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 IT'S ALL ABOUT GRACE

Romans 5:6-11

"When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of His Son while we were still His enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of His Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God."

It was while I was still a slave to sin, a rebel against God, an enemy of the Most High that Jesus Christ died for me...and as me...bearing all my sin...and not mine only, but the sin of the whole world. It was a sacrifice without condition. I had not, nor ever could meet any requirement that might warrant His love. Did I merit such love? Never. It was unmerited. That is what God's grace is; unmerited favor. I had nothing to offer God that had even the slightest measure of worth. I was essentially dead, separated from Life, Himself. I was only in a position to receive. I had nothing to give, but everything to surrender.

In one sense, I gave my life to Jesus Christ, but the deeper truth is that I laid my death before Him in repentance and faith, relinquishing all I am to all He is. He forgave me and by the power of His resurrection, He caused me to receive His Life, to be born again, a new creation with a new heart and a new spirit.

The Life I now have is the Holy Spirit living the Resurrection Life of Jesus Christ in me. That is why I can be transformed, renewed, healed and restored by God to live in humility, confidence, hope, repentance, faith and to be changed into His likeness. Salvation: the reclamation of a life being delivered from sin and death, being translated into the Kingdom of God by His grace, power and love.

The only condition the Lord placed before me was to believe Him, what He had done, who He is and to learn, growing in trust daily by His power at work within me. So, from start to finish, it's all about Him. Astounding!

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