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Strange Grace?

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To many the concept of God's abounding Grace toward mankind seems strange.

Most are still trying to relate to God through the knowledge of good and evil, and It seems right in our thinking that good people should receive good things from God and bad should receive bad things. But although this concept seems right in our thinking it must be viewed in the light of what goodness and badness really are.

Paul in the book of Romans tells us that all people have been proven to be bad in relation to God's goodness

Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:17 And the way of peace have they not known:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19 ¶ Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 11:32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Gal 3:22 But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

According to these scriptures God has declared everybody (in Adam) bad so that he might be free to declare all who believe in Jesus Christ good.

This may seem strange and foolish, but that is exactly what He has done

1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Yes the Gospel seems strange to the carnal mind. But to those who are saved it is the power of God.

God is free to freely love and accept anyone He wants to.

Having declared all mankind sinful, He now can freely accept anyone, No matter how good or bad they may be or may appear to be. This is all because of Jesus Christ and His gracious sacrifice . . This truly is strange wonderful grace.

Read these following scriptures prayerfully

John 1:29 ¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.

2 Cor 5:18 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has appointed us to serve in the ministry of reconciliation.19 We are to tell how God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging mens transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation.20 On Christs behalf therefore we come as ambassadors, God, as it were, making entreaty through our lips: we, on Christs behalf, beseech men to be reconciled to God.

21 He has made Him who knew nothing of sin to be sin for us, in order that in Him we may become the righteousness of God.

1 John 2:1 ¶ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Gods grace can seem so strange that most people simply don't understand it or they reject it.

But it's really very simple

God has done it all , he is not angry at you, He has reconciled you to himself through Jesus Christ.

So Be reconciled to Him

Jesus is Lord