2 Cor 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for

your sakes he became poor, that ye through

his poverty might be rich. (KJV)

Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the

exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness

toward us through Christ Jesus. (KJV)

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and

that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. (KJV)

GOD'S INCREDIBLE AMAZING GRACE. MY MOTIVE IS TWO-FOLD

IN PURPOSE: FIRST I WANT US TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF

GOD'S INCREDIBLE AMAZING GRACE AND 2ND OF ALL I WANT US

TO BECOME A CHURCH THAT CAN CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF

GRACE TOWARDS EACH OTHER AND THE PEOPLE THAT GOD WANTS

TO BRING TO US. CAN OUR CHURCH BECOME A FRIEND OF

SINNERS? NOW I DON'T WANT TO BECOME A USER FRIENDLY

CHURCH THAT CATERS TO THE CARNALITY OF FLESHLY CHRIST-

IANS BUT I DO WANT US TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WHERE

EVEN SINNERS CAN FEEL WELCOMED HERE BECAUSE THEY WON'T

BE JUDGED AND REJECTED BY A WRONG KIND OF AN ATTITUDE

THE PERMEATE THE ATMOSPHERE AROUND US. NOW THAT'S

WHERE I WANT TO GO BUT FIRST LET'S DO A QUICK STUDY ON

THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF GRACE.

ESSENCE OF GRACE. I OWED A DEBT TO GOD FOR MY PERSONAL

SIN, THAT I WAS INCAPABLE OF PAYING. I DESERVED GOD'S

ANGER, WRATH, JUDGEMENT AND ETERNAL SEPARATION. I WAS

DESTINED FOR THE LAND DOWN

UNDER AND I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT AUSTRLIA! JESUS, ON THE

OTHER HAND, HAD THE ABILITY AND THE RESOURCES TO PAY

FOR ALL MY SIN APART FROM ANYTHING THAT I COULD EVER DO TO

ADD TO THAT PAYMMENT, THOUGH WE OFTEN DO TRY TO ADD TO

IT. YES, THOUGH HE WAS RICH YET FOR YOUR SAKES HE

BECAME POOR SO THAT YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT

BECOME RICH: THAT IS THE ESSENCE OF GOD'S INCREDIBLE

AMAZING GRACE. JESUS HAD THE RESOURCES TO PAY OUR DEBT

AND WAS WILLING TO SO HE EMPTIED HIMSELF OF ALL OF HIS

PRE-EXISTENT GLORY, AND BECAME A MAN AND HUMBLED

HIMSELF AND DIED IN OUR PLACE. NOW IN ORDER FOR GRACE

TO BE PROVIDED FOR, JESUS HAD TO PAY THE FULL PRICE FOR

THE AGGREGATE SIN OF MANKIND AND SO HE DESCENDED INTO

HELL FOR THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS. HELL IS THE

PLACE WHERE THE FINAL PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN IS DUE.

JESUS WAS WILLING TO MAKE THAT FINAL PAYMENT FOR OUR

SIN AND WENT TO HELL IN OUR PLACE SO THAT WE WOULDN'T

HAVE TO. WE WERE SOLD UNDER SIN AND DESTINED FOR HELL

BUT WE GOT A WONDERFUL CHANGE IN DESTINY AND NOW GOD IS

HOPING WE'LL ACT LIKE IT WITH GRATEFUL HEART, A HUMBLE

ATTITUDE AND A LOVING, COMPASSIONATE DISPOSITION. FOR

BY GRACE WE HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH, NOT OF OUR-

SELVES NOT OF ANY WORKS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT WE COULD

DO TO EARN IT OR DESERVE IT ANY WAY BECAUSE IT WAS

OFFERD TO US AS A FREE GIFT OF GRACE.

Romans 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.

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without

the law is manifested, being witnessed by

the law and the prophets; (KJV)

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by

faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all

them that believe: for there is no

difference: (KJV)

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the

glory of God; (KJV)

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through

the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a

propitiation through faith in his blood, to

declare his righteousness for the remission

of sins that are past, through the

forbearance of God; (KJV)

Romans 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his

righteousness: that he might be just, and

the justifier of him which believeth in

Jesus. (KJV)

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By

what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of

faith. (KJV)

Romans 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is

justified by faith without the deeds of the

law. (KJV)

ING OF THE WORKINGS OF GRACE. TO BE JUSTIFIED MEANS TO

BE DECLARED RIGHTEOUS BY GOD THE JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE.

