And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God, And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens. Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. And now for a little space grace hath been shewed from the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. (Ezra 9:5-8)
Ezra learned of the compromise and sin of many of the priests and people to marry those who were not of Israel and pollute the faith and cried out to the Lord on behalf of his people. They had disobeyed God’s command not to be unequally yoked with the strangers around them before they were carried off to Babylon, and here they were doing it again. Ezra recognized and wept before God that their iniquity had led their judgment and they were all guilty, as a people and nation, and as individuals for many sins before God.
Ezra also knew that only by the grace of God were any left of Israel. Since all were guilty, and all under condemnation, he knew that only God’s mercy kept them from being destroyed. He pleaded for that mercy to be demonstrated, that they might be punished less than they deserved, and that God might show His righteous judgment even in His tender mercies.
We are no different than the people of Israel. Without the grace of God in Christ, we are sinners with feet of clay just as they were and rightfully under condemnation. But God has commended His love toward us, in that while were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loved each of us so much that because of our guiltiness and righteous sentence of death, He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place. He provided the payment for sin we couldn’t pay, taking on our sin, that we might be made righteous unto our Father through and in Christ our Saviour.
God’s grace is given to those who repent of their sin and put their faith and trust in Him and what He has already done for us. His justice is perfect and righteous and His mercies are renewed every morning. God offers His grace to all who will surrender to Him on His terms, not relying on their own works, and He will save all those who believe in His Word. He wants all to hear Him and be born again unto eternal life, no longer under condemnation for their sin, but a new creature in Christ and elected unto adoption into the family of God. God does not offer fire insurance, a get out of Hell free card, or a license to sin all we want to, but a new abundant and eternal life in and through Him unto holiness and righteousness.
That others might be saved God’s people are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Ezra also knew that only by the grace of God were any left of Israel. Since all were guilty, and all under condemnation, he knew that only God’s mercy kept them from being destroyed. He pleaded for that mercy to be demonstrated, that they might be punished less than they deserved, and that God might show His righteous judgment even in His tender mercies.
We are no different than the people of Israel. Without the grace of God in Christ, we are sinners with feet of clay just as they were and rightfully under condemnation. But God has commended His love toward us, in that while were yet sinners, Christ died for us. He loved each of us so much that because of our guiltiness and righteous sentence of death, He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place. He provided the payment for sin we couldn’t pay, taking on our sin, that we might be made righteous unto our Father through and in Christ our Saviour.
God’s grace is given to those who repent of their sin and put their faith and trust in Him and what He has already done for us. His justice is perfect and righteous and His mercies are renewed every morning. God offers His grace to all who will surrender to Him on His terms, not relying on their own works, and He will save all those who believe in His Word. He wants all to hear Him and be born again unto eternal life, no longer under condemnation for their sin, but a new creature in Christ and elected unto adoption into the family of God. God does not offer fire insurance, a get out of Hell free card, or a license to sin all we want to, but a new abundant and eternal life in and through Him unto holiness and righteousness.
That others might be saved God’s people are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides, with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that others may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our GOD has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of GOD so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of GOD might have life in His Name.
GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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