Making The Grace Connection: Living Under Grace, Vol. 1; Basic Grace: Basic Grace,Used

Product Description Grace is a word frequently heard around Churches and Christians, but for all of its usage, it is one of the least understood truths of the Bible. If I ask someone what the difference is between the Law and grace or what is the difference between the Old and New Testaments, I am frequently met with a blank look. If asked what grace is, the usual response is it is God's free gift of salvation. This is true, but the Law is also a free gift from God given to us through Moses. However, the Law does not provide us with a way to salvation; it only points to our need for salvation. The idea of grace being a free gift means that God's grace cannot be earned nor is it something that can be merited or deserved. It is distinct from the Law of God because under the Law we are expected to perform perfectly for acceptance, while those under grace are urged to perform because we have already been forgiven and accepted by Christ. Better yet, we are never held to a requirement for perfection because we are accpted in Christ just as we are. God has told us much more about grace and living the Christian life under grace than to simply tell us it is a free gift. Actually, grace is our ultimate gift for eternity, and God has said so much about grace and it's place in every Christian's life in His Word, the Bible that we should all be experts by now. Dr. Bryce Jessup, President Emeritus of William Jessup University, describes Basic Grace in this way. 'David Ashwell's book, Making the Grace Connection, is a book rooted in scripture, flows through his life experiences, and grabs the heart of the reader to explore personal application. The material deals with the theoligical implications of grace and how as humans we frequently distort it in our contemporary church life. The book provides encouragement to those who feel trapped in their guilt and are given to self inflicted despair. Anyone who reads this book will be empowered in some fresh ways to grow in Christ. However, those who have struggled with a legalistic journey, or a faith walk that was disconnected from fulfillment should read this book to help in the challenge of balancing grace and truth.' I couldn't have said it half as well as did Dr. Jessup. I was forced [in a most loving way] to write this book to pass on what God has been teaching me about grace these past forty years. So please hop aboard and see for yourself! I promise you won't be sorry! About the Author After three miscarriages and a still born child, my mother prayed asking God for a living child and promised to dedicate this child to God. Under these circumstances I was born May 26, 1943. Did I mention that my Mom was a Christian Scientist? Meanwhile, Mom was led to Christ. Again, she started praying for me and my salvation and Lo and behold I was born again in March 1970. I soon met the woman who would become my wife and we were married on September 2, 1971 after a three week engagement. I guess you could say we got married by faith. Four months later I entered Bible College with the goal of becoming a Pastor. After packing a four year course into seven years, I graduated in May, 1979, having acquired a son in 1975. I was ordained in 1981, started a church and immediately found myself in God's spiritual bootcamp. This is 2013 and I am still there. Along the way my wife of forty years graduated into heaven, leaving our son and me behind. In 2005 I became quite ill with heart problems. As my cardiologist put it, I looked fine but inside I was a train wreck. During the years I pastored a small church that never grew much in numbers, but increased spiritually to quite an extent, apparently due to preaching on God's sovereignty and grace.. Later on, I had to go back to cross country truck driving to feed the family. However, spiritual boot camp continued through two heart attacks and a pretty good truck wreck in Wyoming. By grace I walked away (well staggered away) from it uninjured. Then God put