PROCLAIMING THE TOTAL POWER OF GRACE
February 2014 |
Romans 5:20 – “Moreover the Law entered, that the offence might abound (the Law of Moses, that the offence might be identified). But where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound (where sin increased, Grace super-abounded, and then some on top of that).”
A Few More Preachers Are Preaching Grace
A lot is being said about the Grace of God today. Personally, I couldn’t be happier about that. Grace is the very means by which the believing sinner is Saved, the means by which the Biblically educated are sanctified, and the sole reason why, at some point in the future, those who continue in the Faith will be glorified. Everything we have received from the Lord is the result of Christ’s Work on Calvary. Some few among us are preaching and teaching that. Again, I couldn’t be happier. But, according to Paul the key purpose of God’s Grace is to free us from sin. Not many are talking about that. This makes me very sad. Here’s one of the most important aspects of God’s Grace and the Body of Christ doesn’t know it as we should. So let’s look for a moment at how Grace might superabound in our lives and set us free from all the clinging tentacles of sin.
Grace For The Sinner
All of us are aware of, or should be aware of, the role that God’s marvelous Grace plays in the initial Salvation experience. Grace is that part that I cannot play. Grace is the role I can’t fulfill. Grace means I can’t work for it, earn it, or deserve it. What I am receiving is totally free — with no strings attached. I appropriate what is being offered by faith and instantly I become a new creation. My name is written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life. The power of the Sin Nature is broken. The Holy Spirit moves in. I’m transported out of the kingdom of darkness and made a member of the Kingdom of Light. I haven’t been required to sing a song, quote a verse, be a witness, or go to a Church Service. When God sees the believing sinner placing their heartfelt trust in the Person of Christ and what Christ did for them at Calvary all this and much more is instantly given. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by Grace are ye Saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the Gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.” So, Grace is the working of God that takes place in my life as a result of simple childlike Faith in God’s Redemption Plan. I haven’t even discussed Inheritance Rights yet. But they are included too! We could stay here all day and talk about the benefits and that would be right and good. That is what most “Grace” preachers are talking about. However, the view and purpose of Grace that I want to see preached and understood is largely being ignored or perhaps is still unknown. I want to look at Grace’s ability to overcome the weight and the sin that does so easily beset the Believer.
Grace For The Saint
Now it seems as though the hardest thing for some Christians to admit is that as a Believer, even a Spirit-filled Believer, we still have areas of our lives that need to be changed. There is wickedness in the heart of man that must be changed and only the Grace of God can change us. In most cases, for the saint, one area of needed change stands out above the others. Generally that would be the area that God has set his sights on changing first. The Holy Spirit has revealed to us what is wrong in our lives and then He (the Holy Spirit) tries to bring us to the place that we will believe Him to fight and defeat, conquer and remove from our being everything and anything that doesn’t resemble our elder Brother, Jesus. It seems that rather than trust in God’s Grace to remove sin we either ignore it or try to remove it on our own. Both are fruitless and dangerous directions. No sin, habit, idiosyncrasy, or evil can be eliminated by self-effort. We must admit our personal responsibility for our sin and trust in the Power of God’s Grace to remove what is unsightly and harmful to us. Our featured Text written above says, “Where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound.” This is the answer to our sin dilemma before and after Salvation. Grace is the only entity in existence that is greater than sin. So the question is, “How do I get what I can’t work for, earn, or deserve?” The answer is found in Faith.
Faith And Grace Are Connected
When we express Faith in what Jesus did to save us (He died on the Cross for me) God sends forth His Grace superintended by the Person of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit sees to it that all the benefits that Jesus died to provide are assigned to me. However, when I face a problem such as a weight of sin that destroys the Abundant Life intended by God, I must believe that Jesus’ Death on Calvary also paid the price for overcoming Power over sin. My Faith in Jesus’ Victory for me causes the Holy Spirit to manifest this benefit of Salvation, this benefit of Grace into my life. Therefore, as I daily view Salvation as something that God has supplied for me through His Son at Calvary, the benefit of supernatural Power over sin is afforded me. God supplies overcoming delivering Grace the same way that He supplies Saving Grace. In Colossians 2:6 the Bible says, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk you in Him.” So, preachers, if we are going to preach Grace, we must tell God’s People that they are set free from their present sin dilemma by Grace through Faith. A failure to do so brings only a portion of the truth about Grace to the heart and mind of the Believer. Let’s help others walk in the fullness of God’s Grace by aiding them in their battle against sin. And, Believer, if you don’t quit . . . God won’t quit! Believe and receive the Grace you so desperately need to be delivered from any and every sin. Amen!
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