God’s Gift of Grace
For
the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through
Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
God’s grace
covers all our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice for us.
Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was
given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that
the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with
God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the
requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the
prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus
Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For
everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God,
with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through
Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented
Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they
believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice
shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who
sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he
would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness,
for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his
sight when they believe in Jesus. Romans 3:19-26
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| Gate at Garden of Gethsemane Repent We don't know the hour or the day of Christ's Return. |
God is patient with everyone. He lets us
decide if we want to “repent” and turn back to Him. We can choose to
acknowledge our sin and change our ways anytime…or not. The choice is ours. An
especially good time to do this is during the upcoming Lent season. God is a
real gentleman—not forcing Himself or His ideas on anyone. He’s in no rush—time
isn’t important. Well...an end of time will come for each person with their
death or at the Rapture, when the Lord calls His church home, so everyone must
decide by then. Is time an issue?
But do not let this one fact escape your
notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a
thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but
for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be
destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. 2 Peter 3:8-10
We’ve all heard the one day as a
thousand…and a thousand years as one day, but is it just related to creation
time period? I guess not. Here in this passage above it is talking about “the
day of the Lord” when Jesus Christ returns for the final time. The earth and
sky will be burned up—life as we know it will be over. Those who don’t choose
Christ—or choose not to repent—will perish. Where do you stand with the Lord? All have sinned. Pretty straightforward. No one is
without sin. What are you doing about that?
Prayer
~ Holy Spirit, give me grace to continually have a repentant heart. I am so
thankful that God is patient with me. Help me to always be ready…ready for
Christ’s return and ready to give an answer for the hope that I have.
May I
sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart,
always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks me to give an account
for the hope that is in me, yet with gentleness and reverence…. 1 Peter 3:15
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from
falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence
without a single fault. Jude 1:24
Daily
Bible Reading: Numbers 11-13
© 2019 Text and
Photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
www.blueletterbible.org/dailyreading
