GRACE VRS JUDGMENT

Grace can be defined as the free and unmerited favour of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings. Grace is a very common theme in the Bible, and it culminates in the New Testament with the coming of Jesus (John 1:17). The word translated "grace" in the New Testament comes from the Greek word charis, which means “favor, blessing, or kindness.” We can all extend grace to others; but when the word grace is used in connection with God, it takes on a more powerful meaning. Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us as our sin deserves. It is His benevolence to the undeserving. Grace is unmerited mercy that God gave to humanity by sending his son to die on a cross, thus delivering eternal salvation. It is an unmerited favour because we did not deserve it. We deserved to die but God allowed His Son to die in our place. When GOD created Adam and Eve, He gave them specific instructions NOT to eat of the fruit of the tree which was in the middle of the garden. Genesis 3:16-17 says that: “And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." This was a simple test of man loyalty. Man, was to enjoy God’s constant presence so far as they lived in total obedience to His will but die if they disobey. Unfortunately, our first parents disobeyed and broke God’s commands. But, instead of Adam and Eve dying for their sins, God gave them grace. God killed an animal to cover the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). He could have killed the first Adam and Eve right there for their disobedience. But rather than destroy them, He chose to make a way for them to be right with Him. That pattern of grace continued throughout the Old Testament when God instituted blood sacrifices as a means to atone for sinful men. It was not the blood of those sacrifices that cleansed sinners; it was the grace of God that forgave those who trusted in Him (Hebrews 10:4; Genesis 15:6). But in due time, God gave to us HIS own Son to replace the sacrifices of animals, to be our Passover lamb who will take away all our sins permanently and restore us to god forever. John 1:29, the Bible says: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, anyone who believes and accept His death will be saved. The Bible in John 11:25 says that: “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” But, all those who refuse to accept the offer of Jesus Christ will be condemned. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.” -John 3:18 WHEN GRACE CEASES The grace of God always goes judgment. Grace is like punishment deferred. Judgment comes when no amendment was made was grace was given. According to Bible in Acts 17:30-31 says that, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Grace and mercy are available to us now. In judgment, there is no more grace but accountability of what you did with the grace of God. Romans 14:12 says: “So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” In the old Testament when the high priest entered the Most Holy during the day of atonement, judgment begins for all the Jewish people. So, before the High Priest enters the most Holy Place to atone for the sins of the people of Israel, each person was supposed to confess all his/her sins or be destroyed when the High Priest lives the Most Holy place. “For whoever is not afflicted on that very day shall be cut off from his people.” Leviticus 23:29 What we must understand from here is that, the earthly Sanctuary and all of it rituals is a copy of the original which is in Heaven. The bible talks about that in Hebrews 9:23 “Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.” Again Hebrews 9:11 says: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation.” So just as the High Priest entered the Most Holy place with the blood of animals once a year, Jesus Christ our High Priest (Hebrews 9:11) entered the Most Holy place in heaven not with the blood of animals but with his own blood to intercede on our behalves. According to Hebrews 9:24 the bible says: “For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.” As we speak now, Jesus Christ out great High Priest is in the presence of GOD interceding on our behalves with his own blood. This is called GRACE. So far as Jesus Christ is in the Most Holy place there is intercession for God’s people and all the people of the world. You can still have forgiveness because God’s grace is still available to all. Just as all those who refused to confess their sins were cut off during the ancient earthly Sanctuary service (Leviticus 23:29), when Jesus Christ leaves the Most Holy Place in Heaven, probation will close and grace will come to an end. At that time, all those who refused to accept the free offer of Jesus will be cut off or destroyed. During this judgment, there will no more be grace and mercy. The Bible in Revelation 22:11 that, “Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.” CONCLUSION “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 We live in a time of God’s marvelous and abundant grace. Soon, probation will close and grace will be no more. If you want mercy, the time to seek it is now because in judgment there will not be mercy. Do not wait till it is too late to ask forgiveness. The time to act is now.