¨ For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; ¨ Ephesians 2: 8
Introduction: in 1863 on a New Year's Day, President Abraham Lincoln publicly declared the well-known declaration of emancipation, which is nothing more than freeing slaves, but it was in 1865 that the US Constitution formalized that declaration officially, for that then President Lincoln had already died. His dream had been achieved the slaves were free.
The tragedy: when a black slave was asked what he thought of the great liberator they said: << I don't know anything about that man named Abraham Lincoln, except that he freed us and I don't know anything about it either. >>
That law is known as Article 13. Many slaves continued to live as slaves. The law enslaved their mind and their physical space.
<< Grace gives me what I don't deserve
The law gives me what I deserve >> Grace: undeserved favor.
President Lincoln gave his life for that cause the freedom of slaves, the King of kings gave his life not for a country, but for a world so that we could be free by his grace, because by grace you are saved says: the Bible (Ephesians 2: 8).
I. Declaration of death sentence. Romans 3: 9-12
9 What then? Are we better than them? In no way; for we have already accused Jews and Gentiles, that all are under sin.
10. As it is written: There is none righteous, not even one;
11. There is no one who understands,
There is no one who seeks God.
12. All went astray, together they became useless;
There is no one who does good, there is not even one. Romans 3: 9-12
In these verses the apostle Paul shows us all those who live under the law without Christ, condemned for our way of living. Destined to an eternity without forgiveness, but his grace reached us and did not condemn us, he freed us from an eternal death.
21 But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, witnessed by the law and by the prophets;
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, for all who believe in him. Because there is no difference, Romans 3: 21-22
The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ is for all who believe in Him.
John 4: 3-5. When Jesus wishes to give his grace, it is << necessary to go through there >>
He wanted to impart grace where the law had an isolated woman.
John 4: 7,9 the Samaritan woman answered him as someone who was a slave to sin, it was not a friendly answer, but Jesus came there to set him free from his life of sin.
John 4: 16-19 Jesus extends his grace, love and forgiveness, he never condemns it, the law condemns it, grace sets us free.
A person's life may be a stumbling block for you and me, but not for Jesus, he forgives us and cleanses us with his blood.
John 4: 25-26 Jesus reveals Grace to this needy woman, he says to her: I am the one who talks to you. (I am, it is God himself, others condemn her and the I Am forgives her)
John 4: 28-29 everyone who receives the grace of Christ leaves his jar, leaves his past, and follows Christ, he will no longer go to the well to draw water at low hour, now he will go when everyone goes, Jesus I incorporate into society that is the power of grace. I will incorporate myself into the body of Christ.
John 4:39 the grace that reached her leads her to others, she shares it, Jesus never told her Harlot, nor did I condemn her. Who are we to condemn someone like that? Through her others came to Christ, from harlot to evangelist. Man does not look at what Jesus looks at.
II. The law condemns you to die. John 8: 1-10 (2-4)
They present a woman worthy of death for what the law taught, prosecute and condemn, that is what the heart full of law and death dogmas teaches others.
John 8: 7-10 were forced to free the woman, inadvertently giving her grace, in verse 11, Jesus imparts the power of his grace to her.
11. She said: None, Lord. Then Jesus said to him: Neither do I condemn you; Go away and sin no more. John 8:11
There are people who are currently incarcerated in prisons who prefer to maintain their status as inmates because they know that their conduct will lead them to commit illegal acts again outside. Because of that they do not want freedom, they do not want to receive the grace that frees them, this woman received the power of her grace << everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin >> John 8:34
III. His grace comes at any moment. Luke 23:39, 40-43
The first one who spoke did not want grace, his actions were killing him, the law kills, grace frees, the second who was the one that Jesus took care of this embrace, grace, in the last minutes imparts the power of his grace, up to there the law I carry him, but there grace freed him for eternal life.
The grace of Christ is never late, it is always there for you and yours.
Do not die condemned, if you have to die, do so full of his grace of love and forgiveness. On the Cross she made the last display of her grace, Garcia had and still has so much that in her agony she imparted it to someone in great need of her. Jesus lost his mind imparting grace.
<< the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen. >> Apoc. 22:21