Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! (Ephesians 2:5) Deep grace! Grace means “gift” or “blessing.” In the middle of a discussion, did we stop the grace and start to argue, defend, or accuse? Afterward, […]
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For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, ESV). Created by our Father for relationship, we are as happy as those relationships. Because of sin (missing the mark of loving relationships), we find ourselves separated from God, others, and self. This separation can be filled with the G.U.L.F. Principles of Restoration.
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We are relational, created with the ability to talk, and our conversations both reveal and form our character. We become what we talk about! Below are three Cs to avoid while conversing with one another. Condemnation. . . There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1, ESV). The
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Mercy withholds what we deserve, and grace gives us what we don’t deserve. Grace and mercy reveal the fullness of God’s love. In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul pens one of the great practical living chapters in the Bible. This chapter has three sections. The first starts with mercy when Paul says, “By the mercies
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I memorized Romans 12 (NASB) in 1974, and the chapter became a mainstay in my life. Let’s read it today. (Go ahead, I’ll wait.) The chapter has three sections. The first begins with the word “mercy.” The second “grace,” and the third “love.” A scholar said. . . When considering Romans 12, remember that mercy
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But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18a, ESV). The Bible teaches general grace for everyone, and we must grow in this grace. The Bible also explains that grace gets personal — that each of us has a grace/gift combination unique to us. The word for grace is
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It doesn’t matter what others think of you, and it also doesn’t matter what you think of yourself. What matters is what God thinks of you. . . How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! (Psalm 139:17-18a, NLT) We
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I’ve wondered about the Apostle Paul’s emotional state when he wrote, “Jesus came to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15b, ESV). Most people experiencing discouragement spiral downward in doubt and despair through the years, getting increasingly worse. And Paul expresses this negative spiraling in his writings. In the early years
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Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3:7, NASB). The word “apologetic” is often used to describe a defense of God and the Bible. I believe the existence of evil doesn’t disprove the Gospel but supports the Bible and undergirds our need for grace. Why? Light means
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Let’s use this acronym to remember the definition of Grace: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense or. . . GRACE! Have you ever been casually and comfortably walking the narrow path of God’s will when encountering a mudslide whooshing down the hill? You must stop doing good work because of the obstacle, or even worse, you’re