June 24, 2019 - “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33)
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:36)
Let all people give God the glory in all things for only he is God and only he is worthy of our praise and honor.
For he does provide all things to us through his wisdom and knowledge in ways which we cannot comprehend nor understand because his mind is a mystery to us. His ways are much higher than our ways, his thoughts much higher than our thoughts, his reasoning a mystery to our feeble minds. For he is God and there is none other!
Let us look at one of his greatest gifts to mankind, his grace.
“But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 15:11)
“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace.” (Romans 11:6)
Grace comes through the Lord Jesus Christ, for it is through his sacrifice that all who are to be saved will be saved.
Grace allows imperfect people who cannot deserve salvation, who certainly could never earn it, to receive it free of charge. Through faith in the word of the gospel we are given grace from God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
“So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)
From hearing the words of the Lord we believe through faith that he is Lord and Master and that through him comes the saving grace of God to all who will simply accept his offer of salvation from the penalties of our sin.
Many would then say, “I am saved by grace and therefore I am relieved of all responsibilities for I am now a child of God.
Part of this is true, as saved people, we are saved by God’s grace through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus and once saved we certainly are children of the Most High God, but we also do have responsibilities and duties given us by God as his children. We are not saved to sit, but to serve, to serve through the gifts given us through his grace as we become a part of the body of Christ Jesus.
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” (Romans 12:4-5)
Yes, each of us, as we join the body of Christ through grace, become part of a much larger body with each having different functions within the body, even to being a part of one another as we are drawn together in Christ. So we work together for Christ and for one another that all may draw strength and comfort from one another.
And now we see how we are to use the gifts given us by God’s grace. Not by works are we saved, but once saved, by works we serve the Lord and do his will on earth.
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8)
What then are the marks, the attributes of the true christian?
“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” (Romans 12:9-13)
Do these things, this service, that God as set us aside for, cheerfully but most of all, remember, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen
