“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ² By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope: ⁵ And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:1-5

Man’s access to God’s Grace is not given by good works (civic, social or otherwise), water baptism, fasting, putting ashes on your head, going forty days with a purpose, stimulating emotional responses via humanistic psychology or vain philosophies given for victory.  Fasting and water baptism are by all means Scriptural but they were not given to the Body of Christ for access to God’s Grace.  Our Justification nor our access to God’s Grace is given us by our consecration, sanctification or purification.  God’s Grace is not for sale.   Solely and exclusively we have access into to God’s Grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ…”wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the Law, but under Grace.” Romans 6:14

It is this same Grace, God’s Grace, accessed through faith in the atoning work our Lord Jesus Christ, that we are given dominion over sin.  The same Jesus which paid the penalty of sin on Calvary’s Cross thereby justifying the believing sinner unto Salvation also breaks the power of sin in the Saints life through access by faith into “this Grace“.  This same Grace Sanctifies the defiled Saint when accessed through the Blood of Jesus Christ and we are alive unto God…there is no other Way, no other Truth nor Life given unto man that we may have peace with God and access into His Grace except through Jesus (John 14:6).

It is Jesus’ work on Calvary’s Cross which freely justifies whosoever will believe and it is His work which freely sanctifies whosoever will believe.  Faith in Jesus’ work produces fruit unto God in the hearts of the Believer.  The Cross of Christ has It’s effect in the life of the believing Saint because of Whom we have believed…not because of what we have done.  Our heart’s desire is to be consecrated unto His Word, obedient to His Statutes while forever seeking God’s perfect Will on earth as it is in Heaven.

We are able to glory in God’s Grace through trials and tribulations and unashamedly glory in this hope we have been given because there is love shed abroad in our hearts.  Precept upon precept and line upon line, our faith is authored and finished by the One in Whom we have believed…Jesus Christ.

“Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the Right Hand of the Throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

-Donna Clark Warren