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Grace

Lesson 7:
This grace message is not about how God’s grace (unmerited love and favor) is bestowed upon all those who call upon the Lord, sincerely wanting to be saved from sin and death.

I want to talk about the tangible gift of grace that God has instilled in each believer. It works in us so that we can do the works of God.

And then I want to talk about the gift of grace and how it assist the believer in their own salvation and ministry.

Part 1 Yes, the unmerited love and favor of God lives in the believer’s heart to be used as a tool that the believer can access. It is empowerment.

When a person repents and asks for forgiveness and ask Jesus to come into their heart, He moves in. The believer receives Him by faith and lives his/her life from that day forth, knowing that their Lord abides in their heart to enable them to love their neighbor as they love their self. This Jesus love is called grace--unmerited love and favor and the believer can call upon this gift and actually feel and show unmerited love and favor toward others.

Acts:4:33: And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

1Cor:15:10: But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

2Cor:1:12: For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

2Cor:9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

2Cor:12:9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Heb:12:28: Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Part 2 The gift of grace--how it assist the believer in their own salvation and ministry.

The believer can not only call upon the gift of grace in order to love and minister to other, but he/she can call upon God’s grace to minister the their self.

This grace comes to the humble. One must realize their weakness in any area where they need strength and then they must back off looking to themselves for the recourses needed, ask God to provide and then step out in faith that God heard and will supply. Then the grace needed for the job will be there.

But it does not come to those who think they have to do things in their own strength or by their own wit or by their own talents or skills. A person who relies on their own resources will have to make do with them alone for this grace comes to the humble. That is those who know they are not their resource, God is.

This grace can manifest as a buffer to protect the child of God from blows be they physical, mental, spiritual, or financial.

This grace can manifest as a cushion that cushions the blows of life or of a persecutor so that the child of God has only a minimum of suffering instead of a traumatic experience.

When the child of God leans on this grace in a hard place, it can change the apparent inevitable outcome of the situation.

Some examples:

Have you ever heard a story of a believer imprisoned who endured terrible mistreatment, abuse, and neglect and when he/she was finally delivered from the situation and was able to share the details, you wondered how they could’ve stood it? It was God’s grace that cushioned and buffered and caused what would have been totally traumatic and devastating to be merely a very bad situation.

More than once I have put myself in a situation where I thought for sure I had blown it to the point of no return. I would pray for God to undertake, but if not, then I and anyone else the situation affected would just have to suffer the consequences and I would rest in Him--that is I knew that I could not fix it--that if it got fixed it would be God’s intervention. Something surprising would happen and change the outcome from very bad to very good.

I’ve been in situations where I was in way over my head, but I was there because I was put there and I trusted in the Lord for the recourses and the outcome and He came through. One such for instance: I am not a singer and have never been told that I can sing, but I found myself in position where I had to lead the singing. I just did it, depending upon the Lord and as long as I do it without thinking that it is my talent or my acceptable voice, it works out well, but if I get to thinking I can sing, I soon find out that I can’t. Grace works in us.

Gal:2:9: And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Heb:4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb:13:9: Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

Jms:4:6: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1Pt:5:5: Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

2Pt:3:18: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

© Sylvia Huffnagle


Saved by Grace

Lesson 8:
Martin Luther learned that by grace are you saved not by works. This has made a tremendous impact on today’s church.

But there is more to it than that – there are conditions that go with grace and for good reason. (Jude: 1:4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.)

In order to be reconciled to God a person must repent of their ways and turn to God’s ways, because Adam and Eve chose to do their own thing. Their choice was the initial big mistake that started all the suffering in the earth. Their choice separated mankind from the Father God. (Ps: 81:13, 95:10, Prov: 8:32, 23:26, Isa: 58:2, Mal: 2:9, Matt: 7:14, 21:32, 22:16, Acts: 14:15-17, 18:25)

Jesus came to fix what Adam and Eve ruined. Therefore He chose to obey God the Father. Jesus’ choices made a way for us to be reconciled to the Father God. Our choices either reconcile us to Father God or alienate us from Him.

If you receive Jesus into your heart, His blood will wash away your sins, past, present, and future. Grace is for those who want to be reconciled to Father God not to those who merely wish to escape hell after they have lived here by their own rules.

It is written: 1Jn: 5:11: that God gave us eternal life and this life is in His Son and Col: 1:27 says that it is Jesus in us our hope of glory.

Rom: 8:1-14: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

It goes like this: GRACE: unmerited love and favor with God was bought for the believer by Jesus Christ.

Eph: 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. His shed BLOOD washes away the believer’s sin.

Heb: 9:14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb: 9:22: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

FAITH in the finished work will give us the victory. Read all of Heb. 11.

Gal: 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Eph: 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Col: 1:21-23: And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22: In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

It is the WORD put to work in our lives that will save our soul.

Jas: 1:21-22: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 22: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

To be ADOPTED back as a child of God a person must repent, that is turn from doing things their way and turn to doing things God’s way and they must choose Jesus as their Lord. You can choose the Adam way or the Jesus way. The Adam way leads to death. The Jesus way is eternal life.

2Cor: 5:19: To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Eph: 1:5: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

How it works:

Hear Believe Repent Receive Learn Apply Overcome

The objective of this article is to declare that you must have Jesus in your heart to be saved from hell and go to heaven. Your works or deeds will show whether you have Him in your heart or not.

Rom: 2:6-8: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

© Sylvia Huffnagle

Works

Lesson 8:
Rom: 2:6: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (works – behavior)

Rom: 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

2Cor: 11:15: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Rev: 20:13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

2Cor: 11:15: Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Rev: 2:23: And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Rev: 3:15-16: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Rev: 18:1-6: And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.

Rev: 20:12: And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Rev: 20:13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

What works?

Jn: 8:39: They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

The works of the flesh:

Jn: 7:7: The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Gal: 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

1Jn: 3:8: He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

1Jn: 3:12: Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Rev: 9:20: And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Rom: 13:12: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

The works of the Spirit:

Gal: 5:22-25: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Mt: 5:16: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Mt: 16:27: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Jn: 5:36: But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

Jn: 10:37-38: If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Jn: 14:11: Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Jn: 14:12: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

Rom: 8:13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Eph: 5:10-11: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1Tim: 5:10: Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

2Tim: 3:17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Titus: 1:16: They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus: 2:7: In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Titus: 2:14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus: 3:8: This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus: 3:14: And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.

Heb: 4:10: For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Heb: 6:1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Heb: 9:14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Heb: 10:24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Jas: 2:14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Jas: 2:17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas: 2:18: Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Jas: 2:20: But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jas: 2:21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Jas: 2:22: Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Jas: 2:24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Jas: 2:26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Jas: 3:13: Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

1Pet: 2:12: Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Rev: 2:2: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

Rev: 2:5: Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Rev: 2:9: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Rev: 2:13: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Rev: 2:19: I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Rev: 2:26: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Rev: 3:1: And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Rev: 3:2: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

Rev: 3:8: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Rev: 14:13: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

We are saved by faith in Jesus, but our works show whether we have received God’s salvation or not.

Our works show who our father is. Good works are acts of obedience toward God and love toward your fellow man. Any works that are apposed to God’s teachings and precepts are evil (harmful) works. They are selfish.

Rom: 3:20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Rom: 3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

Rom: 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom: 4:2: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Rom: 4:6: Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

Rom: 9:31-32: But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Rom: 11:6: And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Gal: 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal: 3:2: This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Gal: 3:10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.

Eph: 2:8-10: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus: 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

© Sylvia Huffnagle

The Blood of the Lamb

Lesson 9:
The blood of Jesus is powerful. Why, because the Son of God shed it? Yes, and also because of the price He paid to cleanse you. He went through extreme agony of temptation, extreme agony of punishment, and extreme agony of death. And it was all an act of agape love. That is why the blood of the lamb has the power to wipe out not only the penalty of the sin, but also the record of the sin. The believer must know and understand that Jesus’ blood is that precious because He paid the maximum price to bring about their cleansing. It must not be taken lightly.

When the devil torments a Christian about their past, they need to understand the power of Jesus’ blood. It completely null and voids the transgression--as if they had never done it. The believer must know and understand that Jesus’ blood is that powerful. For a Christian to allow their self to be unsettled about their past sins is a to make His blood sacrifice a small thing.

Speaking of the blood, I think the church takes it too far when they attribute the whole of salvation to the blood. The blood isn’t even mentioned in the full armor of God that every Christian must put on in order to be protected from evil.

The blood does not perform the offices that Jesus performs. The blood does not get you to heaven. It only makes you a candidate for heaven. It qualifies you to receive the Holy Spirit. It takes the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, the Word as well as the blood to get you into heaven.

The blood of the Lamb is the beginning of our salvation as a broken down car cannot run until it is put in the hands of a good mechanic, so a person needs to be put into God’s hands in order to be made to run right. After the reconciliation, comes restoration.

Many rely on the blood of the lamb as a coverall, The blood covers confessed sin, but the real covering is the wedding garment which is putting on Jesus. Rom: 13:14

Rev: 12:11 does say that they overcame by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony. That’s because the blood of the lamb bought the package. But let’s receive, use, and acknowledge the package which is spiritual life--living and if need by dying God’s way and not man’s.

© Sylvia Huffnagle


 


Sylvia Huffnagle - minister The Father/child Covenant Relationship  Romans 6-8 Grace Sowing and Reaping Biblical Balance Apologetics Apologetics II Biblical Balance End Time Warnings End Time Warnings II Author's Pitch Page Download About e-mail me