The Importance of God’s Mercy (Grace)

God's mercy (grace)

One of the best-sounding stories, particularly among the church folk, is the one about how “I made a decision for Christ that day.”

BUT God’s Word tells us that man does NOT make a decision–God does.

“So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
–Romans 9:16

As if to emphasize the point that it GOD’S MERCY which decides, NOT man’s decision-making, God’s Word informs the reader,

“For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
–Romans 9:15

God wants man to KNOW that it is NOT man (particularly the WORKS of man)–but God–who decides on eternal salvation.

“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
–Romans 4:4-5

BEFORE a person is shown God’s mercy and is saved from eternal damnation, that person was a “child of wrath.”

“Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
–Ephesians 2:3

A person MUST have faith that God will demonstrate His MERCY to all those who SINCERELY place their faith in Jesus Christ.

AND the decision to eternally save a person is made long before that person is even born.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
–Romans 8:28-31

Since God exists at every point in time, past, present and future, He knows who will respond to His offer of eternal mercy BEFORE THEY ARE BORN.

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. “
Psalm 139:16

So, the next time that the reader hears someone say, “I made a decision for Christ” OR someone dramatically asks, “Do you want to make a decision for Christ?”, the reader will understand that the ONLY decision to be made is made by God–and NO ONE ELSE.

“For by grace [mercy] are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
–Ephesians 2:8-9

HAS the reader ever been asked to “make a decision for Christ“?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: February 11, 2020.]

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

image: ETPR

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Author: Jeremiah J Jameson

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