When I was between the age of six and ten, I remember going to the hardware store with my dad. There was a display of pocket screwdrivers and I wanted one which dad told me I could not have. When no one was looking, I took one and hid it in my pocket.
Later dad discovered the screwdriver and took me back to the store to return the screwdriver and apologize to the owner. This is probably my first memory of what grace was because I knew my dad loved me and wanted me to be honest. He could of chosen physical punishment but instead he chose humiliation which I never forgot.
Recently I read a book by Larry Taunton called The Grace Effect. In the book, he describes trying to adopt a girl from the Ukraine and dealing with bureaucrats left over from the Soviet era. Most of the people he deals with, have a different view of life that reflects the attitude that human life is not valued. They do not have a Christian view of how God loves each one of us.
This book gives us a glimpse of what life could be like in America without God’s grace.
We have been taught about God’s love for over a generation and young Christians have not really been taught about a jealous God and his wrath for those who do not follow His Word. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools spurn wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)
Most Christians have head knowledge in knowing what the Bible says. The problem is that it does not connect to the heart. As someone said, we are eighteen inches away from real salvation. What I must do, as a Christian is to make the connection of God’s love for me and when I disobey there will be consequences. Just like when I correct a grand child. The grand child may experience my wrath but at the same time, I am showing my love so that that child will see the errors of their ways.
Now we come to grace. How can we possibly understand what God gives us through grace? Rahab was a prostitute and singled out by God to be saved from the annihilation of Jericho. Later we learn that from her bloodline, that Mary was a descendant of Rahab and she would be the mother of Jesus. Now that is one big gob of grace. Over time we have been lulled into the grace affect that once we accept Christ – we are saved. We become blind believing that we can see (John 9:41). We do not see how grave our commitment is.
After God saw the wickedness in man and in Genesis 6:5-7 the Lord regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. Then the Lord said, “I will wipe off from the face of the earth mankind, whom I created, together with the animals, creatures that crawl, and birds of the sky – for I regret that I made them”. However, God shows His grace by telling Noah to build an ark.
God takes grace seriously and has destroyed cities and HIS people within because they did not take His grace seriously. Fearing God’s wrath needs to be understood before understanding grace and His love for us. God’s judgment on His people is found throughout the Bible.
What must we do to receive God’s grace? We must submit to His law that found in His commandments, however, when we are under grace, the commandments should come naturally. What happens when we do not take grace seriously?
In the Old Testament, it is written what God’s wrath can look like, cities are destroyed and in Jericho, descendants of Canaan the grandson of Noah, all living things were killed. After Christ is crucified and raised, Jerusalem is destroyed within 70 years. After the Jews last stand at Masada, the Israelites are scattered until 1948. God’s grace and mercy is very serious and should not taken casually.
In Romans 3:23-25 for all who have sinned fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
Our government is floundering under the leadership of citizens who have been educated in a corrupt school system. You and I have put in place those that govern us. Moreover, they have attended church and Sunday school that have taught warm fuzzy touchy feel of the love of God and his grace from pastors that are more concerned about membership than teaching the fury of God’s wrath. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The world upon whom grace is thrust as a bargain will grow tired of it, and it will not only trample upon the Holy, but also will tear apart those who force it on them.” (pg. 293)
Grace does not save one from Hell. Grace is God loving his human creation as part of a process. An artist that creates pottery may reject much of his/her work for the big art show. The artist loves his/her creations and realizes some of the creations are not good enough.
If there are a few holes in the blanket or it is to short, and if your big toe is sticking out, you
may think you are warm but your toe is cold and that makes you uncomfortable. Likewise,
being under grace may be reassuring but if one is not righteous and does not admit to it,
one can still go to Hell.
may think you are warm but your toe is cold and that makes you uncomfortable. Likewise,
being under grace may be reassuring but if one is not righteous and does not admit to it,
one can still go to Hell.
Admitting that we are sinful and then forgiving our self, then go to your knees and ask God for His forgiveness.
Grace is a gift from God as is His mercy and it is a process. Mercy is receiving His grace even if we do not deserve it. Grace and the wrath of God should motivate us to experience a new life without going back to our old life. Ephesians 2:5 But God, when we were dead in our sins, brought us to life with Christ – it is through grace that you have been saved – and raised us up with him and gave us a place in heaven, with Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:8 Because it is by grace that you have been saved, THROUGH FAITH; not by anything of your own. . . .
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Grace is a three legged stool, Hope, Faith and Love.
If you want religion, go to a bookstore, there are many books on different kinds of religion. If you want a relationship with Christ, go to the Bible. Grace cannot be found in books written by authors du jour. You cannot make an omelet form rotten eggs. Fresh eggs are found in the Bible.
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