WHAT PAUL IS SO ELOQUENTLY TEACHING TO THE CHRISTIANS

AT ROME IS THAT WE CANNOT DO ANYTHING TO DESERVE THE

VERDIT OF JUSTIFICATION BY TRYING TO KEEP THE LAW OR BY

GOOD WORKS. THE STATE OF JUSTIFICATION AND ACCEPTANCE

BY GOD IS A FREE GIFT OF GRACE APART FROM ANYTHING WE

CAN DO TO EARN IT OR DESERVE IT. ITS CALLED A "FREE

GIFT OF GRACE" IN ROMANS 3:24. FREE MEANS FREE! IT

MEANS THAT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO COST ON OUR PART, ITS

A FREE GIFT OF RIGHT STANDING WITH GOD. THIS IS THE

ENTIRE THEME OF THE BOOK OF ROMANS: JUSTIFICATION BY

GRACE, THROUGH FAITH, APART FROM ANY WORKS OF RIGHTE-

OUSNESS THAT WE COULD DO TO DESERVE IT.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free

gift. For if through the offence of one

many be dead, much more the grace of God,

and the gift by grace, which is by one man,

Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Romans 5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is

the gift: for the judgment was by one to

condemnation, but the free gift is of many

offences unto justification. (KJV)

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned

by one; much more they which receive

abundance of grace and of the gift of

righteousness shall reign in life by one,

Jesus Christ.) (KJV)

Romans 5:18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment

came upon all men to condemnation; even so

by the righteousness of one the free gift

came upon all men unto justification of

life. (KJV)

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were

made sinners, so by the obedience of one

shall many be made righteous. (KJV)

Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence

might abound. But where sin abounded, grace

did much more abound: (KJV)

Romans 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even

so might grace reign through righteousness

unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

CHAPTER ALONE? HE USED THE WORD, FREE, 3 TIMES IN THIS

CHAPTER ALONE AND A TOTAL OF 11 TIMES IN THE ENTIRE

BOOK. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW FREE IS FREE! THERE IS

ABSOLUTELY NO COST TO YOU, ITS A FREE GIFT. I MEAN

THAT'S WHAT MAKES A GIFT A GIFT, IT DOESN'T COST YOU A

THING. TO THINK THAT WE COULD HAVE THE UNMERITED,

UNEARNED AND UNQUALIFIED FAVOR AND BLESSING OF GOD ON

OUR LIVES. IT SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE AND THAT'S WHY

WE CALL IT THE INCREDIBLE, AMAZING GRACE OF GOD.

WITH GOD. IN ROMANS 5:18 WE WILL LOOK AT THE WORDS

FREE, GIFT AND GRACE.

FREE GIFT: Strong's # 5486 charisma (khar'-is-mah);

from 5483; a (divine) gratuity, i.e.

deliverance (from danger or passion);

(specifically) a (spiritual) endowment,

i.e. (subjectively) religious

qualification, or (objectively)

miraculous faculty:

KJV-- (free) gift. (DIC)

GRACE: Strong's # 5485 charis (khar'-ece);

from 5463; graciousness (as

gratifying), of manner or act (abstract

or concrete; literal, figurative or

spiritual; especially the divine

influence upon the heart, and its

reflection in the life; including

gratitude):

KJV-- acceptable, benefit, favour,

gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality,

pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy). (DIC)

THESE ENGLISH WORDS, GRACE, FREE AND GIFT. GRACE IS

THE DIVINE ACT OF GIVING TO SOMEONE TO WHOM IT DOES NOT

NATURALLY BELONG. THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF SALVATION BY

