Romans 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

All of mankind will be divided into two groups. They all came together, were in one group and then divided.

Revelations 20:12, 15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Now imagine you are in one group and you look over to the other group; one led by Jesus Christ, and you see the man who raped and murdered your daughter. Now you look to the leader of your group and you find Satan bound in chains. If all were guilty and all sinned, then how is it murders and rapist ended up in the saved group and you who are nowhere near as bad as they are condemned?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

All mankind was in one group and those who escaped only did so because they placed their faith in Christ and not in the works of their own hands.

Scream that is not fair all you want. Was it fair that the Son of God should die for all mankind’s sins, yours included?

Ephesians 1:6-7 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The names in the book of life are those found in Christ.

Where are you?

Romans 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

Ever wonder why Paul points at the Jews first? For me it comes down to God choosing Abram to be the father of all faiths. Abram heard God, believed God and obeyed God. It was the believing that was accounted to him for righteousness. That right standing before God was re-instated to mankind through Abram’s bloodline, his grandson becoming Israel.

In Israel God raised up mighty prophets, did wondrous miracles within their camps, blessed and prospered them. He also punished them when they turned to other gods in worship. They should have known better. They had the pleasure of knowing the way of righteousness and failed to incorporate it into daily life so that it should never be forgotten.

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

At this time some will want to cry out “We live under grace.” True enough, but allow me to ask the hard question. What is grace without faith? You are going to hear about grace allot soon and rightly so. Keep in mind that grace comes through faith.

Think of faith as an inheritance, unmerited favor, received because God loves you. Will you be wise and invest that faith to increase your faith or will you waste it allowing it to be diminished so that in the end you have nothing to pass on to those you love?

Faith is a renewable energy which has to be used to increase, or wither with inactivity.