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Grace Thru Faith - STUDY

Grace Upon Grace

What glorious grace has been extended towards each of us who are His children! He found us utterly destitute, dead in trespasses and sins, and without hope in the world. And God picked us up and…. then what? Did He brush us down and wag His finger at us? Did He threaten us... not to ever do it again? No!! He showed us His grace and mercy, His forgiveness and love. He poured in grace and more grace – and grace upon grace upon more grace.

Initiative of God

He picked us up, out of the miry clay, and set our feet upon the Rock. He clothed us in righteousness, and seated us in heavenly places in Christ. But what is so often the reaction of the forgiven sinner? Well, we know the word ‘forgiven’ – but we find it difficult to apply it to ourselves. We know the words 'grace' and 'love' – but can’t quite see how we qualify. We know that God has done this for us – and yet we can't quite accept it.

False Reasoning

We look back over our own lives and sometimes we just wonder Why? Why would God forgive me... I know how bad I have been? We look at the shattered ruins left in the wake of a life of rebellion or carelessness.. and sometimes we bemoan the past years of indiscretion – and sometimes we set about trying to rectify what has already been forgiven. "God forgave me – but how can I forgive myself…?" and so the attempts to do so begin. "I know, I will try to do something that will make Him pleased with me".....  we think!

Not on Probation

And we set about in earnest, to witness and do good and make amends for the past.. not fully understanding or believing that we are fully accepted in the Beloved. And layer upon layer of insecurities are built up over time. One great saint of God puts it like this:- "There being no cause in the creature (that’s me) why grace should be shown to me, we think the creature must be brought off from trying to give cause to God for His care. But I have been accepted in Christ; it is Christ Who is my standing! I am not on probation.. for I am accepted in Christ. As to my life past, it does not exist before God. It ended at the cross, and Christ is my Life. Grace, once bestowed, is never withdrawn."

Not of Works

But what is so astonishing is that the majority of Christens try to 'pay God back' by good works:- caring for the sick and orphans; preaching to the lost and widows. These may be 'good works' but they often cover a spirit that just can’t accept God’s grace. But such attempts to recompense God are eventually recognised as not acceptable. Why? Why does God not accept such recompense, when done for the best reason? Why does God not accept our daily striving, which shows our appreciation of Him?

Willing Consent

Well, this is the reason... There is nothing whatsoever that can recompense God. It is finished; completed by Christ on the cross and you are accepted in Him. Period. So what is the secret of accepting God’s forgiveness, and His grace, and His love? Well – it’s to trust Him. It is willingly to consent to be loved – while being utterly unworthy. It is really believing what the Bible says... that you are accepted.. for Jesus told us that you can do nothing, absolutely nothing without Him.. because He has done it all. And God has accepted us, on His behalf.

A Vital Secret

Some time ago I came across William R.Newell’s 'Romans Verse by Verse', A rare book and not easy to find without a search. This is what Newell lists as the secret of accepting God’s grace:

1. To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.
2. To refuse to make 'resolutions' and 'vows' – for that is to trust in the flesh.
3. To expect to be blessed, though realising more and more your lack of worth.
4. To rely on God’s chastening (child training) as a mark of His kindness.
5. To 'hope to be better’'(hence acceptable) is to fail to see yourself in Christ alone.
6. To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in yourself!
7. To be discouraged is unbelief, as to God’s purpose and plan of blessing for you.
8. To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves.

Order of Grace

Newell sums it up this way… "Lack of divine blessing, comes from unbelief. It does not come from a failure of devotions. To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God’s order. To preach devotion first, is to preach law, not grace. The Law made man’s blessing depend on devotion. Grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing. Our devotion may follow, but does not always do so in proper measure."

Even More Grace

What glorious grace has been extended towards each of us who are His children. He found us utterly destitute, dead in trespasses and sins, and without hope in the world. He poured in grace and more grace and grace upon grace upon more grace. He picked us up out of the miry clay and set our feet upon the Rock. He clothed us in righteousness (the righteousness of Christ), and seated us in heavenly places in Him. Thank You, Lord. Thank You. Thank You, Lord, for Your Glorious Grace.