HeartsAlive - SSL - Worship Our Gracious God -4
Romans 3:11-18 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Does this text give a good description of some of the characteristics of your life before you came to faith in Jesus Christ? If so, how?
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Therefore, is it fair to say that before our day of salvation, we did not seek God’s grace, we had nothing to purchase it with and the bottom line is; we did not even seek after it. So why did God love us so?
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God could have loved the angels for their perfection’s. Even Lucifer before his fall was quite lovely and therefore a creature to be loved.
Ezekiel 28:13-15 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Lucifer could have been loved for his perfection’s, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
There is a text in the book of Hosea that gives to us insight into the love of God expressed toward sinners such as we.
Hosea 14:4 “…, I will love them freely:”
What will God accept in trade for HIS love?
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Does HE love us because we love HIM?
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(Did he love us while we were yet sinners?)
God in HIS very nature is love, therefore, HE pours out freely HIS love and grace to those who are most undeserving. Before faith in Christ, we did not seek HIM, we did not want HIM, we desired only our own way. But after coming to Christ and being born-again, we now have hearts of worship for one who loved us “freely”.
Mat 5:45 “…: for he (the FATHER) maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
The rays of the sun are freely given to us. There is no charge. There is no respector of persons. The golden light of the sun is worth more to mankind than all of the wealth in all of the gold mines, diamond mines, precious stones and pearls upon the earth. And yet it is “freely” given to all. Even the one who blasphemes the name of God and curses HIS precious name. He too receives freely.
Does not this sun shine into the eyes of the adulterer? Does it not shine upon the hands of the thief? Does it not shine upon the heart of the murderer? It is the goodness of God that causes the sun and the rain to fall upon the just as well as the unjust.
This is a true picture of the grace of God bestowed upon each one of us. For we did not deserve it. We had nothing to pay for it. And we did not seek it for God found us.
“He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” (Psalm 40:2)
The grace of God visits our lives not because we desire it, but rather, because God wills it. What is God’s will for your life?
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Do we understand that Christ died because HE the Father freely loved sinners such as you and me? We are told in the scriptures that without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin. A payment had to be paid and the Lord Jesus Christ made that payment in full.
How did we deserve such a gift?
How did we earn such a gift?
What pursuits did we have that brought this unspeakable gift into our lives?
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
If there was a man who had goodness, God would be unjust not to love him. But for God to love a man when there is no good in him, this is enough to make a Baptist shout.
If God says, “I will love them freely….” Then, what does that statement do to these excuses that we often give.
“I feel so unworthy.”
“I am so far backslidden…, again…, I just do not feel that I can make it back.”
“God will bless others, but not me.”
The Lord says, “I am married to you. You are my bride. Return unto me my most precious beloved.”
What sin can possibly keep God from loving you or me?
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What then shall I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. God will receive you graciously and love you freely.
Is there someone here who can give this testimony? God will receive you graciously and love you freely.
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