Grace is not licence neither is it for pampering
In an earlier posting I said that grace is not a license to sin and I referred to the book of Romans ch.6. vs.1 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” After all in the previous verse #21 of ch. 7 he had just finished saying that grace reigns through righteousness….so in vs.2 ch. 6 he says, “Certainly not!” The King James says… “God forbid!” He was appalled at the very thought. Imagine …God’s grace promoting sin….that is unimagineable ! Preposterous! Going on, “How shall
We who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, EVEN SO WE ALSO SHOULD WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE.”

How can I do this? Vs. 19 is the key, “I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.” And I’ve added in brackets (leading to more holiness) Presenting our members….what does the apostle speak of …presenting our members? He’s talking about our body, our thinking, our talk…everything we do or say ….our members.
If presenting ourselves as slaves of uncleanness and of lawlessness leads to more lawlessness which we call sin then it stands to reason that if we present our members to holiness then that will lead to more holiness ……..will it not?
And…….grace is not a pampering tool either to pamper some ill-spirited Christian who is always looking for attention and sympathy by their chronic complaining. Romans 6:22, “But now having been set free from sin, and have become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Pampering ourselves and I’m pointing the finger at myself also, does not produce holiness, in fact it is just the opposite of holiness.
If you or I have been saved 10, 15, 20 years or upwards of 40 or 50 years or even higher we should be far enough along in our walk with God that whining and complaining is not part of us and we should never, never need to be pampered. We need to be constantly on the alert and allow the Holy Spirit to control our thoughts. I know I do. I am weak but Thou art strong….the song declares. Jesus keep me from all wrong. When I’m murmuring and complaining I’m seemingly complaining about people but I’m complaining against God Who made people in His image. Example : the children of Israel against Moses. When I feel like complaining and /or whining I need to apply a good portion of His grace.

I AM THINKING THIS MORNING ABOUT his keeping power..Grace will keep us…grace will keep us

Miss Carro Davis used to talk about His keeping power. Jesus prayed in John 17:11 , “keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are …..skipping down to vs. 15, He said, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.”
Jabez cried out in 1Chronicles ch.4 vs. 10… “Oh that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory and that your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. Matter of fact you might say. God granted him what he requested. I USED TO THINK THIS PARTICULAR VERSE WAS ABOUT PROSPERITY and I guess it is to some degree but it’s really about His keeping power…..at least that is what I see.
He gave Jabez his heart’s desire…..to keep him from evil…note that in both cases …..the quote from the Gospel of John and this latter one from 1 Chronicles 4 it says keep them (me) from evil….it dies not say keep evil from them….is there some responsibility here on you and me? In Romans 12:9, “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” and then in verse 21 “Be not overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”
It sounds like we have a part to play here….what do you think?
Hebrews tells us we are in a race and in that race we need to ….. “lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run wuth patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Ch.12:1,2
We have a part to play but only because of His grace can we do it.
Even in this exhortation to the Hebrews in the 12th. Chapter in verse 15, “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”…so I seem to think that His grace is keeping me but I need to serve God …look at verse 28 wherein lies the answer that I am looking for…. “wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and fear:” Without Him I can do nothing, without Him I’d surely fail, without Him I would be drifting like a ship without a sail……let us have grace, the Bible says…..His grace…amazing grace
Another song says “He will keep me while the ages roll throughout eternity, though earth hinders and hell rages, all must work for good to thee.” Let Him keep you today by His grace.

The other day I wrote something about peace in an e-mail and sent it out. And peace is seemingly unattainable in our world. The more the world talks about peace …the farther away it seems to be. And stress…stress levels are at an all time high…I mean people used to work hard, yes, but stress doesn’t always come from hard work. We are bombarded with pressures today. So where can I find peace? Peace has a direct link to righteousness. And that is what today’s blog is all about….

Grace produces the peacable fruit of righteousness

Grace is power and as I thought about this He revealed what the meaning is and that is for my life when the tempter comes along that Iam to ask for the power of His grace to enable me to overcome the temptation. His grace is enough and I am without excuse.

