HEAVENSREEF

One of the most misunderstood concepts of the Gospel is that you cannot earn GOD’S love and forgiveness.  No, you cannot earn HIS love and forgiveness, because it is HIS free gift to you.  But how many of us try to earn HIS love!  

How often do we try to earn GOD’S approval?  Maybe we grew up trying to earn our Mom or Dad’s approval, so we think our Father in Heaven wants us to work hard for HIM.  Daily, we check off our boxes of piety, figuring “ok, today I must look pretty good in HIS eyes.  Just look what I did for GOD today”!

But, we cannot earn HIS approval……..ever.

And why?  Because GOD already approves of us!  No amount of working, or serving, or study or Church going changes how GOD views us……..

JESUS, GOD’S one and only Son, came to save us.

JESUS said in JOHN 19:30: “It is finished.”  With that, HE bowed HIS head and died a criminal’s death.   But, finished means just that.  Our sin problem was taken care of, our accounts were closed because JESUS alone was the atonement for all of our sins and we in turn were made right with GOD once and for all.

We cannot in all of our lives earn what JESUS did for us!  Not one of us deserves HIS sacrifice.

The grace of the Cross is a free gift and we are to take it freely because…….

we cannot earn GOD’S gift of love for us.

We cannot earn it, instead we must turn to it……..turn and accept it with open arms.

When JESUS came wrapped in human skin, HE stood in the gap for us.  HE died in our place.  And because we are in-between two gardens, the garden of Eden and the garden of salvation, all we have to do is: turn and receive.

Turn now with open arms and receive.

ROMANS 5: 17 “SINCE BY THE ONE MAN’S TRESPASS, DEATH REIGNED THROUGH THAT ONE MAN, HOW MUCH MORE WILL THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE OVERFLOW OF GRACE AND THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS REIGN IN LIFE THROUGH THE ONE MAN, JESUS CHRIST.”

When we fully accept this unbelievable, indescribable gift, and when we repent of our sins, what should we do next with this gift of grace?

We share this amazing GOSPEL with others!

Our fully receiving this gift stirs within us a praise of joy and thanksgiving.  There is much joy in receiving much grace.  And that grace should be shared with others.  Isn’t all our joy and happiness wrapped up fully in this one beautiful, sustaining gift?  GOD’S joy of giving is our joy in the receiving and our joy in the sharing.

Let HIS gift for you be treasured within your sweet heart.  Let it sustain you above all else, because you cannot earn it no matter how hard you try.  So stop trying right now.  Believe with whole heart that JESUS died for you!  Take HIS gift freely because there are no strings attached…….just believe in HIM.

Sounds too easy right?  But it is written right here in the Holy WORD of GOD……..embrace today HIS words for you……..

JOHN 3: 16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”