a sinner saved by grace?

Recently I posted that you can’t be a sinner and saved by Grace at the same time…in other words, you shouldn’t say “I’m just a sinner saved by grace.” Before we are saved, yes, we are sinners, but once we put our faith in Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach) we become so much more…What I call myself becomes who I am. So if I continue to refer to myself as a sinner, then I am giving Satan a foothold in my life. However, if I declare “I am a Child of God” or “I am a friend of God.” Then that is exactly who I am.

What we feed our spirit is what helps us to continue in the journey of faith.

If you are comfortable being a “sinner saved by grace” continue calling yourself that, however, I was once a sinner, who is saved by grace. Do I slip up and sin? Of Course, but I am not a sinner, I am forgiven, because immediately I realize what I did wrong and I ask my Father to forgive me.

It’s like this, if I was an alcoholic for 30 years, then I stop drinking and don’t drink for 20 years, I have no real desire for it. I will stop calling myself an alcoholic. Could I slip up and have one drink? Yes, but would that make me an alcoholic? No. It makes me someone who made a mistake.

So if you are saved by grace, you are one of the following, but a sinner…no! If you can prove to me that “Sinner saved by grace” is in the Bible, I’ll change this post…

Who I Am in Christ

1.      I am a Child of God                                                                                 (Romans 8:16)

2.      I belong to Him                                                                                         (1 Peter 2:9)

3.      I am born again                                                                                         (1 Peter 1:23)

4.      I am loved by God                                                                                    (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

5.      I am a chosen by God                                                                               (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

6.      I am God's temple                                                                                     (1 Corinthians 3:16)

7.      I am redeemed from the hand of the enemy                                            (Psalms 107:2)

8.      I am forgiven                                                                                            (Colossians 1:13,14)

9.      I am reconciled to God through Christ                                                     (2 Corinthians 5:18)

10.  I have been set free from the law of sin and death                                  (Romans 8:2)

11.  I am saved by grace through faith                                                            (Ephesians 2:8)

12.  I am justified                                                                                             (Romans 5:1)

13.  I am sanctified                                                                                          (Hebrews 10:10)

14.  I am crucified with Christ, who lives in me                                              (Galatians 2:20)

15.  I am a new creature                                                                                   (II Corinthians 5:17)

16.  I am a follower of God                                                                             (Ephesians 5:1)

17.  I am a partaker of His divine nature                                                         (2 Peter 1:4)

18.  I have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ                             (Romans 5:1)

19.  I have everlasting life                                                                                (John 5:24)

20.  I am holy and blameless in God's sight                                                    (Ephesians 1:4)

21.  I am redeemed from the curse of the law                                                             Galatians 3:13)

22.  I am delivered from the powers of darkness                                            (Colossians 1:13)

23.  I am called by God                                                                                   (2 Timothy 1:9)

24.  I am led by the Spirit of God                                                                   (Romans 8:14)

25.  I am brought near by the Blood of Jesus                                                  (Ephesians 2:13)

26.  I am a daughter (son) of God                                                                   (Romans 8:14)

27.  I am free from all condemnation                                                              (Romans 8:1)

28.  I am kept in safety wherever I go                                                                         (Psalms 91:11)

29.  I am having all my needs met by God                                                     (Philippians 4:19)

30.  I am forgetting the past                                                                            (Philippians 3:13)

31.  I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God. (Philippians 3:14)

32.  I am casting all my cares on Jesus                                                 (I Peter 5:7)

33.  I am caused by God to triumph in Christ                                                 (2 Corinthians 2:14)

34.  I am strong in the Lord and in the power of His might                            (Ephesians 6:10)

35.  I am living my life by faith in the Son of God                                         (Galatians 2:20)

36.  I am doing all things through Christ who strengthens me                        (Philippians 4:13)

37.  I am hearing the voice of Jesus and following Him                                 (John 10:27)

38.  I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus                                        (Romans 8:17)

39.  I am an heir to the blessings of Abraham                                                 (Galatians 3:13,14)

40.  I am observing and doing the Lord's commandments                              (Deuteronomy 28:1)

41.  I am the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath                     (Deuteronomy 28:13)

42.  I have been given every thing I need for llife and godliness                    (2 Peter 1:3)

43.  I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ                                  (Ephesians 1:3)

44.  I am blessed coming in and blessed going out                                         (Deuteronomy 28:6)

45.  I am sealed with the promised Holy Spirit                                               (Ephesians 1:13)

46.  I am an heir of eternal life                                                                         (I John 5:11,12)

47.  I am the salt of the earth                                                                           (Matthew 5:13)

48.  I am the light of the world                                                                                    (Matthew 5:14)

49.  I am a fellow citizen with God's people                                                   (Ephesians 2:19)

50.  I am a member of God's household                                                          (Ephesians 2:19)

51.  I am loved with an everlasting love                                                          (Jeremiah 31:3)

52.  I am healed by the wounds of Jesus                                                         (I Peter 2:24)

53.  I am free                                                                                                    (John 8:36)