GRACE IS THE IDEA OF A GIFT OF GOD TO BE RECEIVED BY

FAITH APART FROM WORKS. BUT THE INTERESTING THING THAT

I SEE IN THIS GREEK WORD "CHARIS" IS WHAT STRONG'S

DEFINITION SAYS: THE ACT OF THE DIVINE INFLUENCE UPON

THE HEART AND ITS REFLECTION IN THE LIFE INCLUDING

GRADTITUDE. THE MOST NATURAL CONSEQUENCE OF RECEIVING

A GIFT SHOULD BE GRATITUDE AND THAT GRATITUDE SHOULD BE

EXPRESSED THROUGH A LIFE OF THANKSGIVING AND THANKS-

LIVING. I DARE TO USE THE WORD "SHOULD" BECAUSE IT

CONVEYS THE IDEA OF RESPONSIBILITY ON OUR PART MAKING

THE EXPRESSION OF RECEIVING THE GIFT OF GRACE AN UN-

NATURAL EXPRESSION OF WORK. WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK

AT LOVING THE UNLOVABLE IT SHOULD BE THE NATURAL,

SPONTANEOUS EXPRESSION OF THE DIVING LIFE IMPARTED TO

US. YOU SEE, HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THE CHURCH IN

AMERICA TODAY: WE'VE SUSTITUTED RELIGION & LEGALISM FO

RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS AND HAVE BECOME BEWITCHED INTO

A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BASED ON EFFORT AND WORK JUST

LIKE THE CHURCH AT GALATIA. WE READ:

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you,

that ye should not obey the truth, before whose

eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set

forth, crucified among you? (KJV)

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? (KJV)

Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit,

are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (KJV)

Gal 3:4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it

be yet in vain. (KJV)

Gal 3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the

Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth

he it by the works of the law, or by the

hearing of faith? (KJV)

Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was

accounted to him for righteousness. (KJV)

IN THE CHURCH TODAY KNOWN AS RELIGION. RATHER THAN

TRUSTING IN THE ABILITY OR MAN, LEGALISM PLACES TRUST

IN RULES AND REGULATIONS AS A MEANS OF MAINTAINING

RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. OK, YOU'VE BEEN SAVED BY

GRACE NOW YOU NEED TO ACT LIKE IT BY FOLLOWING THESE

RULES. WE PUT THE OBLIGATION AND RESONSIBILITY ON MAN.

LEGALISM IS ONE OF THE GREATEST STUMBLING BLOCKS TO NEW

CHRISTIANS AND IT CAN BE FOUND IN EVERY CONGREGATION

AND IT MAY BE THE SINGLE GREATEST PROBLEM WE FACE AS

THE WESTERN CHURCH. HERE IN GAL.3 PAUL IS DEBATING

GRACE THROUGH FAITH APART FROM CIRCUMCISION OR WORKS.

YOU SEE, THERE WERE CERTAIN JEWISH CHRISTIANS THAT FELT

THAT THE NEW GENTILE BELIEVERS SHOULD NOT ONLY PLACE

THEIR TRUST IN CHRIST, BUT ALSO TAKE ON THE YOKE OF THE

JEWISH LAW. AS MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST, THE

GALATIAN LEADERS INSISTED THAT THEY ALSO BE CIRCUM-

CISED. PAUL WAS WRITING TO THE GALATIANS REMINDING

THEM THAT RETURNING TO THE LAW BRINGS THE CHURCH UNDER

A CURSE IN GAL. 3:10 "For as many as are under the

works of the law, are under the curse, for it is

written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all

the things which are written in the book of the law to

do them. BECAUSE CICUMCISION WAS PAR OF THE MOSAIC

LAW, THE GALATIAN BELIEVERS WERE GOING BACK UNDER THE

CURSE. YOU SEE, THE TENDENCY AMONG CHRISTIANS THROUGH-

OUT THE AGES HAS BEEN TO COMBINE GRACE WITH WORKS.

GRACE AND WORKS DO NOT MIX WELL, ITS LIKE OIL AND

WATER, THEY DON'T MIX AT ALL. THE REASON WE TRY TO

COMBINE THE TWO IS BECAUSE IT JUST SEEMS TO GOOD AND

TOO EASY TO BE TRUE: THAT WE CAN COME INTO RIGHT

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND THEREBY ENTITLED TO COMMUNE

WITH GOD, TO WORSHIP HIM AND TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH

HIM. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO ACHEIVE RIGHTEOUSNESS

WITH GOD AND THAT IS THROUGH FAITH. ITS A RIGHTEOUSNES

WHICH COME BY FAITH AND FAITH ALONE.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God?

