core studies : grace
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:15
Grace
So that there may be salvation available to every person's soul, God's gift to all mankind is grace (Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 2:8-9, Luke 12:31-32). God freely gives this grace by his own will to those who obey him faithfully (Romans 3:21-30, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8). Yet, this gift cannot be earned--not by any good deeds, nor works, nor any amount of inspiring words (Romans 5:14-21, Romans 8:3-4)--because no person is good enough, noble enough, or eloquent enough to merit grace (Mark 10:18, 1 Corinthians 1:27-31, Isaiah 64:4-7). Grace came though Jesus Christ our Lord (John 1:14-17). The Old Testament law taught us what was to be fulfilled in Christ (Matthew 5:17, Hebrews 8:5-8, Hebrews 10:1-10). Therefore, we now have the complete fulfillment God's plan in Jesus Christ, and we are complete and saved by him alone (Acts 13:38-43, Romans 4:3-5, Colossians 2:6-12, Hebrews 10:5-10).
We receive grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). If a person discards his faith (Galatians 5:1-9, Hebrews 3:12-14, 2 Peter 3:17, 2 Corinthians 6:1-10, Hebrews 12:15-17, 1 Timothy 5:11-12, Romans 11:21-22, Revelations 22:18-19), he forsakes grace. Jesus taught a parable of a master who entrusted his servants to care for his money until he returned. Upon his return, they each gave an account of their investments. The unprofitable servant fell from the grace of his master and, therefore, had his money taken from him, and was cast into "outer darkness" (Matthew 25:14-30).
The devil will strive make us fail (1 John 5:18). He will offer temptations that appeal to our carnal desires (John 12:31, 1 John 2:14-17). If we listen to his vanities (Jonah 2:8), we will fall into sin (2 Peter 2:20-22). When we sin, we can obtain forgiveness from God by his powerful grace through Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1-4, 1 John 1:7-9, Ephesians 1:6-7, Colossians 1:10-20, Psalms 130:1-8), but only if we have a repentant heart.
God is able to preserve the salvation any person who is committed to him, though we are all sinners saved by grace (2 Corinthians 9:8, Jude 24, Acts 20:28-32, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Romans 4:20-21, 2 Peter 1:4-10, 2 Corinthians 12:9). God ensures that we are always able to be faithful to him (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God is very forgiving and full of grace, but there is a sin that he will never forgive: blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. Blasphemy is defined in the Westminster dictionary as follows: Blasphemy - Dictionary of the Bible, Westminster - [abusive language] Defamatory or wicked language directed against God (Psalms 74:10-18, Isaiah 52:5, Revelations 16:9&11&21, Matthew 12:22-32, Mark 3:22-30).
All blasphemies should be avoided and certainly, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Hebrews 10:29, Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:28-29).
We should never think that we could not be forgiven for wrongs we have done. We should never believe that it is useless to seek forgiveness form the Lord. As long as we desire restoration, we know that God must be leading us to repentance and wants to forgive us.
