Amazing Grace #31

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. ( I Peter 5)

Grace is how we get along.  As Peter concludes his words of encouragement to struggling and suffering saints, he takes time to address relationships and responsibilities to one another and before God.  Leaders are to guide, not drive the sheep who have been entrusted to them.  Youth are to respectfully follow the leadership of the body. All are to have a sense of humility toward one another, as God "opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  As we saw earlier in this series, it is impossible to receive grace without humility.  This statement of fact, therefore, becomes and exhortation: "Humble yourselves!"  How many problems in our families, churches, and nation would go away if we simply would do that. Hand in hand with humility is trust: allowing God to have our fears and anxieties - to believe that He really cares and can do what we cannot do - that He is the God of Grace.  The one who really wants us to live without grace is our enemy, the devil.  He wants to puff us up and wear us down, eroding our faith, and wondering if it really is worth following Christ after all. He wants us to doubt God's grace. But God is the God of all Grace - grace we need for every situation, and when we humbly turn to and trust Him in Christ, He will restore our soul, confirm our convictions, strengthen us for our struggles, and help us stand firm in the storms of life. 

Amazing Grace #30

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4)

The passage above is actually the conclusion to a lengthy discussion that began back in chapter 3 about 
"entering into God's rest." Whenever God does a great work, like creation, or making a new creation, He then rests, and invites His people, His creation or new creation, to join with Him.  More than once, the writer has mentioned that many often refuse to enter His rest or are disqualified from doing so by their refusal to trust and obe Him , like those who refused to enter the promised land and ended up wandering in the wilderness, never experiencing His rest.  Now, in the Good news of the Gospel, God has offered another opportunity and call to enter His rest. In this passage we have two classic statements often meditated upon and memorized. First, in verse 12 we are reminded that the Word of God is like a sharp sword, that cuts deep into our heart and soul, revealing our sin and need for God's grace, reminding us we all do, and will, stand before our Creator. This same Word also reveals to us His grace in Jesus Christ, who offers to make us His new creation. We are called upon to consider what Christ has done by passing through the heavens - coming here to live on earth, then passing back through after His resurrection to return to His rest having accomplished this work.  He is One who understandings our temptations and trials, our sins and suffering. He's been through it all, without sin. The second class verse is just two verses later, verse 16: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. The throne, where God is, where Christ is, is the place of grace, where God offers us the grace we need - to receive His salvation, to receive His rest, to receive His ability to handle all those things we cannot do our own.  Praise God for His throne of Grace. 

Amazing Grace #29

We have heard Paul share with us the impact of the grace of God in his life, and read the exhortations he gave to the churches about how to appropriate God's grace in their fellowship. Today we listen in on his personal words to his good friend and fellow-worker Timothy:

5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. (II Timothy 1)

As Paul thinks about Timothy's faith and faithful service for Christ and His church, he also remembers his timidity and apprehension, and reminds him of the resources God has provided by his grace, through Christ and the Holy Spirit: the power, love, and self-control of his emothions, the truth entrusted to him, and the calling that is to carry him. God had called Timothy not because Timothy had been such a good boy, but because of two characteristics of God Himself: His purpose and His grace. God has a plan and a purpose for each and every one of us, which fits into His purpose, and God also has plenty of grace to go around for each one of us, to enable us to do what He calls us to do - abilities far above our own. He has proven that through what He has done in Christ - begun before man walked on earth, and now accomplished thruogh his incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension.  Paul then addresses Timothy's timidity point blank: "I'm willing to suffer for the truth of the Grace of God: are you? I'm willing to do my part in the pupose of God, by His grace in Christ; are you?" There is nothing God will  call on me or you to do today for which He will not also give us His grace, His power, His love, and the control His Holy Spirit provides.  Don't be afraid to face this day, or ashamed of God's amazing grace.

