HOW WE COME TO SAVING GRACE

HOW WE COME TO SAVING GRACE- 1-31-16-stonegableblog.com

I love to hear the stories of how people come to know the Lord. We all have different stories. Some are dramatic and some more simple and ordinary. Some people come to know Jesus at such a young age they feel like they have always known Christ and believed in Him. Some people, like me, come to submit their lives to Jesus Christ as adults. What is saving faith? Let’s talk about it.

Did you ever think of how all of us, different people, different ages, different cultures, different races, and different life experiences, all come to know the saving grace of Jesus Christ? Let’s look at what draws us to know and love the Lord!

Last week we talked about HOW ALL PEOPLE KNOW THERE IS A GOD. This week’s post dovetails perfectly into the last’s.

As many of you know, I’m in a Bible Study that is studying Romans right now. There are so many weighty Christian topics discussed in this amazing book! Romans tackles huge doctrinal subjects as sin, judgement, saving belief, grace, peace, sanctification, covenant, baptism, circumcision, election, the Jewish nation’s destiny, the Gentile nation’s destiny, Christian behavior and so much more! It is a book all believers should study in depth!

Tucked in chapter two is this precious nugget of truth:

OR DO YOU THINK LIGHTLY ABOUT THE RICHES OF HIS KINDNESS AND TOLERANCE AND PATIENCE, NOT KNOWING THAT THE KINDNESS OF GOD LEADS TO REPENTANCE? Romans 2:4

It is the KINDNESS of God that leads us to a changed heart and a change of our “inner man”. Our heart is our thoughts, will, emotion, intellect and character!

I find this so so beautiful. It’s not the threat of hell and damnation or personal correction or anything we do or say that leads people to believe, it is God’s wonderful kindness!

Romans also says,

FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.

Romans 10:17 says that people need to hear the good new of Jesus Christ to believe. And the message of the gospel is literally “good news”.

These two verses are galvanized, link together, in the most beautiful way. When we hear (or read) about what God has done for us because of His kindness we can make the choice to believe. That is exactly how I came to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior! It was when I heard and understood just the smallest truth of the gospel I saw the goodness and love and kindness of God and that is exactly what lead me to repentance!

It is what leads everyone to Jesus! God’s kindness in what He has done for us is astonishing! Romans 5:8 says

BUT GOD SHOWS HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US.

God loves us so much He sent Jesus to “die for you and me”. And he sacrificed His very own Son while we were enemies of God!

FOR IF, WHILE WE WERE GOD’S ENEMIES WE WERE RECONCILED TO HIM THROUGH THE DEATH OF HIS SON, HOW MUCH MORE, HAVING BEEN RECONCILED , SHALL WE BE SAVED THROUGH HIS LIFE. Romans 5:10

This is the kindness of God!

And God waits with patience and forbearance for us to come to Him and believe! God’s kindness is limitless. No matter who we are and what we have done God is waiting for you and me. He is offering forgiveness and reconciliation! He wants to lovingly adopt us as His son or daughter. He wants you and me to live with Him for eternity.

GOD DECIDED IN ADVANCE TO ADOPT US INTO HIS OWN FAMILY BY BRINGING US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. THIS IS WHAT HE WANTED TO DO AND IT GAVE HIM GREAT PLEASURE. Ephesians 1:5

God is so gracious and kind and loving. It gives Him great pleasure to have us in His family!

We are drawn to God by His boundless kindness and come to the saving grace of Jesus when we hear about His love and kindness for us!

How about you? Have you heard about the kindness of the Lord? You might want to read WHAT DOES FAITH MEAN… SAVING FAITH?

This week’s memorization verse is:

OR DO YOU THINK LIGHTLY ABOUT THE RICHES OF HIS KINDNESS AND TOLERANCE AND PATIENCE, NOT KNOWING THAT THE KINDNESS OF GOD LEADS TO REPENTANCE? Romans 2:4

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20 Comments

  1. I love reading you every Sunday! I just love your blog and love that you are also a Christian. Thank you for doing this for your many fans. God is good!!!

  2. AMEN. We all need to get on our knees more often. We all need to enjoy the gifts from GOD more often.

  3. Judy Swinea says:

    Thank you so much for these Sunday posts and your witness. It is good to remember God’s amazing love and kindness and the statement of how it gives Him pleasure to have us in His family hit home for me today.

  4. Such a beautiful teaching. Thank you so much.

  5. Thank you! Have you shared your testimony on this blog? If not, will you consider sharing? Enjoy your day!

      1. Waiting…. 🙂

  6. Amen, Yvonne, God is so good! The Gospel is indeed the good news – in fact it’s the best news! Jesus is so precious to me and I thank and praise Him every day for saving me.

    Looking forward to next Sunday’s post 🙂

    Kristen

  7. Thank you Yvonne, for these words that are faith building. I am praying for my daughter and her friends, who served Christ when they were young to come back to Christ. These verses give me assurance knowing that as I show God’s grace and mercy to them, God is faithful to bring them back into His family.

  8. Over a year ago, our church and Life Groups did a study on becoming a Romans 12 Christian with a video series by Chip Ingram. It was so good, and challenged us all to delve deeper into our faith, and truly become who God wants us to be.
    I was born into a Christian home, and gave my life to the Lord at age 11. But with life passing by with all of the business, it is easy to fall into a rut, and be a status quo Christian. Studying Romans is a good cure for that.
    I love your Sunday posts because they renew my mind!
    I am praying for you as you go through whatever trials have gotten you down lately, and for your son as he heals from his surgery. God is Good. All.The.Time.

    1. Jule, Thanks so much for praying for my son, Christopher. He came through the surgery beautifully! He is now at home and doing just fine, considering. There are months and months of rehab yet to come. Please pray for a perfect knitting together of his bones and a better than every new pelvis and body. Thanks!

  9. Thank you for continuing your Sunday series…you have a gift for making Scripture understandable…thank you for sharing these truths each week!

  10. Would love to hear your testimony!

  11. Ellie LaJuett says:

    You are a gift that keeps on giving. I just love you, and the way you praise God and all his goodness and love!

  12. Thank you for faithfully sharing the good news here and using the blog as a forum to encourage others in their walk with the Lord. As I read your post this evening I was reminded of Ephesians 2:8-9. It brings me great comfort to know that the work of salvation is only and wholly the Lord’s. Praising the Lord for you!

  13. Such a great word. Was reading some of the post and saw the update on your
    son. Praise the Lord! I will continue to keep him and his wife in prayer. Such an
    Encouraging report.
    Be Blessed
    Hugs ,

  14. Thank you for sharing your study with us. You have a beautiful way of explaining the Word with enthusiam and love. Keep it up!

  15. Thank you, Yvonne, for another Sunday lesson. You write in such a way we can all learn and be encouraged in faith. I, along with many others, appreciate and look forward to it each week! Have a great week!

  16. I am committing this thought verse to my heart. Prayers over you always.
    Continuing in healing prayer for your son. We serve a Mighty God.

  17. Thank you for your Sunday spiritual posts. Often life pushes our devotion to God to the back burner, so I am grateful to you for sharing your devotion as it gives me the inspiration and humility to hear God’s Word.