God’s Loving Grace

And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. -Romans 11:6

 The salvation of the gospel is by grace. It is the gift which springs from the love of God. It is not to be earned by the works of the Jewish law. It is not our works, lest we should boast. –Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Eph. 2:5 Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.  Galatians 1:3

Romans 4:4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.
Acts 15:11 “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”
Ephesians 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

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The Gospel Is Simple

We only need to remember two things: Love God and Love People. Simple, right? It’s a good thing too, because if you’re like me, that’s plenty.

Paul said: And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).
The Corinthians believers had been very much impressed by secular philosophy. He did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, but just the simple gospel. Determine today to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).

And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).

Romans 10:9-10 -That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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How Great Is Our God

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
-Psalm 95″ 1-6

Whenever we come into God’s presence, we ought to come with thanksgiving. The Lord is to be praised and praised with all our heart. How great is our God, whose the whole earth is, and the fulness thereof; who directs and disposes of all!

Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
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Psalm 147:7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises to our God on the lyre,
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Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the LORD.”

Bread of Life

 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 KJV

Jesus, is the Bread of Life. When I come to Him for provision, I will never thirst or perish. He gives good things to His children. All one must do is “come and believe”. No more thirsting for things that do not satisfy. There is no more hunger or thirst. We live a contented life when we feast on the Bread of Life. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. -Isaiah 55:1
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Strength & Blessings

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you:
I have called you by your name, you are mine.
Should you pass through the sea, I will be there with you;
or through rivers, they will not swallow you up.
Should you walk through fire, you will not be scorched
and the flames will not burn you…
Do not be afraid, for I am with you.
—Isaiah 43 
 
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For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
—2 Timothy 1

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Celtic Blessing
May the roads rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
Anon

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Grace

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. -1 Corinthians 15:10

Romans 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
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1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
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2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God,
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2 Corinthians 11:23 Are they servants of Christ?– I speak as if insane– I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have  everlasting life  - John 3:16

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

This earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

John Newton

More poems from John Newton

 

Corruption From Within

 

And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. Mark 7: 20

Many were thinking that the food forbitten by the Old Testament was causing them to be unclean. Jesus was pointing out that what one produces from, not what one takes into themselves is the essence of sin. He is pointing out the futility of seeking spiritual salvation by means of ritual observancee like dietery laws, which are incapable of purifying the heart. A clean heart is something different from a properly cared for digestive track.
 It is our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, defile us. A corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so does a corrupt heart send forth corrupt reasonings, corrupt appetites and passions, and all the wicked words and actions that come from them

Matthew 15:18 “But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.
Mark 7:23 “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”
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All Things Through Christ

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Christ gives me strength for the lonely winding roads of life. He strengthens me.
I need not fear, when God is on my side. What can anyone do to me without His permission?
I have confidence in all things, I can do all things through Christ.
We are conquerors through him that loved us.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:37
Believe His Word, Stand on His promises. God is our confidence.
Through the deep waters, He is with me. Through the fires, He is by my side.
It is not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

Come Boldly

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. -Hebrews 4:16
Pleading our High Priest Jesus’ meritorious death, we shall always find God on a throne of grace.  Let us therefore come boldly – Without any doubt or fear. Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne of grace – Grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all blessings in a way of mere, unmerited favour.

Hebrews 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house– whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
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Hebrews 7:19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

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Come Boldly
Let us therefore come bold–ly,
Unto the throne of grace
That we may — obtain grace
To help — in time of need.

Grace and Peace
Grace and Peace
To help in time of need
Let us therefore come boldly
To find grace to help
In time of need

Let us come boldly
Let us come boldly
Boldly let us come
To the throne,
the throne of grace
-Brenda

Salvation and Praise

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. Psalm 50: 23

Let our worship come from our hearts. When we have such, pure worship and a pure life we will enjoy God’s presence and favor. Let us thankfully accept God’s mercy, and endeavour to glorify him in word and deed. Then we will see the salvation of God.

Psalm 50:14 “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High;
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Psalm 85:13 Righteousness will go before Him And will make His footsteps into a way.
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Psalm 91:16 “With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”

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