The Grace Game

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Joel 2:13a So rend your heart,(inward) and not your garments (outward)
Man is more inclined to outward observance than to Inward matters

Since Adam & Eve man has been trying many different avenues to cover himself, to earn a right into Heaven.
Doing good things,joining a Church,baptism,christening,traditions,re ading Holy scripture, holding to orthodox creed,keeping the sacraments,various religious rites

Sadly many are resting in false hopes.
Improper understanding of the Bible, wrong teaching of the Bible within many Congregations, and family traditions are leading many astray and they don't even realize it.

All things just mentioned are things you do
You cannot save yourself by doing good works or performing various religious rites.
Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us."
Eph.2 8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

The Gospel is the good news about Jesus Christ. The Bible says that you must be born again.. God provided a means of reconciliation for man because there was nothing that man could do to reconcile himself and become acceptable to God.

Jesus Christ came and taught us His ways and to die as an acceptable and sinless sacrifice for us. It was sacrifice of Jesus Christ that paid for all sin committed by all mankind.

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After living what I felt was a 'decent' life, my time on earth came to the end.

The first thing I remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a court house.

The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by the defense table.

As I looked around I saw the 'prosecutor.'

He was a villainous looking gent who snarled as he stared at me.. He definitely was the most evil person I have ever seen.

I sat down and looked to my left and there sat My Attorney, kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed so familiar to me, I felt I knew Him.

The corner door flew open and there appeared the Judge in full flowing robes.

He commanded an awesome presence as He moved across the room I couldn't take my eyes off Him.

As He took His seat behind the bench, He said, 'Let us begin.'

The prosecutor rose and said,

'My name is Satan and I am here to show you why this man belongs in hell.'

He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that I stole, and In the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible Perversions that were once in my life and the more he spoke, the further down in my seat I sank.

I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own Attorney, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.

As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally upset at My Attorney who sat there silently not offering any form of defense at all.

I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some good in my life - couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I'd done?

Satan finished with a fury and said, 'This man belongs in hell, he is guilty of all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.'

When it was His turn, My Attorney first asked if He might approach the bench. The Judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan, and beckoned Him to come forward.

As He got up and started walking, I was able to see Him in His full splendor and majesty..

I realized why He seemed so familiar; this was Jesus representing me, my Lord and my Savior.
He stopped at the bench and softly said to the Judge, 'Hi, Dad,' and then He turned to address the court.

'Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned, I won't deny any of these allegations. And, yes, the wages of sin is death, and this man deserves to be punished.'

Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched arms and proclaimed, 'However, I died on the cross so that this person might have eternal life and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is Mine.'

My Lord continued with, 'His name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can snatch him from Me.

Satan still does not understand yet. This man is not to be given justice, but rather mercy.'

As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at His Father and said, 'There is nothing else that needs to be done.'

'I've done it all.'

The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down. The following words bellowed from His lips..

'This man is free. The penalty for him has already been paid in full. 'Case dismissed.'

As my Lord led me away, I could hear Satan ranting and raving, 'I won't give up, I will win the next one.'

I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go next, 'Have you ever lost a case?'

Christ lovingly smiled and said,'Everyone that has come to Me and asked Me to represent them has received the same verdict as you, ~Paid In Full~'

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First you need to realize that you have sinned against God.
You need to believe and trust that Jesus already paid for your sin at the cross; and there is nothing you can do to earn your way into a right relationship with God and Heaven.
The Bible says that everyone is a sinner Rom. 3:23. SO WHAT IS SIN
Have you ever said a lie, even a little white lie, stolen, angry, words, not obeyed, etc.
Honestly, could you count all the times you have done something that God labels as sin? Even if it was possible that you only ever sinned once in God's eyes or standards you are still a sinner.
James 2:10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. eg: LINKS OF A CHAIN, MUSICAL HARMONY

All of us are sinners deserving of death Rom. 6:23. But no person has sinned too much to be forgiven. “God’s law was given so you could see how sinful you are. Grace comes to us in our poor sinful condition and offers us the mercy of God when we deserve His wrath.

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Salvation is the act of delivering from sin or saving from evil. Salvation or becoming saved simply is the process of confessing and believing.
You must confess that Jesus is Lord and that you are a sinner in need of salvation.