54.  I am more than a conqueror                                                                      (Romans 8:37)

55.  I am establishing the kingdom of heaven on earth                                   (Matthew 16:19)

56.  I am an overcomer by the Blood of the Lamb                                          (Revelation 12:11)

57.  I am an overcomer by the word of my testimony                                     (Revelation 12:11)

58.  I am exercising my authority over the enemy                                           (Luke 10:19)

59.  I am daily overcoming evil with good                                                      (Romans 12:21)

60.  I am overcoming the world by faith                                                         (1 John 5:4)

61.  I am not moved by what I see                                                                  (2 Corinthians 4:18)

62.  I am dead to sin                                                                                        (Romans 6:2

63.  I am alive to God                                                                                      (Romans 6:11)

64.  I am raised up with Christ                                                                                    (Ephesians 2:6)

65.  I am seated in heavenly places with God in Christ Jesus                         (Ephesians 2:6)

66.  I am walking by faith and not by sight                                                     (2 Corinthians 5:7)

67.  I am casting down vain imaginations                                                      (2 Corinthians 10:4,5)

68.  I am bringing every thought into captivity                                               (2 Corinthians 10:5)

69.  I am being transformed by renewing my mind                                         (Romans 12:1,2)

70.  I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ                                                            (Romans 1:16)

71.  I am offering my body as a living sacrifice to God                                  (Romans 12:1)

72.  I am qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints                             (Colossians 1:12)

73.  I am a laborer together with God                                                                         (I Corinthians 5:21)

74.  I am an ambassador for Christ                                                                  (1 Corinthians 5:20)

75.  I am a kingdom and priest to God                                                            (Revelation 1:6)

76.  I am the righteousness of God in Christ                                                   (2 Corinthians 5:21)

77.  I am kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation                   (1 Peter 1:5)

78.  I am forever in the hand of Jesus                                                              (John 10:28)

79.  I am built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets                       (Ephesians 2:20)

80.  I have Jesus Christ himself as my chief cornerstone                                 (Ephesians 2:20)

81.  I am blessing the Lord at all times                                                            (Psalms 34:1)

82.  I am continually praising the Lord with my mouth                                  (Psalms 34:1)

83.  I am declaring the praises of God                                                             (1 Peter 2:9)

84.  I have been called out of darkness into God's marvelous light                (1 Peter 2:9)

85.  I belong to a chosen people                                                                      (1 Peter 2:9)

86.  I belong to a royal priesthood                                                                   (1 Peter 2:9)

87.  I belong to a holy nation                                                                           (1 Peter 2:9)

88.  God's Spirit lives in me                                                                             1 Corinthians 3:16)

89.  I have a ministry of reconciliation                                                            (2 Corinthians 5:18)

90.  Jesus Christ in me is the hope of glory                                                     (Colossians 1:27)

91.  He is my Savior                                                                                         (Luke 19:10)

92.  He is my Lord                                                                                           (Philippians 2:11)

93.  He is my Love                                                                                           (Romans 8:38, 39)

94.  He is my Peace                                                                                          (Ephesians 2:14)

95.  He is my Righteousness                                                                            (2 Corinthians 5:21)

96.  He is my Deliverer                                                                                    (Luke 10:19)

97.  He is my Example                                                                                     (1 Peter 2:21)

98.  He is my Sufficiency                                                                                (2 Corinthians 9:8)

99.  He is my Fulfillment                                                                                 (Matthew 5:6)

100.          He is my Everything                                                                           (Ephesians 3:20-21)

A Letter to the Evangelism-Outreach Team...

I am excited for tomorrow night! I am excited in that for the first time, I will be going out as part of a mission team. This team isn’t going to a foreign country, we’re not going out to feed the hungry masses--at least not physically. No, we are going to the downtown area of our hometown, just handing out bottle of water. 

This evangelism outreach will be the first of it’s kind for our church and our youth.  I am truly excited. So much so that I have decided that I may have to buy a new outfit! (Just kidding!) Seriously, I am so excited, that I have decided to accept that we will not be accepted by our peers and we will face the reproach of not only our peers but, also of our community, our friends and even  our spiritual family. Trust me, I’ve already felt this reproach. 

There is a price to pay for being so zealous for the Lord and His kingdom. Today many people are paying that price, the price is reproach. Disapproval in the eyes of others for our dedication. Thus being said, David often found himself being reproached for his zeal for the Lord and the things of the Lord’s house. 

