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Pastor Beal

AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND!

"For by GRACE are ye saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God: " Eph. 2:8

As John Newton penned the song, "Amazing Grace," he was searching for a word to describe himself and chose "wretch," -- that saved a wretch like me. He could not believe how amazing it was that God would take him just as he was. Yet he was wise enough to reason that if God would take him, he would be a fool to refuse. Grace is a word that is being abused and misused today. So subtle is Satan, as to take a word, and with the same vocabulary, design his own dictionary. To learn God's grace, one must look to God's word. Eph. 2:8, above, tells us that grace is not of ourselves, and vs. 9 goes on to say, "not of works lest any man should boast." It's clear that grace is not something we earn; so we certainly cannot boast about it. Rom. 3:27, when teaching about grace, asks, "Where is boasting? It is excluded." Have you ever heard someone tell you about all they have done to merit heaven? Salvation glorifies the Savior while saving the sinner! Rom. 4:4-5 teaches us that if one earned grace it would no longer be grace but debt. God's grace places us as debtors to Him, not Him to us. True Biblical grace is unmerited favor. Rom. 11:6 shows the stark contrast of grace and works. If we could justify ourselves by works, then why would God send His Son to die on Calvary? Gal. 2:21, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."

Thanks and God bless! Pastor Earl Beal