What is Grace

          Have you ever questioned your salvation? Have you ever felt guilt for sins you have confessed?  Do you feel guilty cause you keep stumbling or cant kick a habit?  Are you tide up in legalism trying to do what you think is right?  STOP beating yourself up!  You are SAVED BY GRACE, and THERE IS NO CODANATION for those IN CHRIST! You can not keep the law.  The law is there to show that we need a Savior, we can not do it on our own, and God knows that.  That is why its by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Its not of works, lest any man should boast. 
 
            When we sin the Holy Spirit will convict us of that sin, but will not beat us down with doubt and guilt, that is of the Devil.  Grace what that means has hit me hard, its one of those words I’ve read a thousand times and just look over it. Not grasping what it truly meant.  The other day I posted a question” What does grace mean to you?”  The definition of grace is Gods free and unmerited favor for sinful humanity. In other words it’s a gift From God to us sinners. A gift that we do not deserve, a gift that we can not earn.  No matter what you do, even if you kept ever comment there is you can not earn Gods Grace. Wow! So stop trying to earn it! 
 
            I recently have been questioning my salvation, praying to God asking Him “Was I like the Pharisees?  Was I being a legalist thinking I shouldn’t do this? I can’t watch that show, or that movie, or listen to this type of music?   I was delivered of alcohol and nicotine along with the desire to use drugs, yet I cast judgment on those that drink, smoke, watch certain things or listen to certain music.  If I was saved why am I battling this and other reacquiring sins? By the way things I do am I doing them to earn righteousness? Am I just doing works?  Was the door closed to me?  Am I spiritual blind?  Have you God turned me over to my sinful desires?  If so am I trying to earn my way into heaven with things I claim to do for the kingdom?”  
            This was what I prayed; knowing if I was lost my prayer fell on death ears, for Gods face was turned from me.
 
            Around Christmas and my birthday I stumbled and sinned greatly, my witness for Christ was harmed.  I begin to look at were I was with God. As I said I had been praying.  Wednesday I was setting at a truck stop in Carlisle, Ar doing some Bible study putting together a future message, when I had a very strong desire to go across the street to a church for their service.  The pastor said the message was for him, cause he was beating himself up over some failures.  Little did he know that it was also for me.  God put me there at that time to heart that message.  Upon hearing Gods Word and seeing how God answered my prayer.  I know that I’m saved by GRACE!  Im washed in the blood of Christ. 
            The scripture he preached on was this
 
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Galatians 2:16 
 
 
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
       Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:4-9
 
  He drew 5 points out of this I would like to share.
 You are Spiritual Alive.You are Heavenly seated You are connected with      God. You are one with ChristYou are a reflection of      Christ!You are His honored      Child! 
 
Ironically the message I was working on, is one on love.  Without the love of God there would be no Grace!  Before I ever went to that service, God was answering my prayer.