Christians, if grace means?

Grace is not getting what you don't deserve. While it is true that no man deserves grace, that is not the definition of grace.

You are right God reaches out to us first. Without that we would never be saved. But that does not mean that everyone will accept that free gift of grace, If someone hands you a $100 and says it is for you, and you take that money, it is yours, and you have not worked for it, it would be a gift. However if you say, I cannot accept the money, you have given up the gift even though it was offered to you. Ephesians says it this way "You have been saved by grace through faith, with is a gift of God, not of yourselves, so that no man can boast". Why would I boast at the fact that Jesus hung on the cross to die the death that I deserved to die? That humbles me. I cannot become proud because I chose to accept Christ and someone else didn't. Jesus already paid the price, all I have to do is accept it.

I don't think Grace is getting what you don't deserve. I think Grace is the what God gives you for believing. I heard a cool metaphor yesterday, I don't know if this will go with what your saying but it was on the lines of Grace.

You are a house, The windows of the house are your faith in God and God's Grace is the light that shines in through the windows.

The Grace is always there (the light), so i am assuming we all deserve it, we just have to have the faith (the windows) to know it's there.

Well, simple "believing is not enough. Consider the devil and his angels. They "believe" and they do it better than us all. They "tremble"! Grace. That word is used so loosely. Grace is actually The Spirit of God that will dwell in Man after man has repented (honestly) and obeyed what God has set forth. (see Acts 2:38). Some people receive The Holy Ghost before they are baptized in Jesus' name. Some after. All who come forth with an open heart and willingness to believe the Gospel and to be obedient are subject to The Grace of God. It literally is.. The infilling of The Holy Ghost. It is a promise. It is God actually (knowing) you on a personal level. We do not accept Christ, so to speak. He accepts us. We cannot come to him unless we are drawn by his spirit. I could go on and on. I don't like beating dead horses. I like to make my point and if you disagree.... that is totally fine. If you read and become a student of The Bible, God's word, you will start to see and understand. God's grace is a gift. Does that mean you have the "gift" and you may live any ole way you please? Absolutely not. It means that you have been bought with a price of death and outpouring of blood for all sin. It means that all who are born again (of water and of the spirit), must be holy and live holy. It doesn't mean perfection, it means living a life that pleases Jesus. Grace.... look up the word Grace in The Strong's Concordance. Investigate and look at how "grace" was used in the Old testament as opposed to the New Testament. Grace is (The divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life) Divine being the key word. We are all sinners (me above all) and we are all worthy of God's wrath to come, but God in his wisdom always makes a way for us all to have the opportunity to escape and to be filled with his grace and to have eternal life. He paid the price. Obeying The Gospel is a small thing to ask for what he has done for us all. (All) meaning, whoever you are. God is no respecter of persons. He does, however, rquire us to believe, repent, be baptized inhis name, be filled with his spirit, and be holy.

Obey Acts 2:38. It is a "nutshell" for Death, burial, and resurrection. These three things are The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and being filled with The Holy Ghost.

Grace is totally undeserved. However, one can obtain many great graces by praying the rosary regularly. The Virgin Mary has recommended that we pray it daily for the conversion of sinners. See the following promises.

The rosary is explained here:

http://www.sancta.org/rosary/how.html

The fifteen promises of Mary to Christians who recite the rosary:

1. Whoever shall faithfully serve me by the recitation of the Rosary shall receive signal graces.

2. I promise my special protection and the greatest graces to all those who shall recite the Rosary.

3. The Rosary shall be a powerful armor against Hell, it will destroy vice, decrease sin, and defeat heresies.

4. It will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God; it will withdraw the hearts of men from the love of the world and its vanities and will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh, that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

5. The soul which recommends itself to me by the recitation of the Rosary, shall not perish.

6. Whoever shall recite the Rosary devoutly, applying himself to the consideration of its sacred mysteries, shall never be conquered by misfortune. God will not chastise him in His justice, he shall not perish by an unprovided death; if he be just, he shall remain in the grace of God and become worthy of eternal life.

7. Whoever shall have a true devotion for the Rosary shall not die without the Sacraments of the Church.

8. Those who are faithful to recite the Rosary shall have during their life and at their death the light of God and the plenitude of His graces; at the moment of death, they shall participate in the merits of the saints in Paradise.

9. I shall deliver from Purgatory those who have been devoted to the Rosary.

10. The faithful children of the Rosary shall merit a high degree of glory in Heaven.

11. You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary.

12. All those who propagate the Holy Rosary shall be aided by me in their necessities.

13. I have obtained from my Divine Son that all the advocates of the Rosary shall have for intercessors the entire Celestial Court during their life and at the hour of death.

14. All who recite the Rosary are my sons, and brothers of my only Son, Jesus Christ.

15. Devotion to my Rosary is a great sign of predestination.

God bless!

Dave