July 22, 2018
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 2 Cor. 8:9
It is only by the Goodness of God that we have the gospel message: that of God's redeeming love through Christ. It is the preaching of Jesus Christ, who God has made known to all nations for the obedience of faith, Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:25,26
You like me have heard many definitions of grace but none really capture's the meaning or allows you to wrap your brain around the meaning of grace. Verses so often quoted, Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. These verses tell us that Salvation is the gift of God but it doesn't say that "Grace" is the gift of God.
The doctrine of grace is an important doctrine to me because of my struggles with understanding the gospel. I know people say, you are not supposed to understand you are supposed to believe. I Have always said, you can't believe something you don't understand. You may want too, but the truth is you can't believe until you have an understanding. I don't hear other people say that in this day and time but a few nights ago I was reading from "A Free Grace Primer, Grace in Eclipse" by Zane C. Hodges page 391- " A person cannot believe what he does not know or understand". Psa_18:28 For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness
In the early part of my life, I heard words such as election, predestination, chosen etc. and I came to the conclusion that I was left out. Our enemy, the devil, is active to blind to the truth of the Gospel and so it was in my life. And it was only when I understood that He saved me at the Cross more than two thousand years and He was not asking me to do anything but believe what He did for me that I had peace with Him.
What is Grace?
You can't separate grace for our LORD and Saviour. Grace is entwined in the character of God. He is a gracious God. Psa_86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
- His Grace is kindness,
- His Grace is love,
- His Grace is provision,
- His Grace is being justified,
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3: 4-7
Grace is often thought of as existing for us to use as we deem fit with no Godly purpose. But let me say God purpose for us is designed in His grace. Psa_103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. If He had not remembered us in salvation, we were eternally doomed.
See the example of Grace in the book of Jonah
Jonah a prophet disobeys the LORD, Jonah 1:1,2 - He was to go to Nineveh and cry against them for their sin. V3.But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
- He found a vessel: you can always find something or someone to take you away from the LORD.
- He paid the fare: you always pay the fare for the trip down and away from the LORD.
- V4. You can run but you can't hide! The LORD sent the storm, "But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. "
- To calm the raging sea and wind Jonah was cast out into the angry waves, v15. "So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging."
- Just as casting Christ into the sea of death as the Lamb of God paid the penalty of sin and quite the storm of God's judgment.
In this story, we see the anticipation of the resurrection, Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The name Jesus reveals his mission: to save His people from their sins. His name comes from the Hebrew word for salvation. Jonah's final words, "Salvation is the Lord's"
His grace gave Jonah a second chance and His grace spared a great city of people. Jonah in his pouting proclaimed, Jon 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. Jon 4:2 And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. Jonah was saying, "I knew you would spare them because you are a gracious God! And He is!!
He is a God of grace, Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: Eph. 3:7-9. To preach to make known to all who will hear the riches of His grace (The grace of Christ). All that God has He gave to His Son and then gave us His Son …..That is grace.
Redemption
Grace extends from the cross for the salvation of sinners. He came to seek and to save that which is lost.
Grace is the provision of Salvation, Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Grace is an opportunity to be saved. – Tit 2:11 -15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Salvation is the gift of God but it must be received by faith. We have been given the provision for Salvation:
- The Person of Christ, the Lamb of God, 1Pe_2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. the Holy Spirit,
- The Holy Spirit, Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
- The Word of God, 1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. There is that word believe! You have to believe for your self. You can't believe by proxy. – The transaction of salvation is made in person: you the sinner and Christ the Saviour – Christ bare your sins in His own body on the tree, (1 Peter 2:24).
The truth of the gospel is that God saved you in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and when you believe that you have eternal life. That is why God gave us Christ as the Lamb of God, (John 3:16). Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47. He is the only one who can make that promise and guarantee it for He did die and was raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
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