This to me is grace. All I need for all of my situations in life is accept His grace….His grace is not a passive thing….it is power……..it is wonderful…..amazing……….grace.

I look out my window at my pine trees …they have taken off this year….I,ve pruned them and they are growing tall with full rich looking bows….it takes grace to handle the pruning….but afterwards…it produces the peaceable fruit of righteousness.When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll’
Whatever my lot, thow hast taught me to say “it is well, it is well with my soul
And it’s all because of His amazing grace!

Romans (the words of Paul) says in ch. 8 vs.31 through 34 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll’
Whatever my lot, thow hast taught me to say “it is well, it is well with my soul
And it’s all because of His amazing grace!

Romans (the words of Paul) says in ch. 8 vs.31 through 34 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll’
Whatever my lot, thow hast taught me to say “it is well, it is well with my soul
And it’s all because of His amazing grace!

(the words Romans of Paul) says in ch. 8 vs.31 through 34 says, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns?It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Yes grace leads to repentance

In the opening verseat the beginning of this study from Ro.2 that I read it says that “the goodness of God leads to repentance” That is what I know about grace. It is the greatest result of grace….leading us to repentance.

The question is asked, “Dare we judge a book while chapters are yet unwritten? Should we pass a verdict while the artist still holds the brush? How can we dismiss a soul until God’s work is complete?” Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” and the last part of verse 7 …..”you are all partakers with me of grace. I sn’t that glorious? We too are all partakers, we are all recipients….all we need to do is …….partake

What do I know about grace?..grace that is greater than all my sin
I cannot fathom the depths of His grace…it is truly amazing………………….. grace!
We have heard over the years much concerning Paul’s thorn in the flesh and how on three separate occasions he asked Jesus to take it from him.
And what did the Saviour answer in response to his plea? “My grace is sufficient for thee. Does that mean immediate deliverance? Or does it mean that I can continue in that sin? That habit? That weakness in my life? No it does not for Paul wrote in Romans….”What? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid he says….God forbid. I was made to realize as I pondered this that God does not always answer in the way we want Him to but rather He answers in a way that is for our own good. In the case of Paul He gave His grace not to deliver but rather to empower him to rise above it.
Question....can you think ofhow we can rise above habits in our lives?

What about the other side of grace? This, being my first contribution to our on-line-study, is what I have been thinking about on the subject.

The last few days of meditation and study together has been a wonderful reminder of His grace to us - so many hymns have been written hoping to express something about His grace - impossible for us to really understand. One of the verses of one of these hymns “And Can it be That I Should Gain?” written by Charles Wesley goes as:

He left His Father’s throne above, So free, so infinite in His grace”
Emptied Himself of all but love, And bled for Adam’s helpless race;
‘Tis mercy all! Immense and free, For, O my God, it found out me!

Thank God for His grace, “greater than all our sins”.

But what about the other side of grace? So much grace, undeserved, has been extended to us by our God; what about our extending grace to those around us when they don’t deserve it. It is easy to extend grace, undeserved love, to the people we run into each day who treat us well. But what about the times when they don’t? When we were the furthest from God, He extended grace to us. He set an example for us to follow.

He also gave us many scriptures to follow - on the subject - so that we treat each other with grace. We so often talk about bringing others to God with words - also a commandment - but what about reaching others for the kingdom of God by our actions? When grace flows out of us to others, it is the greatest expression that Christ - giver of grace to us - lives in us.

In John 13:34, 35, Christ left us with the words, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

So much more on this subject - will likely visit it again another day. Doesn’t our treating others, not as they deserve, but as God wants them to be treated, distinguish Christians from others, and from those of other religions?

Submitted by Naida

Grace produces boldness

One more scripture found in Hebrews ch . 4 vs. 16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need.” Aren’t you glad that is there in Hebrews ch. 4? It is talking about our High Priest. Who has suffered for us being passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. He can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted the Bible says in all points as we are ….yet without sin.
He alone is qualified…He has been there….yet without sin. That’s why He can authorize and extend His favor …His grace to you and I BECAUSE He was, is and evermore shall be without sin. And He was, is and evermore shall be ….God. There is a song that says “God in the flesh came to earth to save us…” Hallelujah!
That is grace.

