And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him
in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace,
expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
-- and that is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God --
not by works so that no one can boast.
Ephesians 2:6-9
Read this from What Good is God? by Philip Yancey
It is quoted from a message he delivered in Mumbai (Bombay) India in November, 2008.
"The world operates by set rules. Politicians speak of justice, of individual's rights and criminals getting what they deserve.
Banks operate that way: they will loan you money to buy a motorcycle or even a house, but if you fall behind in payments they will repossess it.
Moreover, religions operate by similar rules. Need I point that out in a land that gave us the very term karma? Though it may take six of seven million incarnations, say the Hindu scholars, eventually every person on earth will get exactly what he or she deserves.
Jesus spoke a radically different message. We get, not what we deserve, but the very opposite. We deserve punishment and get forgiveness; we deserve God's wrath and get God's love.
In a world divided by race, culture, class, language and religion, Jesus set set loose the most powerful force in the universe, the force of grace.
That counter force brings a new message of hope to a world marked by violence and division......"
By grace through faith - all we know for certain in this violent and hardened world -- but it is all we need to know.....
My choice - reincarnation and getting what I deserve?
or Jesus and mercy?
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