Sunday, August 25, 2019

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Hymn:  Amazing Grace



(Click forward arrow > to play music:)


1.   Amazing grace!
how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

2.  ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

3.  The Lord hath promised good to me,
His WORD my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.

4.  When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we first begun.

(Click pause symbol,  "  ... at beginning of hymn, to stop music)



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Scriptures pertaining to this hymn:

v. 2 ... ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear:  By the grace of God, we are taught to fear God and to honor the Word of God. 

Psalm 111:10    The fear of the Lord (The Word) is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do HIS commandments:

When we fear God above all others, we will obey God above our own selves and above all others.  

We honor the Bible, by doing the Word of God, the Holy scriptures.

II Timothy 3:16-17     All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

v. 2 ... And grace my fears relieved:  By the grace of God we have the solution to our problem brought to our minds by God by His Spirit, and when we hear from God, by HIS Spirit, our fears and doubts and dreads vanish as we believe, and focus on, that Word brought to our minds by HIS Spirit.



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Romans 4:1-6     What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 


Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
 


Romans 4:13-15    For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.  (Believing what God has said and that which Jesus has done.)

For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

(We can try to follow the law but fail to be saved by our works in trying to follow the law.  Instead we believe in the worthiness of Jesus and HIS blood for our salvation.  We are worthy only through that which Jesus did.)

16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

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Revelation 5    And I saw in the right hand of HIM that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.  


And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.  

And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

And HE came and took the book out of the right hand of HIM that sat upon the throne.

And when HE had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

And they sung a new song, saying, THOU art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for THOU wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by THY blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 

And the four beasts said, Amen. 

And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.

***

Hebrews 9:22    without shedding of blood is no remission.

God showed it to me this way:  

"You didn't shed your own blood to pay for your sins.  But Jesus shed HIS blood to pay for your sins."

Therefore when I recall that which I have done in past, and am ashamed, I focus on HIS blood which paid for that sin.

I can't do anything by my own works to pay for my sin, but by faith I believe in the power of Jesus' blood to pay for the wrong I have done and as I believe in Jesus and what HE did, I am freed from those thoughts concerning my past sins.


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