Lords of Life: Part 11...GRACE continued

 

Romans 5:20-21  "But where sin increased, grace increases all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  (NIV)

Romans 5:1-2  "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."  (NIV)

Wow!---5 of my 6  favorite words are in this passage.  Faith and grace are closely linked always.  Our faith gives us access to God's grace.  Romans is full of references to grace.

1 Corinthians 15:10  "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect."  (NIV)

Paul's letters are peppered with references to grace.  He knew full well from his own experience just how grace could change a person.  From persecutor to apostle, Paul had been deeply changed by grace.  Only grace can do that.  Countless people can attest to the same changing, transforming grace in their lives.  "My chains are gone, I've been set free...", the words to another song about the effects of grace.  Grace brings freedom to the lives that embrace it.

2 Corinthians 12:9  "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  (NIV)

There are two aspects of grace---saving grace and sustaining grace.  Once you ae saved by grace, then grace continues to sustain and support you in everything.  God's power is in God's grace.

1 Thessalonians 2:16-17  "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father (who has loved us and given us unending encouragement and unfailing hope by his grace) inspire you with courage and confidence in every good thing you say or do." (Phillips)

Grace is a gift that keeps on giving.  When we live in God's grace he provides all we need.  Paul's standard greeting to other Christians was "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ".  What could be more encouraging?  God's gifts for us all in Christ1  Thank you!

These 6 special Christian words run all through scripture and many more verses are found about all of them!  These words are life for us!  Scripture is life because it tells us about God's love in Jesus Christ!

Words of Life: Part 10....GRACE

 

John 1:16-18   "From the fulness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only who is at the Father's side has made him known."  (NIV)

Ephesians 1:7-8  "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.  " (NIV)

Ephesians 2:4-5  "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved."  (NIV)

What is grace?  Why is it so amazing?  I've seen GRACE defined by an acronym:  God's Riches At Christ's Expense.  Grace comes from God the Father through the blood of the Son, Jesus Christ.  We are sinners, doomed to death.  Christ died for our sin and redeemed us to eternal life.  No more sin and death to threaten us!  We are forgiven!  We are redeemed!

Salvation is the result of God's grace.  Our sin has been covered by Christ's blood in an atoning sacrifice.  It is a lavish gift, filled with God's riches---wisdom, understanding, mercy, forgiveness, new life and much more contained in our salvation.  Eternal life is the final gift when this world is done and gone.  Christ bought us all if we accept the gift, and we will live forever with God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ.  Amazing Grace!

"Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost, but now am found; was blind but now I see."----hymn by John Newton

It is actually the end of the Prodigal son parable, acted out by Christ.  "Let's have a feast and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and is alive, was lost and is found."  Luke 15:23-24 (NIV)

We are all alive in Christ!  That is grace!

Tomorrow:  GRACE continued

Words of Life: Part 9....JOY continued

 

1 Peter 1:8-9  "...you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy for yu are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  (NIV)

Joy is our salvation---tied to our faith in Christ.

John 15:9-11  "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love.  If you obey my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my father's commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."  (NIV)

Our joy is found in remaining in Jesus and obeying his commands just sa he remains in the Father and obeys him.  This is complete joy---joy lacking nothing.  We don't have joy apart from Christ.

Psalm 21:6  "Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence."  (NIV)

God's presence is the source of our joy.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  (NIV)

Living in Christ is God's will for us that we may rejoice in him always!  If we have Christ, we have joy!  It should be reflected in our lives every day.

"Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above."......hymn by Henry Van Dyke

Psalm 16:11  "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."  (NIV)

Peter quotes this on the day of Pentecost after the Holy Spirit fills him.  Spreading the joy found in God's presence in Jesus Christ.  A message of good news and hope for all people!

Tomorrow:  GRACE

Words of Life: Part 8...JOY

 

Isaiah 12:3  "with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." (NIV)

Today I will write about Joy.  What does it mean to draw water from the wells of salvation?  In my mind the story of the woman at the well's encounter with Jesus comes to mind.

John 4:10  Jesus tells her:  "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."  (NIV)

Salvation is God's gift and comes through Jesus Christ.  To receive this gift, this living water, we must only believe.  Drawing this water from the wells of salvation is great joy for everyone!  

When we drink the living water of Jesus Christ and his salvation we are told---"whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst again.  Indeed the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up  to eternal life."  John 4:13-14  (NIV)

Revelation 2:1,17  "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city..."let him who hears say, "Come!"  Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever wishes let him take the free gift of the water of life."  (NIV)

I seem to have moved away from "joy" verses, but this is where we find our eternal joy---the river of life, salvation, eternity in the presence of God and the Lamb.

The first announcement of this joy:

Luke 2:10-11  "Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord!"  (NIV)

Jesus is our joy!  Good news indeed!  Salvation come down for all people!  Rejoice!

Tomorrow:  JOY continued

Words of Life: Part 7....PEACE continued

 

Philippians 4:8-9  "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable---if anything is excellent or praiseworthy---think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me---put into practice and the God of peace will be with you."  (NIV)

God's peace requires thinking about godly things and putting into practice godly ways of living.  God's peace is a state of harmony found in doing God's will and living in his presence.

2 Thessalonians 3:16  "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way."  (NIV)

Matthew 5:9  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."  (NIV)

We can offer God's peace to others and live in peace as God's children.

Ephesians 2:14  "For Christ is our living peace.  He has made us both one by breaking down the barriers and enmity which lay between us." (PHILLIPS)

We are instruments of peace, just as Christ was, breaking all barriers between people everywhere by spreading God's peace.

Numbers 6:24-26  "The LORD bless you and keep you, The LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you,  The LORD turn his face toward you and give you his peace."  (NIV)

God's face shines his peace upon us.  Seek his face always!

Luke 7:50  Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."  (NIV)

Faith and peace work together---one begets the other.  Our peace and salvation are rooted in faith.

Tomorrow:  JOY

 

Words of Life: part 6....PEACE

 

Galatians 5:22-23  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.   Against such things there is no law."  (NIV)

This seemed like a good time to write the fruit of the Spirit since it includes 3 of my words and a variation of another.  This is a list of characteristics that the Spirit produces in believers.  I will choose peace for todays word.

Colossians 3:15  "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace."  (NIV)

The peace we have is Christ's peace, given to all believers.  When the risen Christ appeared to his disciples the first thing he said to them was "Peace be with you." John 20:19,21 (NIV)  Before he died he promised them peace: 

 John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (NIV)

Jesus' gift of peace is a permanent on-going gift.  It is far superior to any worldly gift.  The world's gifts are neither permanent nor trust-worthy.  They will fail us.  Christ's peace will not fail us ever.  His peace is with us, just as he is with us.  He is our Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 54:10  "though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, "says the LORD who has compassion on you."  (NIV)

God's peace is a covenant and it stems from his unfailing love for us.

Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  (NIV)

The peace of God, the peace of Christ---it is all one and the same.  God and Christ are one.  It "guards" our hearts and minds.  As long as we have God's peace we are safe within ourselves.  God's peace battles our anxieties and fears.  Thank you God for your peace!

Tomorrow:  PEACE continued

Words of Life: Part 5....LOVE (continued)

 

1 John 4:7-8  Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God...because God is love." (NIV)

There are so many love verses, I can't write them all!  Christian living is about showing love to God and to everyone else.  God is love, and we must be also.

Two more important love passages I have to write out.  Paul's famous and very complete description of love:  what it is and what it isn't.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8  "Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."  (NIV)

If everyone in the world knew these verses and followed them what a different world we would live in!  Memorize this!  Live by it!

And finally Paul's great message of assurance of God's love for us in Christ.

Roman's 37-39  "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (NIV)

It would take this whole notebook and more to write out all the messages of God's love found in scripture!  Frederick Lehman says it best in his hymn:

"Could we with ink the ocean fill

And were the skies of parchment made,

And every stalk on earth a quill

And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above

Would drain the ocean dry

Nor would the scroll contain the whole

Tho stretched from sky to sky." 

Amen!

Tomorrow:  PEACE