Jesus loved you so much He paid the penalty for all your sin past, present and future He did His part but it is up to you to accept that free gift He has given you.
It is up to you to come to Him, to tell Him that you know you are a sinner.

Every human being on this earth could be saved because Jesus Christ died on the cross, took on all the sin of mankind upon Himself and provided salvation for all as the Bible says.

Salvation has been provided to all but it must be accepted individually by each person.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 6:44 "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him
You could not take one step of faith unless the Spirit of God was drawing you to come to Him.

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Do you believe there is a God but not trusting in Jesus
Matt 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen.
There is a clear distinction between the called and the chosen
How often has the message been heard and not heeded
How often had people and circumstances directed you toward God and yet refused
How often have you been called by the Holy Spirit and yet you refused
How often have you turned your back to the ONLY one who can rescue you from sin
Is there few that want to be chosen

John 5:40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
none are excluded but those that exclude themselves

It is often taught, that getting saved is an exceedingly simple affair.
If it is so easy then why are there so few that are true believers and children of God.
If it is so easy then why haven't you been able to take that step.
1Cor. 2:14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him ...
Natural eye blind to Heavenly things but God only can open man's eyes
(GNB) 2 Cor. 4:4 They do not believe, because their minds have been kept in the dark by the evil god of this world.
Satan has deceived many into false beliefs and false hopes

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How can a man be saved or born again?
There must be inward change, otherwise one cannot pass through the gate of life into glory. Matt. 5:20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 13:22~28 ....STRIVE to enter through the narrow gate....(Importance)
Matt. 7:13, 14 NARROW is the way that leads to life...(Difficulty)
These passages and others point to the importance and difficulty of being saved
The Bible says there is no other way to be saved except by believing in Jesus Christ.
Eph. 2:8,9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Doing good things or good works, none of these can secure your salvation.
Baptism , Christening, Church membership, sacraments, traditions of man
Salvation is a precious and free gift from God. It is not earned, but given by grace of God.

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God cannot turn away from sin and pardon sinners who continue in it
If you even commit one only one sin you are in sin (James 2:10) Salvation is not a tolerance of sin but a deliverance from sin
This requires repentance and turning from sin or feel its penalty
Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment
The day of judgement at time of death will test everything
Matt. 7:21~23 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven ...
Very Religious - open profession “Lord Lord”
- religious service of high class
- they were orthodox
- did everything in name of Christ “in your name” 3X
Kept up long time – expected to enter into the Kingdom
Fatally mistaken – Found out in terrible way- “I never knew you” “Depart from me”

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God’s mercy and grace offers forgiveness for sinful people like you and me.
Do you find it easy to forgive a little, but harder to forgive much.
If that is true of God’s mercy, then we are in serious trouble, but His mercy and grace are wide.
God’s mercy knows no bounds and no limits. There is none who is beyond His saving power.
Our sin is great. But God’s mercy is greater. Our sin is enormous, yet God’s mercy is boundless.
There is no one beyond God’s mercy and grace. It is available to all who call on Him.

“It is said that the door to Heaven is not shut from above but from below”
The door is open from above by Jesus Christ and closed below by our rebellious hearts.
A sinner will not be able to say, because he cannot, but that he will not.

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Are you prepared or ready to meet God.
Luke 14:4 intending to build a tower sit not down first and count the cost
Count the Cost – greatest cost was the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
1 Peter 4:18 "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
Scarcely saved points to the difficulty of Salvation
By nature we are ignorant and easily deceived by Satan’s substitutes.
Self-love reigns within, and to deny self is very difficult
The love of the world, friends, fortune, prestige, etc
The demand that God should be loved with all your heart repels the unsaved.
Suffering persecution for Jesus
Mark 10:17~25 The case of this young ruler.
When a man is satisfied with carnal riches, he has no desire for spiritual riches
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

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John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 16:30,31 "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, ...

Romans 10:13 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Spurgen - to disobey the gospel is far worse than to break the law. For disobedience to the law there is remedy in the gospel, but For disobedience to the gospel no remedy can be found.

There remains no more sacrifice for sin.