Do you believe God has given Grace to a select few or to everyone?

1. 53

   graceinusposted 12 years ago

   Do you believe God has given Grace to a select few or to everyone?
   
   When Christ died on the cross He took with Him the sins of the whole world. Does this mean His grace is extend to all or only to those who have faith in Him only? Isn't grace a free gift ? Isn't Grace now what the New Covenant is all about?

   replyreport
2. 71

   JMcFarlandposted 12 years ago

   Matthew 7:21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” 23Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”

   replyreport
   1. 53

      graceinusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      JMcFarland- I am VERY happy to read your answer. Many thanks to you.

      replyreport
   2. 74

      SidKempposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      And read the whole chapter, please! Christ states clearly that Grace is from the Father, and will be given to all who ask the Father for it. And doing as we are told, not prophesying or casting out demons, is the sign of receiving grace.

      replyreport
3. 93

   Jackie Lynnleyposted 12 years ago

   I agree with JM. Grace is a free gift and this is the Age of Grace, (soon to end I believe) but you cannot force a gift on someone who does not want it; well God doesn't. We choose to accept or not as we do in right or wrong. Free will.

   replyreport
   1. 53

      graceinusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Jackie Lynnley- I believe grace has been offered to everyone, however I also blieve it is an individual responsability for each person to recognize His Grace for what it is  as a gift and accept it through faith.  Many thanks and blessings

      replyreport
4. 0

   Rayne123posted 12 years ago

   I have to agree here. Grace is there for everyone always. Free of charge with the biggest gift of all, living abundantly in Gods will. However the downside to all of this is free will we have and choose not to accept his grace.
   
   IF we are evildoers and have no compassion or love/kindness than you can be sure that Gods grace will not be extended to us. If we ask and repent, we will live freely in Gods grace.
   
   Its like going to church and assuming that God will never figure out you go just to make yourself look good but in reality once out of church you worship others or continue along your sinful ways.
   
   Well God knows before we do whether or not we will accept his extended grace but once again we are all given free will with consequences.

   replyreport
   1. 53

      graceinusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Rayn123- Like I had mentioned earlier to JL, there is individual responsability of one's free will to accept it or not. Grace is there far everyone. In order to accept it as a gift one has to understand that grace exist. Many thanks for your answer.

      replyreport
5. 69

   connorjposted 12 years ago

   
   
   Although Grace is given to all; most do not recognize it and are completetly blind/unaware of it. Yet, it is indeed most interesting to me that Grace is readily available and most recognizable through our Sacraments given to us by Christ.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      the person you refer to as "christ" did not give any sacraments at all.  that was the addition of the early church.

      replyreport
   2. 69

      connorjposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Dear JMCFarland,
      Indeed Sacraments (read the Gospel of John) were given directly by Christ...

      replyreport
   3. 71

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I've read the gospel of John.  In fact, I've read the entire bible multiple times.  Which "sacraments" are you claiming are from Christ - and not an invention of the early church?

      replyreport
   4. 69

      connorjposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      the 7 sacraments are found in scripture
      baptism=john 3:5
      confirmation,=john 20;22
      eucharist=luke 22;19...1cor,11;24
      confession =john ,20;23
      extreme unction or anointing of the sick=jame 5;14
      holy orders or priesthood =hebrews 5:1ff and 8:3
      marriage

      replyreport
   5. 71

      JMcFarlandposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I see.  Throw out all the ones that were not mentioned by christ at all, and then consider the fact that he did not order these actions as "sacraments" at all, and you have my original statement which stands intact.  Early Church.

      replyreport
6. 60

   IDONOposted 12 years ago

   Grace is there for everybody. Problem is, these blessings need to be recognized, then acted on. People keep praying for things they already have and fail to see. God isn't going to do everything for us. He provides ways for us to do things ourselves. If he did it all, there would be no faith, no effort to please and do the right thing. All the tools are provided and available at all times. We just have to be willing to reach out rather than to think we can do things all on our own. By letting go and turning your will over to God, you will share in his grace. He will not lead you to pain or misery. Even if things get difficult, it's what's necessary to reach something better in the end.
        We have to surrender to win.
        Sadly, it is a select few. But that's our fault. Not God's. He has plenty to go around.

   replyreport
   1. 53

      graceinusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      IDONO- Great answer. Thank you

      replyreport
7. 74

   SidKempposted 12 years ago

   Grace is part of God's creation, not only part of his salvation. As the song goes: "'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear / and grace my fear released."
   
   Grace is offered to all. Even our desire for salvation is grace. The possibility of salvation is grace. The result of being saved is grace. God is everywhere and in all things and all people, and with Him is His Grace.
   
   Yet his Grace does us no good at all until we accept it and act on it. By Grace, we can do God's will. (That's called "works.") By grace, if we do God's will, and believe that God's teaching will work in the world (that's called "faith") then, by God, it does work.
   
   So Grace is for all, and it makes faith and good works and salvation possible. But it is up to us to choose it.
   
   But those who do God's will (even if they have never heard the name of Jesus) are saved by God's Grace. Jesus held that even the Samaritan (a splinter group of Jews who did not share Jesus' beliefs) was saved by being a Good Samaritan.
   
   Grace is for all. Those who share it, receive it.

   replyreport
8. 53

   celafoeposted 12 years ago

   Yes His grace is a gift to all who will Receive it.    Are there terms to the offer yes there are.  Anyone that is willing to meet the requirements can receive it.
   The gift is free, the right to partake of it is not..    an example might be one of the give aways that are common in baseball and other sports.   they have free baseballs or hats etc to everyone that  comes to the game.    they are free to anyone  but you have to come to the game to get one.

   replyreport
   1. 53

      graceinusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      celafoe- I like the example you gave. It fits perfectly. Many thanks for your answer

      replyreport
9. 60

   Lor's Storiesposted 12 years ago

   Grace is an open invitation to anyone who receives the word of God and abides by it.
   It is an extraordinary gift given by the Holy Spirit .
   I believe it's truly one of the loveliest gifts anyone can have.
   It often radiates from the person. Because the gift comes directly from God.

   replyreport
   1. 53

      graceinusposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Lor's - I would have to agree that grace comes by way of the Holy Spirit from God. It is one gift that can keep on giving. Many thanks for your answer.

      replyreport