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Note: The author of this work believes without reservation, that the King James Bible is more than just a priceless work of literary art, which it is. But it is has indeed been preserved without error by God's providence as an infallible book that the common man in the English speaking world can hold and own, and the light it can give rest entirely on that man's faith in it and its Author. And all those who believe otherwise have either been duped, have an unclean motive, are just ignorant or see no issue of importance in having God's word readily available in an infallible form. No amount of linguist ability can give any extra light if there is doubt to its content, the Holy Spirit will not honour anyone that want to subject this English Bible to an inferior position. |
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The Starting Line
The key words in the books of the Bible and how they start are like a compass to the doctrine they hold. "GRACE" IS PAUL’S STARTING LINE All of Paul’s Epistles Start out With Grace And Finish With It. Grace appears in the Old Testament 39 times and 122 times in the New Testament. I know Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, but over all if I want to go to the "mother load of grace" it would be in the writings of Paul. The breakdowns of the New Testament Books are as follows. Matthew 0, Mark 0, Luke 1, John 3, Acts 10, The writings of Paul the word grace appears 99 times. The rest of the books in the New Testament are as follows (16 times). (KJV) Jam_1:11; Jam_4:6; 1Pe_1:2; 1Pe_1:10; 1Pe_1:13; 1Pe_3:7; 1Pe_4:10; 1Pe_5:5; 1Pe_5:10; 1Pe_5:12; 2Pe_1:2; 2Pe_3:18; 2Jo_1:3; Jud_1:4; Rev_1:4; Rev_22:21;Let us just briefly speak of grace. Paul speaks of grace as a free gift and the old acronym holds true. G od’s Riches At Christ ExpenseTherefore, Paul starts with grace and the finishing line of all his epistles is grace in one form or another. Rom 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you all. Amen.The old hymn speaks of the starting and finishing line. ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. 1. The self righteous know nothing of the grace of God The publican, if he was truthful, was a morally good man by human standards. Yet, he never even made it to the starting line.Luke 18:10-15 KJV Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men [are], extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified [rather] than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Truly, the sad thing about men like the Pharisee is they will be in hell forever with extortioners, the unjust, adulterers and those of lesser character. Why? Because they think they can approach the Throne of Grace with equal footing. Isa 40:25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;The standard of God's righteousness is Jesus Christ and neither you nor the Pharisee measure up.
2. Saving grace not only points to our sinfulness but the starting line of grace personified is The Lord Jesus Christ. Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean [thing] out of an unclean? not one.Ecc 7:20 For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.Rom 5:21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.John 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
3. Grace does not condone sin as some have alleged. But gives us the strength to over come its dominion. Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
4. Only the Gospel of the Grace of God magnifies the sufferings of our Lord. Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:Isa 52:14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
5. Grace rejects the notion that Jesus is my CO-pilot or "CO-Saviour". Let say that salvation cost a dollar. Does Jesus pay 75 cents and I pay the other quarter? This is what the doctrine of works teaches. Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;Grace declares we come to the throne of grace empty handed and no sacrifice or suffering on our part has any merit. Any other doctrine, no matter how subtle, teaches that the suffering of our Lord is not sufficient. Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
6. Job asked the age-old question that only grace could answer and give assurance on. Job 25:4 How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean [that is] born of a woman? This illustration will answer works and reformation. Suppose you had committed a crime worthy of death decades ago in Scotland and you fled to America. You changed your name, became the most outstanding citizen in your new community. You were known for your charity and acts of kindness. Then there can that knock on the door and your old identity was discovered and you were expedited back to Scotland.
Question would they be unjust for punishing you for your crime? Your good deeds in America will not pay for your crime you committed in Scotland. The good deeds you bestow on your fellow man will not appease the demands of God’s law. Only God himself can pardon and give the grace to spare you. For the transgression is against his law and his bar of justice. 1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:In closing Paul’s starting and finishing line is the matchless grace that is bestowed on the redeemed. It is a debt that we can never repay, for that debt would be paid by works. Yet because of our Lord’s unspeakable gift we serve out of love a debt that can never be repaid. 2Co 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.Dark is the stain that we cannot
hide. Grace, grace, God's grace Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God's grace Grace that is greater than all my sin.
I f you are not 100% sure that you are going to Heaven when you die, enter in at the the door:
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