The Work of Grace (Part II)
29/06/08 12:27
In our last installment we learned that even the very
fact that God created us is evidence of His grace. I
am not trying to be too philosophical here, but you
have to admit, it is better to exist than
not-to-exist! How could anyone conceive of not
existing, and then, think that that would be better
than existing? Impossible! Well, now that I have
completely ruined your day let’s move on to the
work of grace in the lives of men.
St. Paul tells Timothy, in his second letter to him, that it was God who saved us and called us to a holy life –not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. “This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2Tim.1:9,10
What Paul is telling Timothy and all of us is that God, before He even said, “Let there be light…” had determined that Christ Jesus would redeem a people unto Himself. John tells us that Christ was slain before the creation of the world. Rev.13:8
This was all promised by God, who does not lie, before the beginning of time. Titus 1:2 So, what we have here is God promising (to Himself) that He would redeem mankind (through Christ) and this would be by a work of grace. Or said another way; It is by grace that we are saved, not from ourselves, it is a gift of God. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works that God had before ordained that we should walk therein. Eph.2:8-10.
Again, Paul tells the Ephesians that we were chosen in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Eph.1:4
My dear Brothers and Sisters, do you see that God has you blameless in Christ; and that even before a day had been recorded! What I am saying is that you and I get to experience all that life gives us plus we have the hope of eternal life with all that we may experience with it; all because God, through Christ, loved us and gave Himself for us.
God knew you before the foundation of the world. In God you are already sitting in heavenly realms with Christ, because you were created (before the foundation of the world) in Christ. Stop thinking like mere men! God is not accountable to time. He wasn’t accountable to time before He created it and He is not accountable to time now that it exists.
The grace that you and I experience in our lives today is the grace given to us in Christ before time began. So it stands to reason that any grace that we may receive today is for the set purpose that God determined before hand. This purpose was accomplished in Jesus Christ. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” Rom.8:28,29
In light of God’s word and in keeping in context of this subject, these two Scriptures speak volumes of the work of grace in our lives today. In the next installment we will discuss just what and how these two Scriptures should be interpreted. And by the grace of God –we will.
The Lord bless you this week!
Pastor Jim
St. Paul tells Timothy, in his second letter to him, that it was God who saved us and called us to a holy life –not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. “This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2Tim.1:9,10
What Paul is telling Timothy and all of us is that God, before He even said, “Let there be light…” had determined that Christ Jesus would redeem a people unto Himself. John tells us that Christ was slain before the creation of the world. Rev.13:8
This was all promised by God, who does not lie, before the beginning of time. Titus 1:2 So, what we have here is God promising (to Himself) that He would redeem mankind (through Christ) and this would be by a work of grace. Or said another way; It is by grace that we are saved, not from ourselves, it is a gift of God. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works that God had before ordained that we should walk therein. Eph.2:8-10.
Again, Paul tells the Ephesians that we were chosen in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Eph.1:4
My dear Brothers and Sisters, do you see that God has you blameless in Christ; and that even before a day had been recorded! What I am saying is that you and I get to experience all that life gives us plus we have the hope of eternal life with all that we may experience with it; all because God, through Christ, loved us and gave Himself for us.
God knew you before the foundation of the world. In God you are already sitting in heavenly realms with Christ, because you were created (before the foundation of the world) in Christ. Stop thinking like mere men! God is not accountable to time. He wasn’t accountable to time before He created it and He is not accountable to time now that it exists.
The grace that you and I experience in our lives today is the grace given to us in Christ before time began. So it stands to reason that any grace that we may receive today is for the set purpose that God determined before hand. This purpose was accomplished in Jesus Christ. “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” Rom.8:28,29
In light of God’s word and in keeping in context of this subject, these two Scriptures speak volumes of the work of grace in our lives today. In the next installment we will discuss just what and how these two Scriptures should be interpreted. And by the grace of God –we will.
The Lord bless you this week!
Pastor Jim
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