God forbid: for if there had been a law given

which could have given life, verily

righteousness should have been by the law.

Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under

sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ

might be given to them that believe. (KJV)

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the

law, shut up unto the faith which should

afterwards be revealed. (KJV)

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to

bring us unto Christ, that we might be

justified by faith. (KJV)

Gal 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer

under a schoolmaster. (KJV)

Gal 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in

Christ Jesus. (KJV)

HIS TOTAL INABILITY TO KEEP THE LAW. THE WAS OUR

SCHOOLMASTER OR PERSONAL TUTOR TO BRING US TO CHIRST.

IF THERE HAD BEEN A LAW WHICH COULD HAVE GIVEN ETERNAL

LIFEN THEN RIGHTEOUSNESS WOULD HAVE BEEN BY THE KEEPING

OF THE LAW. YOU SEE, IF WE COULD BE BROUGHT INTO RIGHT

RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH THE KEEPING OF RULES AND

REGULATIONS, THEN JESUS DIED NEEDLESSLY. WE WOULDN'T

NEED HIM.

Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in

drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the

new moon, or of the sabbath days: (KJV)

WHETHER YOU DONT DRINK OR DON'T SMOKE. PLEASE DON'T

MISUNDERSTAND ME THIS MORNING, I AM NOT ADVOCATING

DRINKING AND SMOKING. THE SIMPLE POINT IS THAT THERE

IS ONLY ONE WAY TO BE RIGHT WITH GOD AND ITS RIGHTE-

OUSNESS THAT COMES BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN WHAT

CHRIST ACCOMPLISHED FOR YOU AT THE CROSS. DRINKING

WINE WITH YOUR MEAL WILL NEITHER MAKE YOU RIGHTEOUS OR

UNRIGHTEOUS. YOU SEE, MANY WELL MEANING CHURCHES

IMPOSE LEGALISTIC PRACTICES UPON THEIR PEOPLE. ONE

DEMONINATION INSISTS ON MEETING FOR WORSHIP ON

SATURDAYS ONLY, AND ANOTHER INSISTS THAT THE ONLY RIGHT

DAY IS SUNDAYS. PAUL NOT ONLY URGED THE GALTIANS TO

LET NO PERSON JUDGE THEM ACCORDING TO DRINK BUT ALSO

ACCORDING TO SABBATH DAYS. IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE

SABBATH, GO AHEAD, BUT DON'T IMPOSE YOUR CONVICTIONS ON

EVERYBODY ELSE.

SIN IS SEES IN OTHER PEOPLE. WHEN A CHURCH RESPONDS TO

SIN OUT OF FEAR OF ITS SPREADING THEY IMPOSE MORE LAW.

THAT CHURCH SIMPLY OPENS ITSELF UP TO MORE OF THE

CURSE. THE MORE SIN THEY SEE THE MORE THEY IMPOSE THE

LAW. THE MORE LAW THEY IMPOSE THE MORE RULES THERE ARE

TO BREAK. THE MORE RULES THAT ARE BROKEN, THE MORE

LAW THEY IMPOSE. DO YOU SEE IT, ITS A VICIOUS CYCLE

THAT RESULTS IN A DEFEATED, LIFELESS, IMPOTENT, MEZME-

IZED, BEWITCHED CHURCH. THE LAW WILL NEVER MAKE YOU

RIGHT WITH GOD. WILL ABSTAINING FROM MEAT ON FRIDAYS

MAKE YOU RIGHTEOUS? WILL WEARING YOUR HAIR IN A BUN,

NOT WEARINGN A WEDDING BAND OR WEARING TEN INCHES OF

EXTRA DRESS LENGTH MAKE YOU RIGHTEOUS BEFORE GOD. NOT

A BIT OF IT. IT'S ONLY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH THAT

WE ARE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD.

