If you think God's grace is nothing more than His merciful forgiveness, then you are greatly mistaken and you need to read this. God's grace is the quickening power of the Spirit within us that teaches us to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. It's because of His power working within us that we are able to do what we're commanded and 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'. It's because of Jesus Christ's power working within us that enables us to 'Be ye perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect.' THAT is what the grace of God that brings salvation truly is. DONT confuse mercy with grace.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. -Titus 2:11-12
As an ambassador for Christ, I pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God! (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Do you profess to know God but in works deny Him? (Titus 1:16)... If this is the case and you don't deny ungodliness in your life, therefore denying Him in your works, and try to justify living in such an unholy way in your mind by believing that "because of God's grace that you're not going to hell for living life the way you are," then you are an ungodly man who has turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness just as Jude urgently warned God's people over 1900 years ago in the beginning of his epistle:
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men CREPT IN unawares, who were before of old ordained to ths condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." -Jude v3-4
THEY HAD CREPT IN WITHOUT BEING NOTICED WAY BACK THEN AND THEY ARE THE MAJORITY TODAY.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. -Titus 2:11-12
As an ambassador for Christ, I pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God! (2 Corinthians 5:20)
Do you profess to know God but in works deny Him? (Titus 1:16)... If this is the case and you don't deny ungodliness in your life, therefore denying Him in your works, and try to justify living in such an unholy way in your mind by believing that "because of God's grace that you're not going to hell for living life the way you are," then you are an ungodly man who has turned the grace of our God into lasciviousness just as Jude urgently warned God's people over 1900 years ago in the beginning of his epistle:
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints.
For there are certain men CREPT IN unawares, who were before of old ordained to ths condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." -Jude v3-4
THEY HAD CREPT IN WITHOUT BEING NOTICED WAY BACK THEN AND THEY ARE THE MAJORITY TODAY.
Quote the scripture that defines grace as 'unmerited favor', I'll wait.
It's not my works, but the quickening power of God's grace that causes me to live godly, not my works, but His!
Just like Paul said "It's no longer I who live but Christ who lives through me"
Also just like the prophecy in Ezekiel 36:27, He said "I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGEMENTS AND DO THEM"
God's grace causes us to live godly, and be perfect and holy. The Holy Spirit is given to those that obey Him, it's not my works, I've ceased from my works, now Christ lives through me.
"And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him." -Acts 5:32
It's not my works, but the quickening power of God's grace that causes me to live godly, not my works, but His!
Just like Paul said "It's no longer I who live but Christ who lives through me"
Also just like the prophecy in Ezekiel 36:27, He said "I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, AND YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGEMENTS AND DO THEM"
God's grace causes us to live godly, and be perfect and holy. The Holy Spirit is given to those that obey Him, it's not my works, I've ceased from my works, now Christ lives through me.
"And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him." -Acts 5:32
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There arent any 'works' that a man can individually accompilsh to save themselves, I understand that completely. That does NOT all of a sudden define grace as 'unmerited favor like you're trying to do. Your definition of grace matches exactly the type of twisted grace Jude warns us about, plain as day.
The full and TRUE definition of grace is given in to us very clearly in Titus 2:11-15. You need to quit hardening your heart and read the words that are right in front of you; its the full definition that God has been waiting for you to see and understand:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, 12teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
There arent any 'works' that a man can individually accompilsh to save themselves, I understand that completely. That does NOT all of a sudden define grace as 'unmerited favor like you're trying to do. Your definition of grace matches exactly the type of twisted grace Jude warns us about, plain as day.
The full and TRUE definition of grace is given in to us very clearly in Titus 2:11-15. You need to quit hardening your heart and read the words that are right in front of you; its the full definition that God has been waiting for you to see and understand:
"11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, 12teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
How wonderful! Someone actually sharing the Word of God and not following man made teachings
God bless you