MaryFreeman

(Eph 2:8 AMP) For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
　
This SHOOT'N is being simulposted.... It is being posted on my facebook blog as well.... The reason should be obvious.... Because I am after as many souls as I can get.... For our Lord and Savior is coming back soon to rapture His church.... And I am determined to see how many I can get to come with me.... As I have said in many other SHOOT'Ns.... I don't have time to be genteel.... Politically correct (I'm not running for office).... Fit for polite society.... The bible says the Cross is offensive.... If you are offended.... I am doing my job (this is.... Of course.... A bit of plagerism.... Thanks Tim LaHaye! LOL!)....
Lets start by defining GRACE....
Mirriam Webster online dictionary tells me that grace (for our purposes) means

2 a : approval, favor <stayed in his good graces> b archaic : mercy, pardon c : a special favor : privilege <each in his place, by right, not grace, shall rule his heritage — Rudyard Kipling> d : disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency e : a temporary exemption : reprieve
Notice the words MERCY and PARDON.... I also see the word CLEMENCY.... Oh I like that.... The verse above says that it is by God's grace we are saved.... So we can put it as "By CLEMENCY through faith...."
Now who in the world would need CLEMENCY save the guilty? We have all been given the gift of the ultimate clemency.... Forgiveness of sin.... Pardon of iniquity.... And a right standing with God.... And not by anything we do.... Because that wouldn't be grace would it? And we don't have to accept it either.... Because it wouldn't be a gift then would it?
I know a lot of you have seen SHOOT'Ns dealing with free will.... If ever there was a doctrine that fits hand in glove with free will.... It is the doctrine of Grace.... Lets do a rundown of that right now.... For those whose souls we are trying to win....
There is none righteous.... No not one.... NO ONE IS GOOD.... Nobody.... There is not a good person on the planet.... And I can prove it....
WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:
(Mar 10:18 AMP) And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? There is no one [essentially and perfectly morally] good--except God alone.
(Rom 3:10 AMP) As it is written, None is righteous, just and truthful and upright and conscientious, no, not one. [Ps. 14:3.]
(Rom 3:11 AMP) No one understands [no one intelligently discerns or comprehends]; no one seeks out God. [Ps. 14:2.]
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
What this is telling us is that no human being on earth is good.... Not of their own accord or free will.... The flesh does not want to be good.... Not God's measure of good.... And no one wants a thing to do with God or His standards in their fleshy selves.... Because we like darkness so much.... Our fleshy selves would rather wallow in it.... Because for most of us.... Quite frankly.... It is easier....
But you say "What do you mean? We like darkness? What?"
Well.... We do....
WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:
(Joh 3:19 NLT)And the judgment is based on this fact: God's light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
See? We were born that way.... Thanks to the first Adam.... Darkness and sin were engrained.... It is part of our nature.... Our makeup if you will.... Yet it wasn't originally that way.... And it doesn't have to be that way now.... Because the second Adam came to us.... He defeated sin by living without it.... He conquored hell and damnation by His sacrificial death.... And He beat the grave by pleasing God so much that He raised Him from the dead the third day....
What a wonderful thing He did at the cross too! You see.... Everything that was counted against you.... Those laws you couldn't possibly fulfill ( There are 615 of them....) coupled with the sin you couldn't possibly overcome on your own.... Were atoned for.... They were paid in full.... And they were all wiped away....
WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:
(Col 2:13 KJV) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
(Col 2:14 KJV) Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Let's AMP that:
(Col 2:13 AMP) And you who were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh (your sensuality, your sinful carnal nature), [God] brought to life together with [Christ], having [freely] forgiven us all our transgressions,
(Col 2:14 AMP) Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
Oh thank God.... I know where I've been.... And I'm sure all of you know where you've been.... Is it not a relief to know there is clemency? A pardon? And who but the highest authority in existence can grant that? And He has.... Through His Son.... Who intercedes for us daily before the Father.... Knowing what it is like to be human.... He is our sympathetic High Priest....
WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:
(Heb 2:17 AMP) So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people's sins.
(Heb 2:18 AMP) For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].
Remember when I said we wallow in darkness mostly because it is easier?
(Heb 10:32 AMP) But be ever mindful of the days gone by in which, after you were first spiritually enlightened, you endured a great and painful struggle,
(Heb 10:33 AMP) Sometimes being yourselves a gazingstock, publicly exposed to insults and abuse and distress, and sometimes claiming fellowship and making common cause with others who were so treated.
But it isn't just others who will cause us to endure a great and painful struggle....
(Rom 7:18 AMP) For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. [I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.]
(Rom 7:19 AMP) For I fail to practice the good deeds I desire to do, but the evil deeds that I do not desire to do are what I am [ever] doing.
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
Oh fiddlesticks!
Ok so other people will make it hard to be a Christian.... And we ourselves will.... Not on purpose mind you.... Yet "the spirit is willing.... But the flesh is weak".... That which was in darkness wishes to stay there.... We want to do what God wants.... We want to live the way He wishes us to.... But dadgum!
Yes I am trying to talk you INTO being a follower of Christ.... Because it may be hard to do so now.... But you ain't seen nothin' yet.... Because He will snatch His Bride out of this earth (any time now).... And then all hell will break loose.... Literally....
Yes I do believe in the Rapture of the Church.... And not just for my sake.... Look at the Church in Somalia.... The Christians in muslim countries.... And communist countries.... They are beaten.... Tortured.... Constantly enduring unspeakable horrors in an effort to cause them to recant.... Murdered....
And yet they do not cast their confidence away....
I cannot believe that they would be forced to endure the greatest period of godlessness and lawlessness mankind has ever known.... And will ever know.... After all they have been through.... After the inspiration and encouragement they provided those of us free to practice whatever religion we will.... To suffer a greater tribulation than they even have ever seen?
Not gonna happen....
I said all that to say this.... If they can endure that.... And come out on the other side of the Jordan.... Surely we can endure a little teasing and mocking.... Surely we can resist flesh and satan.... Surely we can do our best to live as Godly a life as we can in gratitude for clemency.... Surely we can accept the gift of Grace.... The forgiveness of sins.... Surely we can recognize that God loves us so much He sent His Son to rectify a world gone wild....
WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:
(Joh 3:16 NLT)"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
(Joh 3:17 NLT)God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.
(Joh 3:18 NLT)"There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. But anyone who does not believe in Him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son.
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him.... There's the clemency.... Though we were born in sin.... Lived and wallowed in sin.... Yet even when we were dead in it.... He gave His life.... Willingly sacrificed Himself.... So that we could live.... Free and happy.... Without condemnation....
WHAT DOES THE WORD SAY?:
(Rom 8:1 NLT) So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
(Rom 8:2 NLT) And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
SHOOT'N FROM THE HIP:
And because you belong to Him.... Notice what verse 2 says? I like to think of it as the freedom to NOT sin.... We do not have to do what our flesh wants us to do.... Because now we belong to Jesus.... We have that lifegiving Spirit inside us that freed us from the power of sin....
If you do not have that same powerful Spirit inside you.... If you do not belong to Christ.... Please take a moment and commit yourself to Him.... Just pray something like this:
Father I come to You knowing I am a sinner.... Knowing I am not good.... That no one is good.... That all have sinned and fallen short of Your glory.... Including me.... I ask that You forgive me and cleanse me.... Jesus I believe in You.... I believe You lived a sinless life to break sins power over me.... I believe You died in my place.... I believe You rose again from the dead to conquor death itself.... All for me.... I accept Your gift of grace Lord.... I accept Your forgiveness.... I give myself to You.... And accept You into my heart.... Thank You Lord that because I have confessed with my mouth and believed in my heart .... I am saved....