UNDER THE MOSAIC LAW, IT MORE SUBTLE THAN THAT. MOST

CHURCHES THROW OUT THE LAW OF MOSES WITH A NEW SET OF

LAWS ALL THEI OWN. THERE'S BAPTITS LAW, PENTECOSTAL

LAW, WORD OF FAITH LAW, ASSEMBLIES OF GOD LAW,

CATHLOLIC LAW, LUTHERAN LAW, WESELYAN LAW, YOU NAME THE

DENOMINATION, EACH HAS ITS OWN SET OF LAWS. A CHURCH

CAN EVEN BE NON-DENOMINATIONAL, INTERDENOMINATIONAL OR

TRANSDENOMINATIONAL AND HAVE A SET OF LAWS WHICH ARE AS

BINDING AS THE ORDINANCES THAT JESUS ABLOISHED AT

CALVARY. A CHURCH CAN BE STEEPED WITH RELIGIOUS

ACTIVITY AND CEREMONY BUT BE ABSOLUTELYU DEVOID OF

LIFE. NOW DENOMINATIONAL RULES, RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES

AND CHURCH ACTIVITIES HAVE A PURPOSE AND PLACE IN THE

CHURCH BUT ITS NEVER SUPPOSE TO MAKE ON RIGHTEOUS.

WHEN THEY ARE USED AS A MEASURE FOR RIGHTEOUNESS, THEY

HAVE BEEN USED TO OBSCURE THE CROSS AND HAVE BECOME A

BEWITCHMENT.. YOU SEE, LEGALISM AND TRUSTING IN THE

NATURAL ABILITY OF MAN ARE SO DECEPTIVE BECAUSE THEY

SEEM SO GOOD AND LOOK SO RELIGIOUS. THAT'S WHY

LEGALISM AND TRUSTING IN THE FLESH IS SUCH A BEWITH-

MENT. EVERY TIME I TRY AND JUSTIFY MY ACTIONS OR

BELIEFS BE KEEPING RULES, I STEP BACK INTO THE FLESH

AND MORE AWAY FROM MY FAITH-RIGHTEOUSNESS. I HAVE TO

READ MY BIBLE AND PRAY EVERY DAY OR I CAN'T BE A

CHRISTIAN IS A RULE IMPOSED ON EVERY NEW BELIEVER AND

IS INGRAINED UPON THE HEART OF EVERY BELIEVER. AND YET

I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING TO EARN MY RIGHT STANDING

WITH GOD APART FROM GRACE THROUGH FAITH. I DON'T READ

MY BIBLE AND PRAY BECAUSE I HAVE TO TO BE A CHRISTIAN,

I DO IT BECAUSE I WANT TO AND BECAUSE I LOVE GOD AND

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT HIM AND WHAT PLEASES HIM. DO

YOU SEE HOW DECEPTIVE IMPOSING LAWS AND RULES CAN BE.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation

hath appeared to all men, (KJV)

Titus 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and

worldly lusts, we should live soberly,

righteously, and godly, in this present

world; (KJV)

GOD WANTS TO SEE EXPRESSED THROUGH OUR LIVES. IF WE

IMPOSE BIBLE READING AND PRAYER AS A PREREQUSITE TO

SALVATION THEN WHEN I FAIL TO KEEP THE RULE I FALL INTO

GUILT, CONDEMNATION AND SELF-JUDGEMENT. WHEN WE IMPOSE

RULES AND REGULATIONS IN OUR CHURCH WE SUBJECT OTHERS

TO FEELINGS OF GUILT, CONDENATION AND JUDGEMENT AND THE

SAD THING IS WE ESTABLISH AND ATMOSPHERE OF GUILT, CON-

DEMNATION AND JUDGEMENT IN OUR CHURCHES.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you:

for ye are not under the law, but under

grace. (KJV)

BONDAGE AND SLAVERY. CHRISTIANS CANNOT OPERATE IN

BONDAGE AND SLAVERY FOR VERY LONG BEFORE IT BEGINS TO

HAVE SOME ADVERSE EFFECTS UPON THEIR LIVES. YOU SEE,

CONDEMNATION IS THE ACCUSATION OF THE ENEMY WHICH

ASSERTS THAT YOU ARE NO GOOD, YOU'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO

ANYTHING. GUILT IS WHAT WE FEEL IF WE ACCEPT AND

BELIEVE THOSE STATEMENTS. YOU'RE RIGHT, I'M NO GOOD

AND I'LL NEVER AMOUNT TO ANYTHING. EVERY CONDEMNING

VOICE COMES THROUGH SATAN AND MOST OF THE TIME IT

COPES THROUGH CHURCHES THAT IMPOSE ALLOT OF RULES AND

REGULATIONS THAT YOU NEED TO KEEP IF YOU'RE GONNA BE A

GOOD CHRISTIAN. YOU SEE, LEGALSIM IS THE FUEL THAT

KEEPS THE FIRE OF CONDEMNATION AND GUILT BLAZING OUT OF

CONTOL IN CHURCHES ACROSS AMERICA. OUR CHURCHES HAVE

BECOME CESSPOOLS OF GOSSIP, CRITICSIM, BACK-BITING AND

JUDGEMENT INSTEAD OF LOVING, CARING, COMPASSIONATE AND

GRACIOUS HOSPITALS FOR HURTING PEOPLE. OUR RELIGION

AND LEGALISM HAS CREATED AN ATMOSPHERE THAT IS HOSTILE

TO ANYONE WHO SINS WHETHER THAY ARE CHRISTIAN OR

NON-CHRISTIAN. YOU SEE, GOD WANTS US TO CREATE AND

ATMOSPHERE OF GRACE IN OUR CHURCH BY SETTING US FREE

FROM RELIGION AND LEGALISM BY RETURNING US TO THE ROOTS

OF OUR FAITH WHICH IS SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

EIGHT YEARS OLD WHEN SHE AND HER MOTHER GOT SAVED. aS

SHE GREW OLDER, FAMLIY PRESSURES FORCED HER TO LEAVE

HOME AND MAKE A LIFE FOR HERSELF. SUZANNE STRAYED AWAY

FROM GOD AND SOON DISCOVERED THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT.

THE BABY'S FATHER DIDN'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER

OR THE BABY AND LEFT HER. EXPECTING TO RECEIVE SOME

HELP SHE TOLD HER MOTHER BUT INSTEAD RECEIVED ONLY

REJECTION. EMBARRASED BY SUZANNE'S ACTIONS, HER MOTHER

ASKED HER TO STAY AWAY--ESPECIALLY FROM CHURCH.

FEELING REJECTED BY HER FAMILY AND BOYFRIEND, SHE

CONTEMPLATED SUICIDE. SUZANNE FINALLY DECIDED TO ABORT

THE CHILD BECAUSE SHE COULDN'T PROVIDE A HOME FOR HER.

ABORTION, AGAINST HER MOTHER'S ADVISE, SHE CONTACTED

HER PASTOR FOR COUNSELING. HE WAS VERY SYMPATHETIC.

SUZANNE RECOMMITTED HER TO JESUS AND FORGAVE HER

BOYFRIEND, HER FAMILY AND ESPECIALLY HERSELF.

DEROGATORY COMMENTS FROM HER FORMER FRIENDS. WHEN

SUZANNE TRIED TO RECONCILE HER RELTIONSHIP WITH HER

MOTHER, SHE REJECTED HER BECAUSE SHE DID NOT WANT TO

HAVE THE STIGMA OF BEING A "BABYKILLERS' MOTHER.

SUZANNE WAS CRUSHED. THE PAIN OF REJECTION AND THE

STING OF GUILT AND CONDEMNATION DROVE SUZANNE FROM

CHURCH ONCE AGAIN. WHAT HAPPENED HERE? SUZANNE WAS

CONVICTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, REDEDICATED HER LIFE TO

GOD AND FORGAVE EVERYONE. SHE RETURNED TO THE CHURCH

HOPING TO RECEIVE FORGIVENESS, BUT INSTEAD WAS RE-

JECTED WITH CONDEMNING LOOKS AND WORDS BY HER FRIENDS

AND FAMILY AND GUILT DROVE HER BACK OUT TO THE WORLD.