 

25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4)

Yesterday, we saw the impact that grace can have on how we view one another in the body of Christ - as gifts from God.  Today we want to look at how grace affects our speech, and our hearts behind it. We might call this paragraph "the grace-filled mouth." First of all, God gives us the ability to tell the truth, even if we have a tendency toward lying. Secondly, the grace of God gives us the ability to control our angry speech: since we look at one another through grace-filled eyes, God can give us the ability to not respond vengefully in our hearts and with our lips. In verse 28 Paul seems to turn away from talking about our speech when he exhorts us to not be lazy, but work hard - but what is the resoning behind than: because we want to be able to help each other - it is that same -grace-filled desire to do something for one another that drives our desire to work. He then returns to our speech and says "remember what we are talking about here: building each other up - make sure your speak encourages your fellow believer - that it gives them grace to go on and do what they find hard to do on their own." Infect one another with God's grace.  Always working hand in hand with the grace of God is the Spirit of God: let Him flow as grace flows through you.  Don't allow things like unresolved anger or bitterness or malice - that attitude that says "I hope something bad happens to you because of what you did to me - don't let those things settle in your heart and come out of your mouth. How can we do that? By forgiving one another constantly and continuously, just like God, in His great grace and mercy, as forgiven us.  May our mouths be filled with grace today. 

 

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.  (Ephesians 4) 

Those of us in the body of Christ are God's Grace gifts to one another.  As Paul goes on to say in the rest of the chapter, out of God's grace in Christ, He gives gifts to His people to serve Him together, and in so doing, serve one another building up the body of Christ. That says a lot about how we need to view each other. God knows what -and who - we need, so for us to reject fellow believers He sends to us is ungrateful.  Notice some of the attributes and attitudes of grace we have seen in our survey of God's amazing grace: humility, patience, love, and peace. These are gifts and fruit He gives us, in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, to share with one another.  We are to receive them and handle them responsibly and carefully. Wherever grace is at work, we will see oneness, unity, teamwork, and growth.  This is the result of that grace we saw yesterday in chapter 2: the grace by which we have been saved, each and every one who trusts in Christ.  Today, let's ask God that we might be receptive to the grace He offers to look on our fellow believers with thanksgiving, and consider ourselves to be gifts He gives to them - not in an arrogant way, but as humble servants for His glory. 

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2)

Whenever we find these first two words in the Bible, we know we're in for something big: "But God"...  There is a dramatic contrast here to what Paul said in the verses before this about our being lost in sin. Grace starts with the character of God. He is "rich in mercy" - it's like His pockets are so full mercy falls out. He also had the greatest love in all the world - He is willing to do anything for what is best for us, to have us return to the family - He has brought us back to life spiritually in Christ.  That phrase: in Christ, is a signal that grace is nearby, so Paul interjects with enthusiasm - by grace you have been saved - God has done something that you are totally incapable of doing. Because of God's grace in Christ we are raised us up, given us a seat at the table, and is preparing a place for us. We will keep on seeing God's grace flow. Then one of the classic, clear but most profound statements of scripture: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Even our faith is a gift from God - further evidence of His mercy and love.  And, as we have seen in the series on grace - it keeps on flowing: God has more in store in this life as well: for us to be able to do the good things He wants us to in His plan, which again, we need His help to do.  Grace began a long time ago; it is here and now today, and will go on and on, because grace is what God is like. 

Amazing Grace #25

 

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1)

Paul's letter to the Ephesians has more mentions of Grace, pound for pound, than any other Biblical book. He begins with his usual greeting of "Grace and Peace" and then launches into this list of spiritual blessings we have in Christ: God's choosing us to be His children; His sanctifying us in holiness; His adopting us to legally be His heirs; His making us a part of His plan and purpose. These, of course, are preceded by His redeeming us, forgiving us, having revealed to us our need of Christ as Savior. His grace plan also includes our future, bringing together all His people in one united kingdom, joining together His saints in heaven and earth. All of this causes Paul, and should move us, to praise God for His glorious and overflowing grace. It just keeps coming. May we receive it joyfully, thankfully, and willingly. 

Amazing Grace #24

 

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 5)

Grace is liberating; it frees us from slavery to sin and to ourselves. But sometimes we find slavery more comfortable than freedom; it's what we're used to.  As we saw yesterday, Paul was concerned that at this church in Galatia many were falling for another gospel, another way for us to be changed and to change the world apart from the Grace of God in Christ.  Some from that church were falling back into rituals, like circumcision, which in this case meant falling back into the idea that I need something more than or instead of the Grace of God in Christ to be right with God and to become Who He wants me to be. Once we do that, we "break faith", we violate the trust and commitment we have made with God and His people, which affects our relationship with Him and one another. We begin to think we are better than others, and that Christ is not enough - to change us or them.  This leads to pride, division, and bondage. We put ourselves back in the cage, rejecting God's love and grace.  Let us not give up our freedom. "Stand firm," Paul exhorts us. Don't take your freedom lightly. Christ paid the ultimate price for it. Stay in Grace.

Amazing Grace #23

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1)

After giving his typical blessing of grace and peace, Paul jumps right in to address his deepest burden for this body of beleivers: abandoning Christ for a different "gospel".  The terms and concepts of "grace" and "gospel" are really inseparable. The Gospel is the Good News that God has sent His Son to do what we cannot do. That's grace at work.  But as we have seen, grace continues on, as Christ works out His salvation in our lives, changing us, transforming us, developing fruit and good works, and being a light in this dark world.  Our tendency is to be tempted to go back to doing it ourselves,  and to be swallowed back up by this world.  Notice Paul says Christ came "to deliver us from the present evil age", not just some time in the future, and that here and now "there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel." In other words, we are constantly being presented with worldly ideas on how to change ourselves and change the world.  This, says Paul, is another, a "different gospel." It really is not a gospel at all, because the gospel requires the grace of God in Christ.  Today, just as in Paul's day, there are false gospels out there, pointing away from Christ to some other manmade way for us to be saved - in fact, for us to save ourselves and the world.  Don't be swept away by some false, inferior gospel. Remember that Christ, and Christ alone was able to deal with our sins. Christ, and Christ alone, can change us, doing what we cannot do ourselves. Christ, and Christ alone can work in and through us to change the world. 

Amazing Grace #22

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (II Corinthians 13)

Missing from the end of this second letter from Paul to the Corinthian church is his typical listing of names and greetings.  Rather than doing that, he gives a grace greeting.  He wants them to relate to one another with grace. Grace is to become the culture of a fellowship of believers, where everyone is trusting in Christ to do in and among them what we cannot seem to be able to do alone: get along with one another.  Paul has talked about a lot of issues at the church, and exhorted them to forgive, comfort and learn to live with, one another in Christlike love.  He wants them to experience the community of the Trinity: Christ giving the grace we need to deal with each other; the Father giving the power to love even when we are unlovely; the Holy Spirit binding us together in a fellowship of sharing that cannot be broken.  This is what grace unleashed looks like in a body of believers. We cannot do it on our own.  May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be the atmosphere in which we live.  

Amazing Grace #21

 

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (II Corinthians 12)

We've already talked about how Paul experienced the grace of God in his life: God had mercifully called him from being a persecutor of Christ's followers to professing faith in Christ and preaching the Gospel.  Such a privilege and powerful experience could go to one's head. We have also talked about how important humility is for us to experience God's grace in and through us, so Paul, and God, had their plans to keep Paul humble so God's grace would keep flowing through him.  Sometimes God's plans are a little different than ours. God's plan for Paul included physical weakness, trials, and opposition.  It was the perfect recipe for grace. It was not always easy or fun, but Paul learned that if he wanted God to do in and through him, through Christ, what he was unable to do himself - and as we have seen, that is grace - then he needed to maintain a humility, contentment, and dependence on Christ to set the tone for his life.  When we realize our weakness and respond to God's grace, His power shines through. 

