But Kurt, good people might be a bit closer to God? Okay you say... but let me ask.. which skyscraper in the Big Apple or in Chicago is closer to the constellation Orion? How much closer?
Man, I was raised in a traditional religious church that told me.. "Do better, be better", but it never gave me any power to do so, or be so. I tried hard to get closer to God praying form prayers on beads. Didn't work. I heard about a real place called Hell, and about Heaven too. No karma, or reincarnation -- it ain't happening.
I needed to simply repent, to U-turn, to confess my wrong-doin's, to be forgiven and twice-born.
Sure, after "the fall in the garden"..it happened. The fall did. Adam gave into temptation and sinned. Probably wanted to please his sinner wife, Eve. Yeah, she fell too.
Now people of every Land need grace... grace to be born all over again spiritually -- we weren't worn right the first time. You must be born again.. cuz Christ said you must be born again. Can't earn it. What I'm talking about happens by grace, it is no longer on a basis of works cuz who can work enough? None can.
They said he was a monster. Sure acted like one. And John Wayne Gacy who died unrepentant. Many were shocked saying he looked so normal. He wasn't a monster from outter space as the Media tried so hard to make him out to be. He was a sinner.. one of us. Do none of what he did please. Ever!
Remember when one of the prisoners from those Nazi concentration camps walked into the Nuremberg trials in front of a mass-murderer guard. He fainted. They asked him was that cuz of that monster. Nope. The murderer didn't look like a monster.. "he looked so ordinary." He didn't look like the monster he acted like. Fact: God can save a person like that guard, or like John Wayne Gacy just as easy as He can save a churchgoer.
Amazing Grace how Sweet the sound! Better than all sweetness!
What is it? Grace is a free gift from God.
"And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work." Romans 11:6
Most Christians know the hymn “Amazing Grace” – even non-believers know it. Yet so few of us truly understand why grace is so amazing. We believers have the grace-cure to eternal death and separation from the one God of love!
"Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found T'was blind but now I see T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear And Grace, my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed Through many dangers, toils and snares We have already come. T'was grace that brought us safe thus far And grace will lead us home.."
Are we all alive spiritually? Many are still dead ..spiritually dead.. and therefore unaware of how needy we really are.
We are not the grateful dead, but we (people) are the walking dead if haven't been regenerated inside. If we have no personal relationship with Christ. Yes, apart from Christ we by nature are children of wrath. Wow. Sounds so harsh, but it's true and we each need to address this. The Bible says...
"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.." Ephesians 2:1-6
What we now (after the first garden fall) do naturally, is what we do so easily.. is sin. And sin is fun for a season too..yet there are horrific consequences. The Bible says this. Grace is amazing because it is still 100% free -- it's a gift from a kind God waiting to show you His kindnesses. Yes, though we’re all unworthy of His grace, God still hands it out to people freely... to those who turn and trust.. who believe on His Son, Jesus.
God’s grace is more than sufficient to save not only a so called “good” (moral) person, but the most wicked and vilest of sinners too. God can save any of us. Now that’s amazing! Just ask God to forgive you and make you a new person.
In the Bible you can find that God purchased only one thing and it was us.. we can't add-in paying that back at all. We contribute nothing to this.
You know in my life personally, I've experienced a whole lot of undeserved grace and sometimes in the area of His leading me. Have I ever missed His leading me? Yes, I've been a slow learner, but God is patient and very merciful. Have I ever suffered and experienced trials or testings. Yes. The enemy opposes us -- Mr. LuCifer hates the work of God in people's lives.
