Thank you to Pat for this week’s MWB
Love of the Father; Grace
We remember again GRACE – God riches at Christ’s expense
Ephesians 2: 8, 9: It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.
Just like last weeks scripture Paul’s words sum up the main point of the gospel: that we are sinners who can only be saved by God’s grace, and this grace was shown to us by God in sending his son Jesus to die for us.
Philip Yancey’s book “What’s so amazing about Grace” has this declaration on the back cover:
“There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.” *
Salvation is available to us through faith alone – belief in what Christ did on the cross, that he rose again and ascended into heaven – but also more than just believing – we have to acknowledge what Christ did for us and receive him into our lives, receive God’s free gift and let it begin to transform us as we build a relationship with God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
John 1: 12 declares, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”.
Salvation cannot be earned by our efforts, doing good, trying to do the right thing, being kind – although of course these qualities are excellent in themselves and should be signs of authentic Christian behaviour. So works wont get us into heaven but doing good works should accompany true faith and evidence God’s grace at work within us. James 2: 17 says“ faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Once we receive Jesus as our saviour, the Holy Spirit begins to work in our lives, transforming and equipping us. We will receive gifts and we begin to share our faith and serve, letting God work through us to show his love to others and build his kingdom. So there can be a danger that we could feel proud or pat ourselves on the back for doing so well, being ‘good’ Christians!!!
This is what Paul means when he says – so that no one can boast! So when things go well all the glory needs to go to God and we should thank him for using us to show his love and power to others. We should also act ‘graciously’ toward others, not be in competition but work together, complimenting one another with the gifts God gives us to reflect his character and model his grace.
Heavenly father, help us to believe anew today and receive you afresh into our lives. Be glorified in all that we say and do today that we may boast only in your grace at work in us and your great love for us and those around us. In Jesus name, Amen
* Back cover “What’s so Amazing about Grace” , Philip Yancey