Amazing Grace #20

 

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 9 As it is written,

“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (II Corinthians 9)

We saw yesterday in II Corinthians 8 that generous giving is one of the important ways we see the grace of God at work in our lives.  He actually spends the rest of that chapter and this one talking about it: it is that important.  In this passage above he begins by saying that it is part of the sowing and reaping principle we see so often in scripture: if we invest in sin, we reap its consequences; if we sow the word of God in our lives, we will see Godly character; and here, If we sow grace by giving, we reap not more money necessarily, but all kinds of fruit of the grace of God. Notice in verse 11: you will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which will produce... thanksgiving."  It will also develop real relationships in the body of Christ, and prayer for one another.  Grace giving does not necessarily mean God will give us a bunch of money back, (though he may so we can give more to those in need), but He does take that invested "act of grace" to bring Him the thanks and glory He deserves, and to develop spiritual fruit in and among His people.  This excites Paul to the point of overflowing: "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible Gift!" - the gift of Christ, and thereby His grace, and all the blessings that come with it. May His grace flow in and through us.

Amazing Grace #19

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. (II Corinthians 8)

From what see in Paul's two letters to this church, there appeared to be a lot of self-focus: many wanted to stick out as being special and superior; there was a lot of sensuality, and some in need were being ignored, while others cared only about themselves.  Paul points to other churches that were setting an example in generosity, calling it and "act of grace."  These other believers were showing what happens when grace takes hold in our lives: since in our salvation God has freely given what we do not deserve, and provided forgiveness we could not obtain, our response should be to freely give to one another in need. Giving is a demonstration of our faith; it shows that we believe God provides, and if we "let go" of what we have, God will continue to provide what we need.  Now giving is not the only "act of grace", as Paul goes on to list several others here: God gives us faith when we have none of our own; He helps us speak up when we by nature are timid; He gives us knowledge that is above our IQ; He gives us courage and persistence to go on when we have no strethn of our own; He gives us the ability to love when people drive us crazy. But if we are not willing to give, have we really been willing to receive God's grace? 

Amazing Grace #18

 

12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand— 14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. 15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (II Corinthians 1)

When Paul writes this second letter to the Corinthians, there had been a visit by his missionary friend Timothy to check on them after sending his first letter, to come back and report on how things were going.  He refers to the fact that when he had first come, it was by the Grace of God. In other words, God was at work in the hearts and lives of Paul & his team to bring them there to give them the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to establish them as a local church, which developed this ongoing relationship between them as fellow believers. That means that when Christ returns, we will all be with Him, telling Jesus how much we have been blessed by one another.  Paul then says that he wanted to come so they could have a "second experience of grace." That is often misunderstood as something in addition to salvation, but in context we see that is not the case. It is still this idea that Paul coming to them was by the grace of God - that this would be a second visit demonstrating God's grace in his life and theirs.  You see, there had been this strain in the relationship between Paul and this church because he had to address some sins and misconceptions by letter and by messenger, and not in person. He wanted to come again in God's grace, but had been hindered, and this had been misunderstood as Paul not keeping his word or not really caring.  But God's grace does make us care about one another, even when we disagree or must confront one another. God's grace helps us continue and deepen our relationshp with one another, and as the opening verses of this chapter say, to comfort one another. God also gives us His Holy Spirit to help us do this. Today, let us ask God how by His grace we can bless someone new, or someone who needs to know again that God cares, and so do we. 

Amazing Grace #17

 

8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. (I Corinthians 15)

What a perspective on Grace!  This chapter is often referred to as The Resurrection Chapter. Having described the core elements of the Christian faith: the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul goes on to list all the witnesses of the resurrection who could attest to its truth.  As he does, he cannot help but share how the grace of God has worked in his life. First of all, he refers to himself as untimely, least, and unworthy: to truly experience the grace of God demands humility before Him - a willingness to say and act in a way that demonstrates we need Him.  Secondly: it demands a contentment - that what God wants for us is what is best, and we are willing to set aside our agenda for His and accept our place in His plan.  Thirdly, grace does not mean we become lazy and fatalistic. Paul worked hard, which allowed God to work through Him.  Paul was not working FOR his salvation, but because of it, to please God. Finally, Paul understood that God's grace was at work in others around him.  He realized and appreciated the fact that it was not the Apostle Paul show, but the Jesus Christ show, in which he was allowed to have a role.  At different times and places others were in the forefront, and he had a minor supporting role.  We need God's grace to do so many things we cannot do on our own. How do we limit the grace of God? Through our pride, our grumbling and discontentment, our laziness, and our lack of appreciation for others. May we let His grace flow.

