GRACE
Wayne Roberson
Grace is the bases of all Biblical Truth, we hold dear.
Graces is the foundation on which my belief system is built.
Grace is the opposite of works.
Grace is God at work in us, because we are not able to save ourselves.
We are not partners with God. We are beneficiaries of His grace, His work.
Our works are a result of what He has done for us and in us, not vise versa.
Philip.
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
OK, OK, enough already, you say. What difference does it make?
The difference has to do with your understanding of who God is, His character, His attributes and how it affects your relationship and fellowship with Him.
Until we realize our utter dependence on God, we are apt to develop a degree of legalism to obtain, maintain and secure our salvation. If we depend on our contribution, work or obedience, we can never know assurance of salvation.
As with the church at Galatia
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? [2] This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have you suffered so many things in vain--if indeed it was in vain? [5] Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?-- [6] just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." [7] Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Instead of an intimate loving God we will see Him as our impersonal, unreachable, untouchable God. Worse yet, we may reduce Him to just being a higher power or one of many gods.
We tend to see Him as a robed judge who waits anxiously to punish us every time we stumble.
Beloved, sovereign God knew we were not able to save ourselves.
His provision was made in the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Four times in scripture Christ is referred to as our propitiation. Simply put, He is our substitute. He paid the penalty for our sins.
whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, [NKJV ]
Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. [NKJV ]
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. [NKJV ]
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [NKJV ]
Holeman Dictionary:
EXPIATION, PROPITIATION (Ex pee ay tion; Pro pih tee ay tion) Terms used by Christian theologians in attempts to define and explain the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross as it relates to God and to believers. Expiation emphasizes the removal of guilt through a payment of the penalty, while propitiation emphasizes the appeasement or averting of God’s wrath and justice. Both words are related to reconciliation, since it is through Christ’s death on the cross for our sins that we are reconciled to a God of holy love (Romans 5:9-11; 2 Cor. -21 ; Col. 1:19-23 ).
OK, OK, enough already, you say. Enough Sunday School lesson, you may say.
Ok, my point is:
If you think you can lift one finger, perform one single act of contrition or obedience, even the ordinances and traditions of the church, including baptism and somehow improve, aid or earn a right standing with God, you are mistaken.
In fact, if you put your trust in your works, to any degree, you imply the sacrifice on the cross was not sufficient. That is heresy.
Insert: Conversation with friend in Irving
Instead, having once come to a saving knowledge of the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary .
Simply receive the truth in faith believing that the work of Christ on the cross of Calvary was sufficient to save.
Knowing this, if you confess Him as Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Paul outlined this process in Romans:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Simply believe that Christ’s work was sufficient and yours is insufficient and place your faith, hope and trust in His work…..i.e. Propitiation.
Yes, I said Hope!
Scriptural hope is not a maybe so hope but, is a sure and certain hope……
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,
Hope is the assurance that God will do what He has said He will do…..Save us!
Hope in Romans
8 times
who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be." [NKJV ]
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [NKJV ]
and perseverance, character; and character, hope. [5] Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. [NKJV ]
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; [NKJV ]
For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? [25] But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. [NKJV ]
rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; [NKJV ]
For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. [NKJV ]
And again, Isaiah says:
"There shall be a root of Jesse;
And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,
In Him the Gentiles shall hope."
[13] Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. [NKJV ]
In the words of Francis A Schaeffer “How Should We Then Live?”.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? [2] Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
We see God’s provision existed before we were born, before the foundation of the world. Sovereign God is surprised by NOTHING. He is not a deal maker, a partner or one to be bargained with. But rather, by faith simply receive His provision in His son, Jesus Christ. “How shall
Beloved, how can we neglect so great a salvation?
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. [2] For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, [3] how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
Motivated by love and appreciation for God’s propitiation, empowered by His indwelling Holy Spirit we:
Walk in Obedience
Rest in Him
Know His Blessing
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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