance and changes the obvious outcome. The thief on the cross is a shining example of God's grace.

He was caught stealing and the offence was enough for the people to choose to put him to death. Through his trial, he no doubt felt remorse for his actions, but that was not enough to stop the anger of his pursuers. Watching him go through the torture prior to execution was not enough; no scourging was going to pay for the crimes that this man committed. No person was going to have grace on this man.

Hauled out to Golgotha, nothing he said would save him from experiencing the cross at the hands of the Romans. Each cry for mercy fell on deaf ears, no one believed that this man could be rehabilitated and vengeance was their only recourse.

Hanging on the cross, pain gripping his body, he watched another man being lifted adjacent to where he was. This man did not plead, he did not curse, he did not resist and willingly he accepted each nail as it tore through tendons causing nerves to burn.

The thief noticed that there was much attention given to this man and top Jewish dignitaries were watching every action. A sign was attached to the cross, "King of the Jews" it said; and it was now apparent to the thief that this man was Jesus, the man of God that so many talked about.

The fame of Jesus was such that throughout the country, in every town the miracles He performed were legendary. Never wanting to be in the presence of a man of God, the thief no doubt avoided situations of meeting Jesus; after all, what does light have to do with darkness?

Another man hanging next to them screamed out, "If you're the Christ, save yourself and us;" yet there was no sincerity in that voice. Looking at Jesus, who did not defend Himself, the thief spoke up in His behalf. "And we indeed suffer justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."

The thief realized that these would be the last words of his life and turning to Jesus he said, "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom;"
to which Jesus replied, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

Forgiveness is not granted for our actions, but rendered when our heart has opened to God. When remorse has filled your mind and the weight of sorrow fills your soul, then you are at a place where God will forgive. For many it takes the depths of a bad situation to cut through the darkness and break the coating of stone that surrounds a heart.

A request for forgiveness from a hard hearted person has no validity with God. No prayer of words can change a destiny if repeated for gain.

Many people want heaven, deserve hell, and walk towards the next thrill. There is no repentance in their heart, no sincerity in their words, except for the sincerity that they want the bliss of heaven, yet they love the sin of earth.

Grace is defined as God's Riches
At Christ's Expense. So why would God grant grace, when a person is not serious about God saving them from their sin? It just does not happen.

Throughout the world churches are filled with pew sitters who want their church attendance to account for faith. There are those who give money and have a way of life that is religious, yet their hearts are filled with remorse for their sin.

It was our sin that killed Christ. The nails that were driven into His body were because you and I missed the mark of holiness and we cared more of ourselves than the things of God. True repentance is when we take this truth deep within our lives and realize that we deserve hell. Only then can God grant his grace.

So does God cast away people because they will not repent? Paul answers No, God is willing to forgive a person no matter what they do, when they do it, and how long in their life they wait to accept His offer of grace.

He stands at our side when we have our down times. He offers us light when we are in dark times. God meets us in the mire, reaches to us in the pit, and loves us no matter what we do. God is at every sick bed, and every death bed. He is a savior, a father, and our best friend who waits for us to allow Him into our lives. Even if we have turned our back and walked away from Him, He is ever willing for us to turn around.

There is nothing we can do to save ourselves; no deed, no actions, no words, except the words of repentance. They do not have to be long; they do not have to be eloquent. They need only be sincere.

Like Paul quotes from Isaiah, God saves a remnant of people. These are they who will trust God and turn their life to Him for many are they who do not walk down that road to salvation. It is not impossible that of ten, men who do great works, only one would find grace. Grace is a treasure and worth our seeking and it can be found only by the sincere in heart.