Amazing Grace #16

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Corinthians 1)  

Grace and peace.  We often see these twin blessings from God in the opening verses of Paul's letters. We are all searching for and desiring peace - that sense of wholeness, that all is well, that life is under God's control no matter what is going on in the world or within our souls. It is a blessing that was sought and given in the Old Testament. Grace was brought alongside peace through Christ.  It is something we also need and should be seeking and willing to receive, but often do not realize how much we need it and end up rejecting it.  Paul here thanks God for the grace that has been given to this group of Christ followers, and goes on to see the evidence of God's grace among them. It had affected their speech and knowledge, bringing with it all sorts of spiritual gifts, among which is patience. They had been given, by God's grace, everything they needed as they waited and prepared for Christ's return. God does not hold back from us. His grace will sustain us through any trial, and His sanctification will prepare us to be ready for Him to come.  The resources we need are not lacking.  May we be willing to receive and rely on them. 

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12)

Here we see Grace works in conjunction with the people of God.  The question is: "How can we as followers of Christ, from all sorts of different backgrounds and experiences, come together and help each other live out the life of Christ in a world that does not think the way He does?" First, we must all want Him to rule and reign; we must all submit to His reign as Lord, to say sincerely and repeated: "I belong to You, Jesus". Second, we must all allow Him to change us, individually and corporately, beginning in the way we think.  Part of this change in thinking is to get over our self-centered and self-justifying thinking - to allow Him to transform our minds into Christlike servanthood, believing that God in His grace wants to give us what is best for us, and He wants to use us for what is best for those around us - especially those in the family of God.  Paul had been shown God's grace, and as a result was chosen by God to speak to them as God's ambassador. So he says: that's what I am doing, by God's grace. You all need to do the same thing: allow God to do in you what you cannot do on your own: serving, teaching, leading, looking around you at who needs help and finding a creative way to give it.  When we all come at life and church from that perspective, we help each other live out the grace of God. Today, let us ask God, by His grace, to see ourselves and each other differently, and by His grace to do what He has called us to do with our lives, in His Church, and for those around us. 

Amazing Grace #14

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. (Romans 6)

Paul digs even deeper into the Grace of God as we move on to Romans 6.  As we saw in the last two days, Grace now rules. Sin does not.  But we still struggle with sin in our lives.  If grace rules, how do we deal with this stuggle with sin and temptation? Do we just give up and say: "It doesn't matter anyway... I am forgiven in Christ; I am going to heaven, so it's no big deal."? No, and the reason is grace. Grace is that God-given ability, in Christ, to do what we cannot do on our own. The very nature of grace means that we take a more proactive approach to sin in our lives. Now we can do this. We can say "no" to sin's power, because we are not sin's slave anymore; we are slaves committed to obeying and pleasing God. We can and should present our lives and our bodies to God and say: "Here, Father, I cannot please your on my own, but you can turn my life around and make it what You want it to be, by Your grace. I believe You. I trust You. I want what You want. I receive Your grace. 

Amazing Grace #13

 

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5)

We talked yesterday about how grace now rules.  Building on this standing we have in Christ, we also find that instead of living under the curse of Adam, we now live under the rule of Grace.  Intertwined with this discussion, Paul has also be talking about the law, and he summarizes his thoughts here: The law came so we would understand what lawbreakers we are. There has been a whole lot of lawbreaking going on; we can look all around us and inside us to see that. But now, we can see a whole lot of grace going on, and God's grace is great enough, and big enough and deep enough to take care of any trespass. As the song writer puts it: it is greater than all our sin. So now grace reigns through what Christ had done, can do, and will do. The result is eternal life. As we saw yesterday, the rule of sin sucks the life out of us, but the rule of grace breaths it back into us, because Christ is the One who breathes life. This eternal life is much more than future; it includes here and now. This is present tense. God wants His grace, and life, to flow in and through us. Sometimes life is hard, and we wonder of we can do another day, but by God's grace we can do today, and any day, forever. Choose today to walk in His grace. 

Amazing Grace #12

 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. 16 And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. 17 For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. (Romans 5)

Grace rules.  Paul began this chapter talking about us standing in grace, and all the spiritual blessings we have in connection with His grace: hope, joy, peace and love.  He went on to make a contrast between the first man, Adam, and the new man, Jesus Christ. From Adam's act, sin, death, and judgment spread throughout all humanity, ruling and reigning in each of our lives.  Conversely, through the act of Jesus Christ - His giving His life - God's grace brought righteousness for many - for all who receive this gracious Gift of God - His Son and the life He brings. Grace takes over and rules, working in us what cannot be done on our o wn. When grace rules, it's not like when sin rules, sucking the life out of us.  When grace rules, life comes back.  May our lives today be full of Grace and full of life. May God and His grace rule. 

Amazing Grace #11

 

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5)

The first verse of our passages is very well-known, as it is a clear, concise truth of our Christian faith. But we must not stop there, as there is a whole mix of blessings in this paragraph: not only is their faith and peace, but hope, rejoicing, love, character, and a whole lot of Grace.  We are standing in and on the grace of God in Jesus Christ. It starts where we stand. We are trusting in Christ to do what we cannot: make us righteous before God, give us this peace with God, allow us to have access into the presence of God, joyfully look forward in hope to God's presence and glory, live life, which is full of struggles, knowing that God is in this process, by His grace, to develop us into the people He wants us to be. Even the love of God can only be experienced and expressed by His grace; we are unable on our own to receive it or pass it on.  It is by being in the room of God's grace that we may receive all these blessings.  It's where we want to be; it's where we need to be.  May you accept and receive all God has for you today.

Amazing Grace #10

 16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (Romans 4)

Let me begin by saying that the picture above is not completely accurate. The word "grace" should be much larger than the word "faith."  The "promise" rests on the grace of God, Who also gives us our faith (Ephesians 2:8,9).  But the two go hand in hand.  Faith is part of God's great grace plan. It really has been all long, as Paul is pointing out in this passage.  Our forgiveness, salvation and inheritance with God in heaven all are based upon His grace - the God-given ability, in Christ, to do what we cannot do on our own. Faith is consistent with that; works - doing it on our own - is not.  Abraham was called "the father of the faith" with good reason. He followed in obedience to God but did make mistakes along the way. It was not because he was such a great man; he was called by God and given this promise of a people who would also follow God when he had done nothing to deserve it.  The key is always found in the character and nature of God, which is found in our last phrase; He gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. He does what no one else can do. That is what grace is too: God doing what no one else can do for themselves or others. Jesus has.  He is worthy of our faith and our following.  

Amazing Grace #9

 

For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. (Romans 3)

As we saw when we began this study in God's Amazing Grace, we all need His grace. One of the key reasons is found here in the context of one of the most well known verses in scripture: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  None of us are exempt. There is no distinguishing that we have sinned, less or more, better or worse than any other. We all have fallen short of God. The only way we can be made right with God is by His gift of grace - His doing something that allows us to be forgiven. That gift was given when Christ came and gave himself for us. He redeemed us, bought us back and brought us back into relationship with our creator, when He shed His blood for our sins. The only question that remains is if we will receive Christ, and this gift of God's Amazing Grace.  When we do, God continues to offer, and provide, the grace required for anything He calls on us to do.  Paul announces in the opening verses of this letter that he was an apostle, one sent out to share the good news of the gospel, in conjuction with receiving God's grace. In other words, God saves us by His grace, then He continues to give us His grace to live this new life in Christ. No exceptions or exemptions.