"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." 1 Peter 5:10
The God of all grace has a wonderful name -- Jesus. What a privilege it is to daily walk with Him and to proclaim the Message of His great grace.. to go "share His Gospel both at home and abroad, to teach guilty sinners the great love of God. How He planned it in heaven, to send from above His bosom Companion, the Son of His love, To live among sinners, to die on the tree, To receive Divine judgment for you and for me. What love and what mercy! What infinite grace! Christ Jesus was willing to die in our place. Then God sent the Spirit to convict us of sin, To make us new creatures and abide then within. Grace excludes boasting, religion or deeds; Provides for the sinner all that he needs. In Christ we're accepted, complete in God's Son; Saved without doing, by the work He has done. Not by man's wisdom, endeavor or plan; How utterly futile the best work of man! Because Christ was sinless God can be just And justify freely all who will trust. And all who trust Jesus of glory are sure, Preserved by God's power, forever secure. For Christ, in God's presence, appears for His own And makes intercession as He sits on God's throne. And sealed by the Spirit who abides all the way, The believer is waiting for that glorious day; When the blessed Lord Jesus shall in glory appear; The day of redemption! We wonder how near! Then all that is mortal no longer shall be, In glorified bodies our Lord we shall see. And if we are faithful, with Him we shall reign, For our labours in Jesus shall not be in vain. With such grace abounding, such power Divine! Why do we falter, doubt or repine? And why do lost sinners remain in their state Condemned now already and hereafter such fate?"
He came here, He lived sinless, He died, He rose from the dead ..so that you could experience His compassionate grace! Jesus is the living word and is SO there for you.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14
Thank you Lord for your grace! Your "wonderful, marvelous, infinite grace, abounding more than sin; When Christ at Calvary took our place, He was man; but God within. The worldly rulers never knew God's mystery revealed, The Lord of glory there they slew, Him whom God had sealed. Rich was He in heaven above, in the form of God up there; Bosomed in His Father's love, He saw us in despair, Ruined, hopeless, helpless, weak; like sheep all gone astray; He will come the lost to seek, to put our sin away. In tender mercy down He came; came to save the lost; Creator here with human frame; see what sin has cost. Not all the silver and the gold could for guilt atone; No scheme of man that's new or old; but Christ Himself alone. Yes, lower than the angels made, made to suffer death; All our sins on Him were laid, when He yielded up His breath. Willing all our guilt to bear, to die for you and me; "Finished," cried the Saviour there, nailed to Calvary's tree. Now what work must man supply beside what Christ hath done? Our God will freely justify all who trust His Son. This is grace, yes grace Divine, sufficient grace indeed: Abounding grace that knows no line: for the vilest sinner's need. Every claim Christ satisfied to clear the human race; Between two thieves He bled and died, O what matchless grace! Death with Him was but a spell; He took up the life He gave, God did not leave His soul in hell, nor His body in the grave. Death abolished, He has its key, and the key of hades, too; Such a Christ for you and me, a living Saviour true. A risen Christ at God's right hand, whose love has never ceased; All power known at His command, an interceding Priest. In heaven on His Father's throne, that blessed throne of grace, Pleading ever for His own, He's never lost a case. He's never lost a single one, never failed to keep All the Father gives the Son, that Shepherd of the sheep. He seals them with the Holy Ghost, unto redemption day: Saves them to the uttermost; Hear the Saviour pray, My glory, Father, let them see; my glory let them share, Where I am, pray, let them be; God has heard that prayer. Grace is this, and nothing less; only grace can tell Why a sinner God should bless, and save his soul from hell. In Adam none will heaven reach, not a single man, In Christ alone who healed the breach believing sinners can. While with patience here below we run for Christ the race, What a blessed fact to know, sufficient is His grace. Here surrounded by our foes, with conflicts all around, In the midst of all our woes He makes His grace abound. If in fervent prayer we ask we'll never be denied, For every trial, every task, grace will be supplied; Whatever sickness or distress, sorrow, wound or ache, When heavy burdens sorely press, from that supply we take. Exceeding riches of His grace, in ages after this, When we've reached that heavenly place to enjoy eternal bliss. God the Father then will show, in kindness through His Son, There in glory we shall know, know every chosen one. No matter what your temporal gain, if your soul you lose; All this life will prove but vain, if Christ you do not choose. This is still the day of grace, the door is open wide; Faith will find for you a place, a place with Christ inside. Answer then the Spirit, yes, as He convicts of sin, Christ as Saviour, then confess; and He will enter in. Eternal life with Him above, victory here and peace; Dwelling in eternal love, His grace shall never cease." Facebook.com/shareJesus
Ain’t gunna mess with what He did – it’s good. Why should I? He decided, who am I to question it? He knows better. Yeah, I’m good with it -- really ain't as complicated as people make it. Glad that God made men infinitely superior.. in being men. For a good purpose. 
