AMAZING GRACE Wonderful, amazing grace of God! How shall we describe it? In one dictionary I have found 16 separate definitions of the word. One of these is divided into 4 sub-divisions, then five examples of other uses are given in addition to all these. As I read through all of man's attempts to define the word, it seemed to me that not any one of the meanings given could say what Paul meant to be said in the term, `The grace of God'. Even when all the different meanings are applied to the Grace of God we are only able to scratch the surface of its wonders. It is not that His grace is so vague and shadowy that we can't grasp it, but that it is so great we cannot comprehend it! One of the most widely accepted definitions of Grace among Christians is, `The unmerited favor which God extends to men'. The Word of God bears witness to the truth of this when it says as in Rom. 4:4-5, Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of Grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Grace, as unmerited favor, was the only possible way for man to be redeemed. Man, in his natural condition is morally bankrupt and spiritually dead. All of his righteousness is as filthy rags. He does not have the knowledge or ability to perform righteousness, nor does he have the tools necessary, or the raw materials with which to begin. Being totally destitute of means and ability, his only hope of eternal righteousness is the Grace of God. He cannot earn it. It MUST be by Grace! Another aspect of grace, according to the dictionary, is the ability to put inferiors at ease in ones' presence. In this respect the grace of God has truly appeared in the person of Jesus Christ. The haughty Pharisees trembled in anger and frustration in his presence. The demons that possessed men cried out in fear at his approach. Kings have trembled in conviction at the preaching of His Word, and yet uneducated fishermen could be at ease with the Master. The poor and sick could crowd around him without fear of rebuke. The little children could sit beside him in peace. We, today, can still come boldly to the throne of grace, knowing that this one of all grace is there, waiting, and he still understands our problems and our needs. The grace of God is seen in all his provisions for mankind. In the very creation he has given us; in the material blessings of food, and even the very air we breathe; in life itself and in reason, but the very most important grace of all is the one mentioned in our text: The Grace of God that bringeth salvation! Oh how I like that word `salvation'. I like the term `saved' as it is found in such scripture verses as Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works lest any man should boast.. Euphemisms have become the language of America. We say that one has been naughty, when we should say, it is sin. We say we told a fib because we know that the Bible teaches that God hates a liar. Many consider it old fashioned to be saved or born again, so they `become interested in religion' or `make a decision'. None of the euphemisms can ever express the wonderful experience of being saved by the Grace of God! When I was saved, I DID become interested in religion, but that isn't what gave me eternal life. I did make a decision, but all the decisions of a lifetime of my poor sinful mind could not save me and bring about eternal life. It is not a decision to just be a Christian that makes us one, but rather the abandoning of all hope outside of Christ and our complete trust in him. Euphemisms may be fine for some of the unpleasant things that must sometimes be expressed, and even in the Bible we find Christians who have died spoken of as being `asleep in Jesus', but there is nothing that tells of the wonderful beginning of that relationship with Christ that gives to us eternal life, as the simple terms, `saved', and `born again'. `Salvation', not only brings to mind the new relationship we find with God through Jesus Christ, but also it reminds us of the awful fate that awaits those who are not saved. Salvation in not only to the joys of heaven and everlasting life, it is also from hell and its awful torments. One can't be saved from a burning building unless the building is on fire and he is inside. One needs no salvation from sin and its consequences unless he is a sinner and is under condemnation. On this score the Word of God is very emphatic. Rom 3:23 All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. - Rom 5:12 For as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.- Rom 6:23 The wages of sin is death- John 3:18 He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. The whole human race is in the same building and the fire of condemnation is raging out of control, but God, through Grace, because of His wonderful divine love, offers salvation. No price is attached to it for Jesus paid it all on Calvary. Paul wrote in Titus 3:3-4, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But after that, the kindness and love of God our saviour toward man appeared." It is when man realizes that he is groping blindly in sin that the light of salvation shines upon the cross of Christ and God, through the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, makes the way of eternal life plain. There is no deep theological mystery here. After all God did love man so much that he was willing to give His Son that man might be saved. Would he then veil the way of our obtaining the very salvation that cost Him so much? Though we may search a lifetime and not scratch the surface of the deep things of God. Let no one hide the salvation of your soul from you behind rituals of any kind, or cheapen it by offering it to you in exchange for a good life, for `it is not by works of righteousness that we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us'. When the Phillipian jailer fell trembling before Paul, his question was simple and direct. "What must I do to be saved?" There was no long lecture given in theological terms, but a simple direct, easy to understand statement; Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Jesus made it plain to the whole world as he taught Nicodemus in John 3:15-whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life. He repeated the same plan of salvation in verse 16, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. In verse 18 he states, "He that believeth on him is not condemned. Again in John 5:24 he makes it plain, Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death unto life. This is God's simple plan of salvation. Don't be fooled by substitutes because the eternal destiny of youyr soul depends upon it! If you will only accept Christ as your savior then you can say with me: LOVE LIKE A RAY OF LIGHT From the reaches of eternity like a searching ray of light, the love of God came shining, Even then, He saw my plight. Down through endless ages, with none of its brightness lost, I see His love then focused on my saviors cross. The light of love, now magnified and reflected from the cross, beamed through sin, and doubt and fear, to save my soul from loss. Through endless ages came his love and now, as ages roll, its brightness always will be mine, it shines within my soul! FC Creel