“Half of World’s Population Will Experience a Mental Health Disorder.” – Harvard Medical School
1 Corinthians 10:12-14
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
If this were true, why do people commit suicide?
Satan is alive and well. Judas Iscariot went down the road of destruction by betraying Jesus and then killing himself. If he had NOT killed himself, he too would have been forgiven by Jesus. However, he didn’t believe in grace, and he committed suicide.
What is grace?
The word “grace” is used 37 times in the Old Testament, and over 150 times in the New Testament. What is the difference?
The Hebrew word for “grace” is “chen”, pronounced “khane.”
Parts of Speech: Noun, Masculine
- favour, acceptance
- favour, grace, charm
2. favour, grace, elegance
The Greek word for “grace” is “charis.”, pronounced, “khar’-ece.”
Parts of Speech: Noun, Feminine
- grace
- that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
- good will, loving-kindness, favour
- of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
- what is due to grace
- the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
- the token or proof of grace, benefit
- a gift of grace
- benefit, bounty
- thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
The idea of being “saved by grace” does NOT appear anywhere in the Hebrew manuscripts. The Greek word charis is packed with meaning in the New Testament. Charis can be succinctly defined as in “the unmerited favor of God.” Of the approximate 150 occurrences of charis, the vast majority appear in the letters of the apostle Paul.
If Saul (St. Paul) murdered Christians of the early church, why did he go to Heaven and NOT Judas Iscariot?
First of all, Judas took the money that the Pharisee’s paid him to betray Jesus, and he threw it at their feet because he realized his sin.
You CANNOT pay money for the gift of forgiveness, nor for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Grace is a gift for those who believe in him. If someone gives you a brand-new Porsche, and you try to pay him $100 for it… don’t you think that’s a little insulting? That’s the whole idea behind unmerited favor of God.
Acts 8:18-21
18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! 21 You have no part or share in this ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
2 Corinthians 12:7-8
6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
Judas Iscariot was likewise tormented, however he had NO FAITH! If he had believed in forgiveness that Jesus kept preaching about, he would have been “saved by grace through faith.”
When I was 15 years old, I met God. This was after I sacrificed my life for my friend who was being assaulted by her upperclassman boyfriend. However, while in purgatory, Jesus resurrected me from the dead and made me who I am today. I’ve had many trials and tribulations, but I never stopped believing. In 2005 when my car ran out of gasoline in the middle of winter out on a rural road at night, I had realized I had gone as far as I could go. So, I tried committing suicide by leaping head-first in front of a car going about 50 mph. My head hit the driver side mirror, knocking it off… spinning me around, falling on the pavement.
I got within inches of my death, with just a scratch behind my ear, (so I knew it was real), but I survived. Not everyone is that lucky. Do NOT tempt God.
Matthew 4:6-8
6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.