Transforming Series (14): THE GRACE QUIZ

THE GRACE QUIZ

Below are twelve faith-related concepts that don't seem to be regularly discussed in many churches today. But our view on each of these concepts affects our relationship with God, our spiritual growth and our fulfillment in life. So for each of the twelve concepts, decide whether you think each is TRUE or FALSE.

1. God’s children should ask Him to forgive and cleanse them when they sin.
True or False

2. God’s children struggle with sin because of their old self within.
True or False

3. We should wait on God even before making everyday decisions.
True or False

4. When we sin against God, we're out of fellowship until we repent.
True or False

5. Old Testament law is written on God’s children hearts so we want to obey it.
True or False

6. The Bible tells us that God’s children can obtain many rewards in heaven.
True or False

7. God’s children will give an account for their sins at the great white throne.
True or False

8. God’s children should tithe at least 10 percent of their income to the church to be blessed.
True or False

9. God gets angry with us when we repeatedly sin against Him.
True or False

10. God looks at us as though we're righteous, even though we're really not.
True or False

11. Salvation is by grace through faith, but I have to sanctify myself every day, be a good Christian and do good works to reach heaven.

True or False

12. When I say that Jesus saves I mean if I die I go to heaven.

True or False

Based on the book The Naked Gospel Andrew Farley Zondervan

God can do this, tonight, before the dawn of a new day!

Josimar Salum

After Sister Sharon Bergman Bisceglia have prayed with me over the phone when I was in Watertown, Massachusetts to pray for the whole situation involving the attack on the Boston Marathon, I was in that city where the two brothers, fugitives, had taken refuge and were found, we asked the Lord that the youngest would be captured alive today as the eldest had died earlier today while it was still dark in a firefight with the Police.

Today evening we learned that Dzhokhar had been captured as we have prayed, alive, although badly wounded.

I then had this thought too strong in my mind to visit him in prison to share with him the love of the true God.

I even wondered how this could happen.

So I figured that if he rejected the first time, our God could melt his heart, drawn him to the cross of Jesus and then we would read the news in a newspaper as "he is now following Jesus."

I believe that all things are possible with God.

But I confess that when last Monday afternoon I saw those scenes on the news of the attack that invaded our TVs, iPhone and PCs, I got very angry, I felt very angry.

I hate all evil, and just to think that just an hour away from my house those three people, two adults and one child had died and many others had been terribly injured, lost limbs and were torn apart by the fury of those two bombs... I could not contain myself. And also earlier today, while it was still dark, a 26 year old Policeman had been shot to death by the older fugitive.

But God shone His Grace also in my heart tonight and I could think of visiting this young man that is so hurt right now. He can die at any time without knowing the true Love!

Only the abundant Grace of God in the hearts of the wounded and their families, and the families who lost their loved ones, can spell out, even through the pain, the surprising good news of Jesus: Forgiveness. By Him and with Him because of what He has done we can forgive like He did, at the Cross.

Forgive unconditionally is the only decision that anyone can make, by the Power of Love, to heal all hearts, even a whole nation and every broken heart and their internal and external wounds.

God can do this, tonight, before the dawn of a new day! 

Note: Although we pray and wish that the young terrorist who attacked the Boston Marathon is saved and transformed by the grace of Jesus, that does not mean he will not have to face all the earthly consequences of his evil acts before Justice.