Luke 15:11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

Luke 15:12 And the younger of them said to his father,

Father, give me the portion of goods that

falleth to me. And he divided unto them his

living. (KJV)

Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son

gathered all together, and took his journey

into a far country, and there wasted his

substance with riotous living. (KJV)

Luke 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a

mighty famine in that land; and he began to

be in want. (KJV)

Luke 15:15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen

of that country; and he sent him into his

fields to feed swine. (KJV)

Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with

the husks that the swine did eat: and no man

gave unto him. (KJV)

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How

many hired servants of my father's have

bread enough and to spare, and I perish with

hunger! (KJV)

Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will

say unto him, Father, I have sinned against

heaven, and before thee, (KJV)

Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son:

make me as one of thy hired servants. (KJV)

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But

when he was yet a great way off, his father

saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and

fell on his neck, and kissed him. (KJV)

Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have

sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and

am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring

forth the best robe, and put it on him; and

put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his

feet: (KJV)

Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill

it; and let us eat, and be merry: (KJV)

Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive

again; he was lost, and is found. And they

began to be merry. (KJV)

CONGREGATIONS IN AMERICA TODAY. WHEN BACKSLIDDERS

RETURN TO THE CHURCH WE WANT TO PUT THEM THROUGH A

BATTERY OF MORAL TESTS AND MAKE THEM PAY FOR LEAVING IN

THE FIRST PLACE. AFTER ALL, WHEN THEY LEFT US THEY

HURT US AND SOMEONES GOT TO PAY SO IT MIGHT AS WELL BE

THEM. WHY CAN'T WE CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF GRACE IN

OUR CHURCHES AND CONGREGATIONS WHERE WE CAN WELCOME THE

PRODIGAL BACK JUST LIKE THE FATHER IN THE PARABLE AND

BE LOOKING FOR THEIR RETURN AND RUNNING OUT TO MEET

THEM AND SMOTHERING THEM WITH KISSES. LISTEN THE

SCRIPTURES SAYS THAT THERE IS MORE JOY IN HEAVEN WHEN

ON SINNER REPENTS THAN WHEN 99 JUST PERSONS NEED NO

REPENTANCE. WE NEED TO HAVE A DISPOSITION OF LOVE, JOY

PEACE, GENTLENESS, MEEKNESS AND SELF-CONTROL WHEN

SINNERS COME HOME. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? IT WILL

NEVER BE POSSIBLE IF WE ARE A LEGALISTIC, RULE SETTING,

RELIGIOUS ORIENTED CHURCH. IT WILL ONLY WORK WHEN

GRACE IS THE FOUNDATION AND BASIS FOR ALL OUR

RELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST, THOSE

OUTSIDE OF CHRIST AND WITH GOD HIMSELF.

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you, not to

think of himself more highly than he ought

to think; but to think soberly, according

as God hath dealt to every man the measure

of faith. (KJV)

1 Cor 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. (KJV)

IN OUR CHURCH? ITS PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE

EARNED THEIR RIGHT STANDING AND POSITION IN THE CHURCH

BY ADHEREING STRICTLY TO THEIR RUILES AND BY

MAINTAINING GOOD ATTENDANCE. THEY ARE CONSIDERED THE

FAITHFUL ONE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO STAND IN JUDGEMENT OF

THE OTHERS. WE'RE LIKE THE OLDER SON IN THE PARABLE OF

THE PRODIGAL SON. WE'RE MAD BECAUSE WE LIVED BY OUR

OWN SELF-IMPOSED RULES, HONORED OUR FATHER AND HIS

HOUSEHOLD AND WERE FAITHFUL TO FULFILL OUR DUTIES. NOW

SOMEONE WHO HASN'T EARNED A POSITION OR MINISTRY CANNOT

RECEIVE IT UNTIL THEY'VE EARNED IT JUST LIKE US. BUT

WHEN WE SEE, LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL THAT IT IS BY THE

GRACE OF GOD AND THE GRACE OF GOD ALONE THAT HE WAS

CALLED