God is the instigator of Grace.
We are simply the vessel(s), the instrument(s), the messenger(s) that God uses to share the Grace of Jesus with the world.
Grace does not always sit right with lost unrighteous people with their responses to the message. There are typically three responses from lost people, to the sharing of the message of Jesus with these people to begin with.
- Indifference
- Anger
- Thankfulness
The person who doesn't believe in God at all will typically respond with an outward attitude of indifference. Don't bother me with Jesus, I don't believe in him, or I don't even believe in God to begin with, is their typical attitude in life and things of God. Yet God is revealed in nature in so many ways; and for those that say they do not believe in God, the bible refers to them as fools, yet they are without excuse.
"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Psalm 14:1
"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20
The person that gets angry at grace are the religionists and legalists. They don't want to hear that their self-works, or their church attendance, or their religion, or their traditions will not gain them eternal life. They are proud of their own self-efforts to please God. They don't want to hear that all their sins have been forgiven on the cross and there is no more sacrifice for their sins. This is why when you share the gospel message with self-righteous folks they will justify themselves for their self efforts and make a mockery of the cross by their confession booth attendance or misinterpretation of 1 John 1:9 and using it as a forgiveness vending machine from God. Be forewarned, just as Jesus was despised and hated by the Pharisees, the teachers of the Law, and the world in general during the time Jesus walked on earth, we too, will feel the wrath of those that despise the message of the Grace of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." James 4:6
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ John 15:18-25
The third response to grace is total thankfulness to God. When one hears that God is not counting your sins against you, the person that receives this message can not help but to say. "Thank You!" to GOD. [2 Corinthians 5:19] For, that is the only response that is acceptable to God. Our response to His drawing us to Himself, is thanksgiving in your heart for what Jesus, God in the flesh has done for you. This is true confession (agreeing with God), and responding with an attitude of gratitude of the heart. Thanksgiving to God is a sign of faith in God. For without faith it is impossible to please God!
"And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" 1 Timothy 1:12
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6
God is drawing you to himself. Which person are you?
Jesus said, "And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32
Are you going to respond with indifference, anger or thanksgiving in your heart?
I implore you, listen to God's calling today and respond by faith.
As it says, "Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:15
Please read the welcome message.
