Grace comes first

 

This morning a song about being thankful reminded me again of God's goodness toward me. I am saved by grace and live by grace. The gospel of grace is entirely practical. In so many ways, all the good in my life is because of His goodness to me.

For instance, we who are so easily prone to be people-pleasers are even more prone as Christians to be, or try to be, God pleasers. I so easily forget that pleasing God happens only because of His goodness toward me.

God says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. . . . Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory” (Romans 9:11–26)

The gospel informs me that any goodness in my life comes because of God's goodness. I do not behave so He is pleased but rather, His Spirit makes possible any goodness in me. It is never the other way around — for in my flesh dwells no good thing. Note the order of actions here:

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone… (Galatians 1:15–16)

The order of grace never changes or varies. It begins in the will of God before I was born, and as perplexing as it may be, I cannot argue with it. Faith is about believing and trusting what God says now, not what I can understand completely, or because I do it, but because He says it. His example:

. . . . when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls— she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. (Romans 9:10–16)

That this happens “before I was born” implies before I had done anything good or bad. He called me by His grace and that call was effectual to graciously reveal his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to me. Seeing Jesus changed my life. As a result of this revelation in my heart, God made me a willing servant. Good works will never cause God to be gracious; but God’s grace always causes his people to walk willingly in good works. It must be this way lest I boast and rob God of His glory.

PRAY: Jesus, Your peace and joy are gifts that enable me to live in ways that please You. This response to You is not my doing but the work of Your Spirit. I do not need to fret or be anxious about doing what You want me to do, for grace makes plain the path before me. When You show it to me, I could say no and refuse to walk in it, but You make plain the folly of doing things my way. This is why grace is practical — Your grace keeps me from wanting to live in sin. Amen!

God’s Grace chooses His people

Every now and then God reminds me that He choose me, a most humbling thought that strikes a blow to my pride, but also a most edifying thought that swipes at those feelings of inferiority. Salvation and life as a Christian is not about me, but about the amazing grace of God.

I’m particularly drawn to Jeremiah, partly because I can relate to his attitude, but also love his story because of this . . .

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:4–5)

God selected Jeremiah for his role in history before he was conceived! My role in God’s kingdom is less extensive, but what a delight to realize that God also knew me before I was born and had a plan for my life. Like every Christian, I am chosen and I live to serve Him.

Of course the question comes up, “Why doesn’t God choose everyone?” This question was in the minds of those early Christians too. Romans 9:11-26 answers it with several reasons. One of them is that God is God. He can show mercy on whomever He wishes, and compassion on whomever He decides.

He said to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

We might argue the other side and ask why then wrath on some and not others. Romans 9 retorts, “Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory . . . ?”

Paul later discussed the reason for God’s choices. He knew that he was without merit, but also realized God had a plan for selecting him for salvation. He said . . .

“He who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles . . . . (Galatians 1:15–16) “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:16)

Instead of questioning God’s wisdom in His choices, I need to pay attention to a better option . . .

“But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Salvation is the will of God. He does what He does because it pleases Him. He separates His people from the rest of the world and chooses us before we were even born. This affirms the reality that being chosen has nothing to do with our will or our worth. He calls us by grace and through the irresistible call of the Holy Spirit, a call that reveals to our hearts the Lord Jesus Christ — and that is what makes it irresistible. When Jesus walked in, there was no other answer but yes!

The rest of the story is also yes — because God’s purpose for my salvation is that I do His will. Since there is nothing in me that wanted that, He put it in. Any so-called ‘goodness’ in me never caused God to be gracious; but God’s grace gives me great desire to walk willingly in goodness.

Jesus, I want to celebrate Your amazing grace today, singing and shouting it, and hopefully sharing it with others. Thank You!

Let my light shine

Writers know the power of words and punctuation. A misplaced comma can change the meaning. Even little words need to be exact. Today’s Bible passage has a little word that could be translated at least two ways from the original Greek to English. The biggest surprise is that either way is correct.

“But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles . . . .” (Galatians 1:15–16)

Some versions say “. . . was pleased to reveal his Son in me . . . .” rather than to me. As I consider the immediate context, I can see the value and truth in both versions.

The phrase “to me” describes how God opened Paul’s eyes so he could see Jesus. The Christ had been revealed to him, and because of that, Paul was motivated to proclaim Him and His saving work to the world. Seeing Jesus changed his life and his direction.

However, “in me” is also true. When people become Christians, the Spirit of Jesus Christ brings the very presence of the Lord into their hearts. When they abide in Christ in loving obedience, others can see Jesus in them. God uses this amazing phenomena to reveal Jesus Christ to others.

What are the steps? First, the sense of need must be there. It comes to us through conviction of sin and/or helplessness. Before I became a Christian, I recognized that I am a sinner and unable to save myself. I still recognize my sinfulness and am even more aware of my helplessness. In that attitude, I am eager to give my life to Christ, to have Him do in me what I cannot do myself.

Next, God reveals to sinners the wonder of Jesus Christ, the Savior. Seeing Him indeed changes everything. He forgives sin, grants repentance and faith, and comes into our lives. He lives in me!

This remarkable event happens just once, and He promises to never leave me or forsake me. However, the saving part has just begun. An illustration of a guest coming into our home is often used. It describes that the guest enters the house but is not given access to some of its rooms. I am to give full access to Jesus, allowing Him to not only enter all, but to be in charge of all. Sin permeates every part; so must the Savior.  When that happens, people began to see Jesus in me.

Regeneration is a biblical term for this wonderful new life. At first, the new Christian is called a babe in Christ because we have been spiritually reborn. As Jesus brings maturity to my faith, increasing both it and the desire to live in obedience, people see less of the old me and more of the new creation, the treasure, the life of Christ in this clay pot.

 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. (2 Corinthians 4:6–7)

As Jesus is manifested in the lives of His people, He is glorified and others are confronted and will respond. Some will fall in love with this wonderful God-man Redeemer, and others will hate Him and try to silence those who bear Him and His message.

How is this practical? Obviously, I’m to get out of His way and let the light of Christ shine through me.