Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Grace
okay, i'll be skipping a whole lot of chapters, infact i probably wont exactly be doing about the book so much, but rather main themes of my thoughts, which most obviously would come from the books im reading and of course, the bible. This is because i realised, i'll take eternity to finish this, and i'm certainly not driven by the thought of eternity!(would pun be appropriate here? nevermind...)
Grace is such a wide topic, with just far too many things to say. so i'll probably be spreading this out over a few posts. Also, I shall touch on a few points that i find especially meaningful to the few(and by few, i really mean few) readers that i have. Hopefully what would shine through is the power of the Gospel:)
Do you guys realise something about all of Paul's epistles? if you've been talking to me long enough, you may have realised it. It always begins with Grace and peace(sometimes without peace) to you, and ends with Grace with you from God in Christ Jesus our Lord. But whats always present is Grace.
To understand grace we have to fully understand Depravity. There are so many references that i could use for this. But i'd like simply to look at just one of such passages-Isaiah 53.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
The great blessings that are found in this verse! (infact in the whole chapter if you would just pause for a moment and meditate on it)
ALL we like sheep have gone astray,
EVERY ONE! and then the verse goes on to say, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
WE TURNED AWAY FROM HIM. Im quite sure i did not read "Each one of us like mice, found its way to the cheese, and the LORD thus provided us with cheese abundant."
NEY! it says we GONE ASTRAY, we did not choose God! He chose us! that While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!(rom5:8,9) and that is how He showed Unending love, Amazing Grace. To embrace this in Salvation, to realise that it "10 it was the will of the LORD to crush him; " for in order that we, as sinful as we may be, can be made righteous in Christ, it to understand that every second we breathe, is a second of grace shown to us. That salvation is by grace and grace alone! Immense joy will then overflow from the knowledge of this! It is then when we realise that the gospel, the true, full gospel exalts God, and humbles man, as the hymn goes
All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!
Because of the cross, all grace abounds in Christ, that every second from here on, is future grace. The reason why Paul starts of and ends all of his letters with Grace and peace, (1) because that is the greatest blessings possible! the blessings of salvation! and may i humbly suggest (2) that all that he writes, is the Word of God, and in it, grace abounds bountifully for you! and when he says grace with you, he expects that after you put down the bible, the active and living word of God will continue to be with you giving you grace. That as Christians, In Christ alone, we have secure standings in the Word and the supply of God's future grace for us.
Many things hang on this supply of Future Grace. Let me just provide you with one for now.
Future Grace for weary saints. One thing i realised through deeper examining of scripture us that, more often then not, when the bible talks about strength, it is usually spiritual strength, strength to endure and i've come to realise this. God doesnt demand physical strength, no! "Be strengthened... in the inner man."(Eph 3:16)
"It is good for the heart to be strengthen by grace"(Heb 13:9) "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim 2:1). Once again, we are strengthened by grace in Christ Jesus.
"1Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
2that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
3For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints," (2 cor 8:1-4)
The Grace of God enabled them to endure hardship, to go beyond their ability help, it strengthened them and spurred them on, most of all, joyfully. Is scripture not explicit in saying "My grace is sufficient for you"? and that "(His) power is perfected in weakness"? When we are weary, burdened or in pain, we turn back to look at God'd grace shown to us on the cross(that i will speak of more in detail tmr or something), be filled with immense joy and gratitude, and then look forward believing that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (2 cor 9:8) ALL GRACE. and with that be strengthen as you Rest in Him and His grace and ALL THAT HE IS for you!
Grace With you,
Aaron
came at5:29 PM
