1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus...
3 ...his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh
4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
5 through whom we have received grace...
We all need grace.
We all live by grace.
We all know the word Grace.
The credit card company gives us a grace period.
The wayward politician falls from grace.
Musicians speak of a grace note.
We describe a person as gracious, and an artist as graceful.
We leave money for the waitress and call it gratis.
God invented the word, and the idea...and we receive it through Jesus Christ.
Ask anyone in church, "do you believe in grace?" and they probably will answer "yes".
The question isn't do we believe the word, or the idea; but do we believe God's grace has come to change us...to transform us.
I've been studying Romans and it's a book infused with the word grace. Grace is God's plan for dealing wtih the Fall.
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV)
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Grace is the entry point - the doorway - and the pathway that follows.
It's like walking in the darkness, stumbling on the path through a darkened woods, and all of a sudden a doorway stands in front of us and it says "Grace - enter into God's Kingdom and forever be changed".
We open the door to stand in front of Jesus and it all becomes clear - it's a grace filled pathway that is front of us, and Jesus invites us to walk along. As we walk, there are signs all over the place...one after another reminding us we're in a different place - it's the Kingdom of God Grace Lists:
Romans 12:9-21 (ESV)
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Grace filled living is much different and it makes us much more aware of just how different the Kingdom is than the world we've left behind.
Peace
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