Grace was preached in the Amish churches, albeit different from what we now view grace to be.
So just what did we believe while we were Amish?
We believed Jesus was the Son of God and that He came to die in order to open the gates of heaven for all those who live a righteous life. We believed He was our perfect example on how to live life. Sunday after Sunday the preachers preached about grace, we will need it on judgement day they explained again and again. I can still hear them, "When we stand before God on judgement day and we step on the scales to see if we have lived a good enough life, if we did our best but still come up a little short that is when grace kicks in and Jesus will step up, put His foot on the scale, and we will be worthy of heaven."
Grace doesn't look like a last resort to us any longer. It's everything. Jesus paid it all, without Him we are nothing. At judgement day I want to be standing before God clothed in His righteousness.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
AMEN !!! YES !!! GRACE IS EVERYTHING !!! We were saved by GRACE !!! He paid this for us by giving HIS all .... HIS life !!! So that we may live with him in heaven FOREVER !!! AMAZINGLY TRUE !!! John 3:16 says it all !!! Love you and YOUR wisdom ....... Be blessed today and have a wonderful one xoxo
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing, isn't it? So thankful and eternally grateful for what He has done for us!
DeleteTo a former Catholic, that doesn't sound too unusual at all. On the contrary, I've found it very weird when I hear people say that faith is the ONLY thing that matters, and not actions at all. So...what, you can believe Jesus died for your sins then go on a murder spree and it doesn't matter? That's how it always sounds.
ReplyDeleteThe explanation I prefer now is one my future sister-in-law gave me when I was new to the faith she and I share (Quakerism): Jesus saves us from our temptation to do evil. His grace is what makes us more able to choose good so we don't *want* to hurt others. (Consequently, I find it very annoying when people summarize Quaker pacifism as "because there's that of God in the other person" -- no, we are pacifist because that of God in *us* will not *let* us be anything else).
Ephesians 2:8-10 explains it nicely.
DeleteWe don't do good works to be saved. We are saved, therefore we want to do good works.
Jesus paid it all...all to him I owe.
ReplyDeleteWhat shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Romans 6:1 God forbid!
I owe it to him to live my life for him...I find this possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit whom dwells within me...leading,guiding, directing my steps. Should I stumble,and I do, I repent...his grace will cover my sin. If I abide in him...he will abide in me. We must die daily to sin...continuing to walk with him...until that day I hear him say to me....Well done thy good and faithful servant! Blessings
So true.
DeleteMy favourite lesson a pastor told Sunday school students was that God looked at us with his "son" glasses on (not sunglasses) when he looked at us. A great illustration of grace for little ones
ReplyDeleteI like that illustration!
DeleteWhere would any of us be without grace? Its not a free ticket to act like the devil, but it is unmerited favor because of His great love. That knowledge alone should spur us on to live for Him.
ReplyDeleteChristina
Amen!
DeleteLoved this post! Love the replies as well! Too many churches are in the same boat as your old Amish church; a boat with no oars :-( (Mine old one was, too.)
ReplyDeleteThe verses shared are some of my favorites! Let me add another one (I'm restricting myself to just one because I there are so many) concerning Grace that comfort(ed)(s) me when I was/am overwhelmed with motherhood/work/projects,etc.:
2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
I love that verse, so comforting!
DeleteI loved this post. And all of the replies. Without His grace I am nothing, with it I have everything I need.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
So true!
DeleteIt is by faith are ye saved through grace and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Can you imagine Heaven if you had to work you way there and everyone went around talking about what they did to earn their way there! Doesn't sound like heaven to me. The Bible says our righteousness is like filthy rags, but it does say to life lives acceptable to God. It says that is our reasonable service!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your thoughts on grace. Think we have the same views.
DeleteWow! This post actually sort of took my breath away...I had no idea...very enlightening. I don't wish to be disrespectful, but in my view that teaching was very far from what the Scriptures say. I'm so very glad God led you to find out the truth!
ReplyDeleteI agree, their view on grace does not match what the Bible teaches.
Delete