Grace

God’s grace is beautiful and wonderful. If it were not for God’s grace, we would be without hope. I believe that God’s grace, however, is best appreciated in the context of understanding the God Who is revealed to us through the Old Testament.

He is the Creator of the universe. He is perfect and holy. He is the Giver of life. He has righteous requirements (as seen in the 10 commands): He, alone, expects to be our God, we are not to worship anyone besides Him or to flippantly speak His name, we are to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy, we are to honor our father and mother, to not be murderers or adulterous, and we are not to steal, to testify falsely, or to covet what our neighbor possesses. He judges the actions of mankind. He flooded the earth because of the corrupted hearts of man (saving only 8 persons)! We clearly see throughout the Old Testament that God is a God of justice and especially when we read the accounts of the prophets, we see that God means what He says, says what He means, and will accomplish what He declares.

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that Jesus Christ (Who is God) is the same yesterday and today and forever. This means that the same God who desired obedience from His children and who exacted judgment on those who were rebellious has not changed; He is still the same God. However, we are in a period of time that is referred to as the Church Age or the Dispensation of Grace. This is a time where the children of God are being allowed to grow in godliness. The Holy Spirit Who lives within can flourish and help us to grow in sanctification unto God. And the most significant thing about God’s dispensation of grace is the forgiveness of sins that is offered to us through Jesus’ death on the cross. We have the benefit of living in an age that is post-Pentecost and will end at Jesus’ return. And because of God’s grace and desire that no one should perish, He is giving all of mankind and “grace period” so to speak, to understand the truth and come to Him.

We currently live in an atmosphere of God’s unwarranted favor. The words of Christ, recorded in John 10:10: The thief’s [satan’s] purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life [a spiritual vitality] in all its fullness. The righteous and holy God that we serve, does not desire our ruin; He desires a fullness of life for us. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Further on in Romans, we also learn that sin pays off with death. But God’s gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 CEV) This is God’s wonderful grace!

The question has been asked many times “If it wasn’t for God’s grace, where would I be?” I shudder to think of the answer.

Praise God for His grace. Don’t take it for granted. And may you be the blessed recipient of all that He desires for you, by His grace.

Thoughts on Our Free Will Which (at times) Seems to Contradict God’s Perfect Design

“How did the Dark Power go wrong? Here, no doubt, we ask a question to which human beings cannot give an answer with any certainty. A reasonable (and traditional) guess, based on our own experiences of going wrong, can, however, be offered. The moment you have a self at all, there is a possibility of putting yourself first-wanting to be the centre-wanting to be God, in fact. That was the sin of Satan: and that was the sin he taught the human race. Some people think the fall of man had something to do with sex, but that is a mistake. (The story in the Book of Genesis rather suggests that some corruption in our sexual nature followed the fall and was its result, not its cause.) What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’-could set up on their own as if they had created themselves-be their own masters-invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history – money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery – the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.

The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, of the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.”

- C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

Note: C.S. Lewis was not a theologian. He was a man of intellect, a Christian, a Christian writer, a Fellow and Tutor in English literature at Oxford University, and arguably, was most well-known for writing The Chronicles of Narnia and Mere Christianity. Simply Christian is not endorsing the details of Mr. Lewis’ perspective, but presenting an interesting perspective regarding this matter.

Jesus' Last Name?

Christ.

Christ is not Jesus’ last name. It may be confusing because we often see and hear Him referred to as Jesus Christ. It may be better understood (in English) as Jesus the Christ. Christ is an epithet of Jesus that means Messiah. Christ is the English version of the Greek word christos. The equivalent Hebrew term is messias, which in English, is Messiah. Both Christ and Messiah mean anointed or anointed one.  Jesus is the consecrated (set apart), anointed One. He is the Messiah.

Just some basic information we need to understand.

Just a Word of Love

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. (Proverbs 10:12)

Just a Word of Encouragement

But this precious treasure—this light and power that now shine within us—is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.  (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)

Amen!!!