Psalm 55:12-13 reads “For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. But it is you, a man my equal, My companion and my familiar friend;” The prophet Jeremiah states “You who know, O Lord, Remember me, take notice of me, And take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Do not, in view of Your patience, take me away; Know that for Your sake I endure reproach.” (Jeremiah 15:15)

How can we prepare for this? Evangelism is spiritual warfare. We, the soldiers in the Army of God are going against the powers of darkness. Before we head into the field, we must remember to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” (Eph 6:11). If we don’t prepare ourselves to endure battle, we will surely fall to the schemes that Satan will lay before us. Instead, we must prepare ourselves. How? You may be asking yourself, and the best way that we can prepare ourselves to be ready to go out and do battle, is to be steadfast in our prayers. Let us pray that God will prepare us for whatever we will meet. 

I can’t tell what exactly we’ll meet. Since tomorrow is a “concert” night, we’ll be met with people who are questioning our motives, we’ll be met with people who are asking us hard questions, and finally we’ll be met with people who like what we are doing and stand for. 

I can tell you a bit about the place where we’ll be set up, we are going to be in the “Darkness.” If what the Upper Room (A Christian Coffeehouse) offers is light (and it is!) We are going to be across the street, a place where darkness is prevalent. Instead of what the darkness offers, we are going to penetrate the darkness and offer light. You see darkness can’t abide light and as light we will be standing in the gap. Ezekiel 22:30 states “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.” Instead of God finding no one in Statesville, we are those who will stand in the gap before the Lord.

I hope that this will in effect be an encouragement to you who will be with myself and our Pastor on Friday night. Remember that we must be spiritually prepared, so start your knee battle now (Prayer). Also remember to meet us tomorrow night at the church 6:00pm, for prayer then we’ll leave the church and head downtown! I look forward to serving each one of you as we go out into this mission field together and am excited to see how God will change your lives through this experience.

Reproach is a norm in the life of the Servant of God

Have you ever suffered reproach? Have you ever been told that your reasons for doing something wasn’t correct, or even what you are doing isn’t correct? Maybe your friends and loved ones have insulted you because of your fervor for the Lord?

You, my friend, are not alone. You have a whole host of people who have been reproached for their beliefs, for their zeal. 

King David suffered the reproach for his zeal for “God’s house.” He wanted to build God a house, a representation of God’s glory on Earth for God to dwell in. Not just some tent in the wilderness. The fact that David had this zeal for God, and God’s house and service to God the people reproached him. 

David, in Psalm 69:5-12 sought to motivate God to act on his behalf for he was suffering because of this zeal. The insults about God were directed to David. David, fasted because he was heavily grieved. 

When I entered seminary, I was excited to do whatever the Lord asked of me. Since entering, I have been doing various projects, but instead of some people being excited, they have come to me disapproving of my methods. Like David, I am grieved by this reproach, but I also know that if I am suffering then the people who are disapproving of what I am doing, are being challenged and are hopefully growing in some shape or form. 

There is a price to pay for zeal and for service to the Lord. Continue to be amazed and do not be discouraged by those in your life who want to bring you down. Their disapproval and reproach means they may actually be growing or at least THINKING!

New Reviews

Recently I came upon the opportunity to review books for Kregel Academic; so I have added this to my busy schedule, but I also know that it will provide me with excellent library and greater knowledge of the God I serve.
Please click on the Kregel picture on the side bar to learn more about Kregel and about Kregel's blog review program.

Thank you!

Um alle meine Leser aus Deutschland und der Schweiz: Ich möchte mich bedanken für die Aufnahme in meine Seite interessieren. Es ist meine aufrichtige Hoffnung und mein Gebet, dass diese Seite Segnungen bringt Sie und Ihre Familie. Möge Gott Sie segnen! gebeterfüllt, Rachel

Pour tous mes lecteurs de la France: Je tiens à vous remercier de votre intérêt pour ma page. C'est mon espoir sincère et la prière que ce site vous apportera des bénédictions et votre famille. Que Dieu vous bénisse! la prière, Rachel

日本からのすべての私の読者へ：私は私のページに興味を割いていただき感謝したいと思います。それは私の誠実な希望と、このサイトがあなたに恵みとあなたの家族をもたらすことを祈ります。神はあなたを祝福！祈り、レイチェル

Для всех моих читателей из России: Я хочу поблагодарить вас за интерес к моей странице. Я искренне надеюсь и молюсь, что этот сайт принесет вам благословения и вашей семьи. Да благословит вас Господь! Молитвенно, Рэйчел

לכל הקוראים שלי מישראל: אני רוצה להודות לך על שהקדשת עניין הדף שלי. זוהי תקוותי הכנה ותפילה שאתר זה יביא לך ברכה ואת המשפחה שלך. אלוהים יברך אותך! בתפילה, רחל

Kaikille lukijoilleni mistä Suomi: Haluan kiittää teitä kiinnostunut sivuani. Se on minun toiveeni ja rukoukseni, että tämä sivusto tuo sinulle siunauksia ja perheellesi. Jumala siunatkoon sinua! rukoillen, Rachel

To all my readers from Australia and the UK: I want to thank you for taking interest in my page. It is my sincere hope and prayer that this site will bring you blessings and your family. May God bless you! prayerfully, Rachel