Do you realize you could be working with, living next to, passing the time of day with, or going to church with a killer?  These are not killers in the sense that you are thinking of.  They are killers of freedom, creativity, joy and productivity.  They kill with their word, attitudes, behavior, written word and even their looks.

Who are these killers?  They are the people that attend, teach, and/or minister at your church.  These killers maneuver and manipulate others.  They judge when no judgment is warranted.  They are very narrow-minded in their beliefs.
They are the killers of grace.

The problem with these people are that they are missing out on the Grace that has been given us by God. They believe they must work to receive from God.  Most, if not all, are ready to say no to your questions on the Bible.  They don't understand John 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

So what exactly is Grace?  Let's take a look at it.

Donald Barnhouse said:
"Love that goes upward is worship."
"Love that goes outward is affection."
"Love that stoops is Grace."

Grace is extending favor or kindness to one who doesn't deserve it nor can ever earn it.

One of the greatest examples of grace was written by Charles Swindoll in his book on grace called the 'Grace Awakening'.  Please read the following and try to understand that this is really what grace is all about.
IMAGINE you have a six year old child that is tragically murdered.  After finding the killer, you have a choice.  If you use every means in your power to kill the murderer for his crime, that would be vengeance.  If you let the authorities take over and execute him for what he has done, that is justice. BUT, if you plead for a pardon of the murderer, forgive him COMPLETELY, invite him into your home, and adopt him as your own son, that is GRACE.

Most everyone of us could or would never do that.  But God does it every day. He takes the guilty, believing sinner and extends the gift of eternal life because Christ's death on the cross satisfied His demands against sin.

One thing we all need to understand, is that grace is undeserved.  It's totally free.  It's not something you have to pay for because it comes with no strings attached.  Some think that if they really work hard that they'll earn God's acceptance, but that's based on works, not grace.  Since Christ's death on the cross and His resurrection, all we have to do is accept His grace.  Christ died to satisfy God's demand on sin.

We need to realize that God helps the helpless, the undeserving (which is pretty much most of us), and those that fail.  When we try to gain God through works, we get the credit, but the credit really is all God's for what He has done for us.  What can we do for God, that he can't do for Himself?

You need to understand that you are justified by God.  Know this, Justification is the sovereign act of God, whereby He declares righteous the believing sinner while he is still in a sinning state.

Please look at the following verses.

Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, Rom 4:4-5

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1

So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom 5:18 - 21

What are all these verse saying?  That we are justified by faith and not by works.

The killers of grace are always saying, "you really should try harder", or You should give up this or that", or "you should start doing so and so", "you must prove the sincerity of your faith", or "before God will do this in your life, you must do this and this'.
God's grace is free.  All you have to do is take it. It's God's free gift.  Remember it's not what you do for God, it's what God has done for you.

Here is an example of a paragraph in an article take from a website.  Please read everything carefully that has be noted above and then read this paragraph.  It will shock you to learn what some people are teaching now.

And I now quote:
"These false teachers and pastors also believe that a repentant sinner could never grow to maturity, perfection, or total completeness without sin, without spot or blemish, even with Christ living in them through His power and grace that would help prevent them from continuing to be sinners. They believe that they will continue to sin, live in darkness, as long as they are living in the flesh. This is denying God's Spirit and denying that Jesus Christ is living in them through His Spirit. They believe they will continue to break God's commandments, and that it is impossible for Christ to live in them without breaking His commandments, and by this false grace, are denying the power of God and His magnificent grace that should be dwelling in them, if they have truly repented."

See what the grace killers are saying?  The Bible has taught that no one is perfect upon this earth.  All people sin no matter who you are.  Christ was the only perfect person who was sinless that ever walked on the face of this earth.

Do not let these grace killers affect your walk with Christ.