The Resolve of the Called

Jeremiah 26:7-15 - So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. Now it happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You will surely die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without an inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the Lord’s house.  And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and all the people, saying, “This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.” Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and all the people, saying: “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you have heard. Now therefore, amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent concerning the doom that He has pronounced against you. As for me, here I am, in your hand; do with me as seems good and proper to you.  But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Jeremiah, a prophet, faithfully spoke the words that the Lord gave to him. And in this instance, the people, the priests, the prophets, and the princes all were determined that Jeremiah should die. They were not happy with what Jeremiah had to say. But Jeremiah’s response was “Do what you want but should you take my life, know that innocent blood will be on your hands.” He was resolved to deliver the word of the Lord and when challenged, he would not back down.

In North America, it is not common to be threatened with death for speaking God’s truth. In some other countries, this is more common place. But if you, like me, live in an environment of relative religious freedom, sometimes a laissez-faire attitude can develop. We can lack an urgency and a firm resolve to stand for the truth, to speak the truth, and to share the truth. Without challenge, our faith can be weak. My prayer, both for me and for you, is that we would stand firm on the truth, that we would freely and joyfully speak the truth, and that our hearts would love our neighbors enough to share the life-giving truth with them, and like Paul, that we would resolve “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way.” (Romans 1:16)

Care For Your Pastor

1 Timothy 5:17&18 - The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.  For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

Paul’s words to Timothy (a faithful servant and pastor) were instructing Timothy on how the pastors in the church were to be regarded. They were worthy of double honor, they were not to be limited as they did their work, but to be provided for. This analogy would not have been lost on the believers of Paul and Timothy’s time. It would have been a very clear picture. The idea of muzzling an ox while treading out the grain was that the ox, if not muzzled, would be allowed to eat while working - but if given food in this way, would work even more. Another way to see it is that the more they were provided for, the more they were able to work.

The pastors of that time and today, are to be honored. They are to be cared for. Our pastors are in the unique position of ministering to others but not (typically) being ministered to. And as we saw a couple of days ago, to whom much is given, much more is required. Our pastors have been given the charge of caring for the people who are under their teaching – to teach accurately and to lead the people in righteousness. Further, we see some very clear requirements for pastors: 1. A pastor must be devoted to his wife; one-woman man (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:2). A pastor must love his wife exclusively with his mind, will and emotions and not just his body. 2. A pastor’s children must be in submission, though not perfect (Titus 1:6; 1 Tim 3:4-5). 3. A pastor is a faithful steward (Titus 1:7) He is a steward, a manager of God’s resources and Jesus’ flock. He takes responsibility, but not ownership. 4. A pastor must be humble - not arrogant (Titus 1:7) 5. A pastor must be gentle - not quick-tempered (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3) 6. A pastor must be sober - not a drunkard (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3) This is not just overindulgence in alcohol but is idiomatic for any behavior that fuels addictive responses. 7. A pastor must be peaceful - not violent (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3) A pastor is prone to inflict violence through his words. He is to be a peacemaker. 8. A pastor must have financial integrity - not greedy for gain (Titus 1:7; 1 Tim 3:3; 1 Peter 5:3) 9. A pastor must be hospitable (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2) 10. A pastor must be a lover of good (Titus 1:8) 11. A pastor must be self-controlled (Titus 1:8; 1 Tim 3:2) 12. A pastor must be upright (Titus 1:8) 13. A pastor must be holy (Titus 1:8) 14. A pastor must be able to teach (Titus 1:9; 1 Tim 3:2)  15. A pastor must be spiritually mature (1 Tim 3:6) 16. A pastor must be respectable (1 Tim 3:7) 17. A pastor must be an example to the flock (1 Peter 5:3)¹

Because of all that is required of pastors – all that is given to them – much is required of them and they are to be honored. I’d like to encourage us all to pray for our pastors. They face so much in their own personal lives but also need to minister to their congregants. It’s a heavy charge. And don’t forget your pastor’s spouse! Cook a meal for your pastor’s family. Maybe you could offer to watch the children one evening so that they may have a “date night”. Care for your pastor. They are charged with the responsibility of caring for our souls, they deserve honor.

 

1. http://www.acts29network.org/acts-29-blog/biblical-qualifications-of-a-pastor/