What is Grace?

There is no formula to start a relationship with God. Did you know there’s not just one way to teach someone the gospel message? When you read the New Testament, you’re constantly reading different prescriptions for salvation. In one place it says believe and you’ll be saved. In another place, it says to believe and be baptized. Another place says repent and believe. Another verse says we’re saved by faith. Jesus told one guy he needed to sell everything he had and give it to the poor to be saved. When the apostles told Gentiles about Jesus they talked about the resurrection, but when they talked to the Jews, they focused on Jesus being the Messiah.

There’s no formula. It’s not a script we memorize. It’s a relationship, and there are many ways to start a relationship. Maybe you met your wife on a dating app, in a bar, or in school, but the ultimate goal was the relationship.

‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

God created us. Then we sinned. So to fix the problem, God has offered to recreate us. Why? So we can do what He created us to do.

There are two ways people try to get to Heaven. Most people think that you get there by being good enough, but God tells us that's not going to work. The right way to get to Heaven is by faith. We have to trust Him, not our good behavior.

Romans 8:3

The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body, God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

What does the world say when we go about it the right way? "Oh, that's too easy...You're just saying that's the way to be saved because you want to keep sinning and still go to Heaven." So they CHOOSE to do it the hard way because it makes them feel more righteous.

That's what the Pharisees did. They got mad at Jesus because he didn't follow or obey their laws. Can you imagine! The Pharisees called JESUS a sinner, and that's what people will do to you if you live by grace rather than by laws.

Do you know what will happen if you try to get saved the wrong way, by obeying rules? You'll get a lot of smoke and heat...and that's not Heaven. It's so hard for me to see all these Jews, Muslims, and all these other religions trying so hard to do the right thing. They're doing very hard things to try to get to Heaven, and their belief in good behavior is actually taking them to Hell.

Isaiah 64:6

When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.

So I'm going to put the full-court press on today. I don't want anyone to leave here today without being absolutely positive that they are going to the promised land, that they will spend eternity in Heaven with God. So here's what I'm going to ask you to do.

I want to ask everyone who is reading this to fill out this out. If today you are ready to stop trying to be good enough to get into Heaven and to put your faith in Jesus instead, would you check that top box and put your contact info in so we can send you some information?

I want to invite you to pray too. Have a conversation with God. You can do it silently, in your mind. God knows what you're thinking. Talk to Him and thank Him for His grace. If you want to talk to someone about the decision you're making today reach out to us, we would love to talk with you.