GRACE LIKE RAIN FALLING DOWN

Showers of Blessings
From God's Holy Spirit.

As I walk the cross throughout California cities and talk with and pray for so many people, it's very apparent that we all need God's grace in our lives -- both saved sinners and unsaved sinners. After all, the Bible declares that we all come short of God's glory, and that when we finally do come to Jesus we are saved by grace alone--and nothing else. Our good works will not save us. Our good looks won't get us into God's Heaven. Our good heart is still dirty as far as God and salvation are concerned.

Even when we become a believer, we aren't good enough to get into God's Heaven. We might be able to get into man's heaven or religion's heaven or good works heaven, but not into God's Heaven. The truth is: man's heaven and religion's heaven and good works' heaven are figments of fallen man's imagination. They don't really exist. And that could be a real problem as far as God is concerned and as far as precious souls are concerned as well.

SAVED BY GRACE ALONE

When I talk with precious souls on the streets, I let them know just how much God loves them. I also make sure they know what God requires of them to be forgiven of sins and to get into His Heaven. I'm always amazed that street people understand their plight more than most other people -- people who go to church and think they'll get into God's Heaven just because they attend church, people who have never actually confessed that they are sinners and asked God to forgive them and then asked Jesus Christ to be their Savior, and people who are religious but who do not follow Jesus Christ in every way.

The truth is, God calls all people to confess that they are sinners and to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, the One who died on the cross for their sins. I don't care how good I am or even how bad I am. I can only get into God's Heaven by confessing my sins and believing that Jesus Christ took my place on the cross. My righteousness isn't good enough to get me into God's Heaven.

The gift of eternal life in Jesus is a free gift. It cannot be earned  by good works or bought with gold and silver.  The Bible declares "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" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

THE DEFINITION OF GOD'S GRACE

The literal meaning of God's grace is "unmerited favor." This simply means that we cannot earn any type of favor with God that will give us access into His Heaven and His kingdom. It is undeserved favor. God knows we are sinners and we can't ascend into any degree of sustained holiness. I might do great in one point, but in another area of my life I might fail miserably when it comes to keeping the Ten Commandments.  God's remedy for our plight is His unmerited favor!

All we have to do is accept the free gift! Here is what God says about His free gift of salvation: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God's free gift of salvation is all about His grace--His unmerited favor. Think of God's grace as G.R.A.C.E -- God's Riches At Christ's Expense. And think about this amazing grace as a type of spiritual rain that gently yet powerfully falls down from Heaven and cleanses us from our sins like water washes away dirt.

THE SINNER'S PRAYER

Salvation and forgiveness of sins is a free gift. We receive this gift when we simply confess to God that we are  sinners, ask Him to forgive us of our sins, and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. This might go against the grain of everything you've been taught, but this is God's way. Admitting that we are sinners, repenting from our sins and asking Jesus Christ to be our Savior is the only way we can get into God's Heaven. This is how we become "born again," a vital topic Jesus talked about in the third chapter of John.

If you want God's grace, His unmerited favor, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life, repeat out loud the prayer below.

God, I am a sinner. I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ took my place and died on the cross for my sins. I accept Your Son as my Savior and ask Him to come into my life, to be my Lord and my Helper. I ask You to help me become the person you want me to be. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. 

If you have any questions, write me at Tom@WalkTheCross.com. God's grace abound in your life through Christ Jesus!