- Galatians 2:20-21 : "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God for if righteousness could be gained through the law then Christ died for nothing!"
- Titus 2:11 : "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people."
- There has been a continuing message today that I feel is weighing heavy against my heart, something I feel like everyone should should hear about; Grace.
The pastor at Lonestar Cowboy Church said something that really stuck with me today;Grace is when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. How true is that? Its crazy to think that grace can be explained so easily.
God sent Christ to die for us, the ultimate sign of grace. Just think about it..Christ was nailed to the cross, hanging there, nails driven through his hands and feet, a crown of thorns, the rays of the sun beating down on him as man spit on him, beat him, and cursed his name. Yet, there he stayed, thinking about each one of us, prepared to forgive us for all that we had done or planned to do. He intended to show us grace. In Galatians it talks about how we are saved through Christ, how our spirits are brought to salvation through Him. An important part to recognize in that verse is, "I do not set aside the grace of God." Without His grace a spiritual relationship wouldn't be possible! He gave us the forgiveness and love that we, as mankind, didn't deserve. As pastor Randy said, "He made the unforgivable forgivable." He took all our sins and transgressions and cleaned the slate. He showed us forgiveness we didn't deserve. We need His grace and His forgiveness to walk a righteous path in life. However, that's not to be taken for granted! Just because God forgives you doesn't mean you still go and do what you know you shouldn't. Don't go out and commit every sin possible on Saturday and think to yourself, "Oh, it'll be ok! I'll be in church on Sunday and God will just forgive and forget all this." We need to appreciate God's grace because we truly don't deserve it. God loves us enough to give us what we need despite the pain we may have caused Him, despite the disobedience. Grace is a precious gift...
Questions/Application
- How has God shown you grace? Did you appreciate it at the time?
- What would you have done/said/thought had you been in the place Christ was when nailed to the cross?
- How can you display grace in your life?
- How can you better appreciate grace or show that you are thankful for it?
1 comment:
IN HIS GRACE, HE LIVES HIS LAW
Yes, by HIS GRACE, HE PLACED HIMSELF IN us to LIVE HIS LAW of LIFE, Genesis to Revelation, THROUGH HIS HOLY SPIRIT. Carnal human is to die.
But now we (carnal human) have been delivered from the law, having died (on the CROSS) to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit (WHO LIVES GOD’S LAW IN and THROUGH HIS BODY) and not in the oldness of the letter (condemning carnal human).”– Romans 7:6.
HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH PAUL SAYS that we, human/carnal “self” are no longer under GOD’S LAW. “…for by the works of the law shall no flesh (carnal “self”) be justified.”
For me, “self”, to SUBMIT to GOD’S LAW IS certain death.
GAL 2:19-20
For I (carnal self) through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
I (carnal self) am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live;
yet not I, but Christ (human SUBMITTED to HOLY SPIRIT) liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave himself for me.
BLESS you,
Rico
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