As I was preparing these thoughts early one morning I turned to the devotional book that I have been reading in and the title for the day was “Voice of Grace” and it was speaking about the thief on the cross next to Jesus and how Jesus had extended His grace to him:” Tell me, what has the thief on the cross done to warrant help? He has wasted his life. Who is he to beg forgiveness? He publicly scoffed at Jesus. What right does he have to pray…Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom? Do you really want to know? The same right you have to pray….”
We like the thief….are we no better than he was?...are we indeed desperate, hopeless and naked? What did we do that would cause God to leave the portals of heaven and take upon Himself humanity and die as a common criminal upon a cross? He did it for me…and you . UNIMAGINABLE! God could not die…so He had to become man so that He could.. So what do we say then …that man died on the cross? But He was God . .Who became man.. to die. He left His Diety so that He could die…..I cannot understand it but I believe it with all my heart.. my mind …with all of my soul…I believe it.
That is grace. The grace of God.
Question for today....can you think of an exampl e where grace produces boldness?

Grace is power

Grace empowers us as well….it just doesn’t forgive us but it empowers us also…….Ro.12 again says in vs 2,”And be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” He goes on to say “For I say through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” This also is grace.
Martin Luther once said, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times. This knowledge of and confidence in God’s grace makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures.” Isn’t that powerful?

We are saved by grace and we are filled with the Spirit by His grace and we are led by His Spirit to pray because of grace….Ro.8:16-17, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our sprit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs…..heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” How can we fathom the depths of His grace? It’s an impossibility. We can all quote that verse in Eph.2:8&9 “For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” We need to remind the enemy of those verses every time he skulks around. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” Titus 3:5. It’s all because of His mercy and His grace.

Several years ago I planted some pine seedlings. It was in the autumn of 1993 if memory serves correctly. I planted them all the same time within a day or two. Some, the majority, died before even taking root. Some died after I transplanted them …….they were good size trees……I may have damaged the root when I was moving them. But others are flourishing today and are beautiful trees. The interesting thing to me is, even though I planted them all within a week of each other they did not grow all at the same rate One of them is close to 12 feet tall, while another is only two feet tall. And one has just started poking it’s nose out through the ground. After all these years. Those who have been cultivated by the grace of God grow exceedingly well……those who have not despised the chastening of the Lord are like that…..I see this too as grace. I have found the secret of growth in these trees is to prune them… How many times I have grieved the Holy Spirit and not sought forgiveness at the foot of the cross? Oh today I have repented and He has forgiven me…Hallelujah!...He has forgiven me. For all the times I’ve failed Lord …for all the times I’ve failed …Lord forgive me. I can’t stress enough how important it is to seek forgiveness. His grace ….o the love that sought me …o the blood that bought me …wondrous grace that brought me to the fold…
As I prepared these thoughts a deep and honest look inside came over my soul and I began to make repentance….asking God for His forgiveness…sins I’ve committed and sins of omission as well.
What I should have done and did not. God forgive me ….forgive us.

In the verse # 2 which i quoted last entry from Jer.ch.18,”Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.”
Hallelujah! God has a place for us to hear His words. He always has a time and a place for us to hear His words. It may be in the early morning hours that He will speak to you ….it may be in your closet praying that He causes you to hear His words. It could even be in your place of work or business that He will speak or it could be in the church house…the old song goes “I can tell you the time and I can take you to the place
Where God saved me by His saving grace” He has a place for you to hear His words…grace…the grace of God. Elijah was on the side of a mountain when he heard His words,…..hiding in a cave afraid of a wicked woman. Have you or I ever ran and hid in a cave of our own ?
Question for today....do you think grace is deserved by "good" people only? or is it deserved at all? Also does God play favorites? if not ...why do we?