Through Grace ( by Carley Evans )

“For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace.” (Hebrews 13:9, KJV)

“It is good that our souls should gain their strength from the grace of God.” (Hebrews 13:9, NEB)

“For it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.” (Hebrews 13:9, ESV)

“For it is good for the heart to be established by grace.” (Hebrews 13:9, HCSB)

“It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace.” (Hebrews 13:9, NIV)

“With grace,” says the author of Hebrews. “With grace” means “due to, owing to, through, because of grace.”  Through grace — by means of grace, our hearts — our souls are established. Our hearts are put on a firm basis; they gain full recognition and acceptance in a new favorable position with God. Our favorable position with God is not established through observance of ceremonies, rituals, rules.

Father God, thank You for Your grace without which we would remain in our sins. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Are Christians ‘Sinners Saved by Grace’ or ‘Saints’? ( by Carley Evans )

An interesting debate pops up now and then — are Christians sinners? Or are they now and ever only saints?

In the same portion of the same letter, the author of 1 John writes, “If we claim to have fellowship with [God] yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.” In the very next sentence, he also writes, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:6-8, NIV)

So we are sinners saved by grace who walk in the light, and who are purified by the blood of Jesus. Of course, we continue to sin. We are not perfected yet.

The author of 1 John continues, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word has no place in our lives.” (1 John 1:9-10) He goes on to state that he is writing this so that they “will not sin.” (1 John 2:1)

So, we are saints by virtue of the fact that we confess our sins; and Jesus faithfully out of His justice forgives us our sins and makes us righteous.

Thank You, Lord for Your awesome gift of salvation and sanctification. In Jesus’ Name, amen!

 

 

Versatile Bloggers ( by Carley Evans)

I’ve been nominated — today! — for the Versatile Blogger Award. I apologize, Jeff, that I don’t know how to make your name a link to your blog. I’ll put your blog title and link in my blogrolls; that’s about the best I can do. And I will make a point of reading your work!

Jeff nominated me for GRACE PARTAKERS which is my other blog. I directed him to this one, and he’s just subscribed. Thanks so much, Jeff!

I find this award heartening! I am so proud — yes, I know pride goes before that big fall — that I made a little Gravatar image with “VERSATILE BLOGGER” to put on the footers of ‘obsecrations’ and GRACE PARTAKERS. I wish someone would create one of those cool, cute buttons for the award. How fun that would be to give out along with the nominations!

At any rate, now I am supposed to select 15 bloggers I follow, and nominate them or just present them with this award. Again, I am at a loss as to how to make their blogs show up as links here. Someone should tell me how to do this; I actually thought I knew, but no such luck.

Off the top of my head, I immediately think of RESTING IN HIS GRACE — by M.T. Sweat. I love Pot Pie.

TWO MINUTES OF GRACE by Debbie Branson also comes to mind.

SUMMATHETES by Brian. I’ve been following this blog for several years now.

THINKING OUT LOUD by Jim Thornber.

A PAUPER’S PEN AND PARCEL by Dave Bignell.

For now, these are the 5 bloggers I want to recognize — never been one to conform.

As for the 7 things about me — that’s another post. Again, thanks Jeff for the VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD.

The Most Expensive Gift Ever Given (by Carley Evans)

Grace is not cheap. The grace of God is the most expensive gift ever given. This gift was purchased with the blood of God, the Son and cost Jesus not only His physical life but also His fellowship with God, the Father. To say grace is cheap is to fail to comprehend the scope of the gift God gives us and how much the gift cost.

Father God, help us to continue to recognize that salvation is a gift pure and simple. We either accept this great gift from Your hands, or we don’t. Keep us in Your grace; grant us Your righteousness. Help us to put on the full armor You provide so that we may walk in tandem with You. In Jesus’ Name, amen.