GRACE:  All that God is free to do for us without giving up any of His divine essence or actual being.

2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abount to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Grace:   Grace is free, unmerited (we don’t earn it or deserve it) love and favor from God. He doesn’t give it to us because of our human works or because we are attractive to Him.

Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

Guilt:   A feeling of self-reproach (accusing ourselves) because we believe that we have done wrong.

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

When we became believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we were put into union with Him. We became a new person IN HIM. Because our position is in Christ, we are acceptable to God. What a place to be! There is nothing that we can do to earn that place or to lose it. That’s GRACE!

Romans 6:11 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God IN CHRIST JESUS [newness of life in Christ].”

Satan wants us to think that we are not IN CHRIST, but that we have to make it on our own. He tries to deceive us by making us think that we have to prove ourselves to God by doing good works. Then, when we fail, Satan wants us to feel GUILTY. He wants us to focus on our mistakes, not on our new life IN CHRIST.

2 Corinthians 2:11 “…in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

When we sin, we get ourselves in bad conditions. God wants to correct us and put us back on the right course. He’ll discipline us to get our attention because He wants us to rebound and keep moving, but He doesn’t want us to have a GUILT trip. He wants us to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, not on ourselves! Get the picture??? God wants us to operate with His GRACE.

Proverbs 3:34 “He makes war against the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble.”

Satan wants us to operate with GUILT. He wants us to feel sooo guilty and ashamed that we separate from God and God’s Word. GUILT is a sin and takes us away from God’s way of thinking. That is just what Satan wants! How lonely and frustrating that is!

Romans 10:17 “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

The Holy Spirit treats us with GRACE, or love. He wants us to be filled with Him so that we can learn Bible doctrine through His enabling power (helping power, which is GRACE). This is how we learn about God and His GRACE! It’s all about GRACE, GRACE, and more GRACE!

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith [Bible doctrine believed] it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards [cares enough to respond to] those who earnestly seek Him.”

Satan uses GUILT to keep us believers from growing near to God and His GRACE. He wants us to focus on what we do rather than on what God did for us at the cross. Satan wants GUILT to control our minds! What a mind trip that is!!!

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”

God’s plan always offers a way to get us on the right course. His plan offers GRACE, forgiveness, and acceptance. He wants us to remember that we are in Christ and that Christ is in us. That will set us free!

John 8:31-32 “To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples [students]. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”

Satan tries to get us away from GRACE and truth since it uncovers his deception. Bible doctrine uncovers Satan’s tricks. He is a liar! Satan is not in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 “But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ [holding no grudges], in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” (In other words, forgive one another, don’t hold grudges.)

When we feel that we have little to be forgiven, or that we are better than others, we generally have less capacity to love. We think that since we are “better” than others, we need less GRACE. We give less GRACE to others. This means that we don’t forgive others! We want them to feel GUILTY!

Read Luke 7:36-47 again.

Because of all that we have been forgiven, as GRACE oriented believers we act with graciousness (love and tenderness) toward people and thankfulness toward God. Therefore, our love for the Lord Jesus Christ is shown by the way we treats others.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brethren, admonish [counsel, warn] the unruly [disobedient], encourage the fainthearted [timid], help the weak, be patient with all men.”

Sometimes we are legalistic, which means that we use human good to gain God’s favor. We try with all our might to be good. We see that it doesn’t work, and we get mixed up and frustrated. Our thinking is off course because we are using human viewpoint. We are focusing on ourselves and going on a GUILT trip!

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

It is a great gift from God to be accepted by Him! Our sins, which are many, have been forgiven! We are given GRACE; we are treated with GRACE. In our newness of life, we are IN CHRIST forever! Our position is IN CHRIST! What a great place to be, and we can’t get out of that place. Our condition, the way we behave, changes, but not our position IN CHRIST. It IS best to live our life with GRACE rather than GUILT!

John 14:20 “On that day [Pentecost] you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you.”

How Do You Want to Live Your Life, with Grace or Guilt?!

Colossians 2:6 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him….”

References used:           Robert R.McLaughlin Bible Ministries   www.gbible.org           Tree of Life for 11-01-98           Cassette tape 0190-408, 10-20-98           Lessons: 3-16-05, 3-18-05, 3-27-05

1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove in vain….”

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