By Pastor Dale Culbertson
You don’t have to find grace; it has been given to us…but what does that grace-gift ultimately mean for us? I’ve listed four things that God’s grace-gift affects for those who receive it.
1 – SALVATION
“…but you were redeemed with the priceless blood of Christ; He is the ultimate sacrifice, spotless and without blemish. He completes the prophetic picture.” – 1 PETER 1:19 (MIRROR)
The wages sin pays is death; without the shedding of blood, there’s no remission of that sin (and thus death). But instead of God demanding a sacrifice from us, He provided one through His Son. Everything that the Bible foretold is found in Jesus Christ.
“Your salvation is not a reward for good behavior! It was a grace thing from start to finish; you had no hand in it. Even the gift to believe simply reflects His faith!” – EPHESIANS 2:8 (MIRROR)
Here we see that God has given us a grace gift. That gift first of all was Jesus Christ (Who paid the price for all sin for all people for all time). Every person, in God’s eyes, has been redeemed. Every person. But they have to receive it and ask God to have influence in their life…a mutual relationship.
We need to listen to His voice. One of the keys to that is being led by Him (Romans 8:14); that’s a sign that we’re listening to Him and being open to His leadership/influence.
That salvation brings us back to our original design…how God intended us to be before Adam sinned.
2 – JUSTIFICATION
“While the law proved mankind’s dilemma, the grace of God announces the same mankind’s redemption in Jesus Christ! Their blameless innocence is a free gift! The gift-principle puts the idea of reward out of business! There is no exception – this belongs to every single person, Jew and Gentile alike! Mankind’s righteousness is now redeemed. Jesus Christ is proof of God’s grace gift; He redeemed the glory of God in human life. Mankind condemned in the language of religion is now mankind justified in the language of the Gospel.” – ROMANS 3:24 (MIRROR)
“Mankind condemned in the language of religion is now mankind justified in the language of the Gospel.”
The word “justified” means, essentially, “just as if.” Just as if I’ve never sinned. Religion condemns mankind; God’s grace-gift liberates and justifies. That knowledge should draw us to Him (He can’t abide indifference).
I want to respond to that kind of love – to that grace-gift – actually being given to me! It’s a gift, so I don’t have to respond, but why wouldn’t I want to? It grows our relationship. That’s why I talk about learning to “kiss back” to God, not just having an impersonal and casual relationship with Him.
Titus 3:7 says that God’s grace justifies – reveals – our innocence. We’ve become heirs to the life we’ve always hoped for, the hope of eternal life with God. We’re heirs to a life that is blessed and filled with promises. We are given purpose by God to live out this life knowing without a shadow of a doubt that everything in our life has changed.
3 – ACCESS TO GOD
“Through Him also we have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we firmly and safely stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God.” – ROMANS 5:2 (AMPC)
When you understand you’re justified and you have no sin, how do you approach God? With boldness and without fear. Hebrews 12:29 says God is a consuming fire. But because we’re justified, there’s nothing in us to burn up! Through Jesus, we have our access into God’s favor.
This access should give us nothing but rejoicing, joy and hope; anytime we come into His presence, that’s what we should have. Our sins are forgiven…they’ve been blotted out!
4 – POSITION TO REIGN
“For if because of one’s man’s trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive God’s overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness (putting them into right standing with Himself) reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” – ROMANS 5:17 (AMPC)
What a turnaround! From death reigning over us to us reigning as kings in life! All because of God’s grace! Not because of something we earned, not by going to church doing something external ritual, but solely because of Jesus.
Over and over, this is God working on our behalf to change how we see ourselves and the possibilities we have in His grace-life. But we must receive Him and what He’s done. Jesus said, “You must be born again.” Through Him, I’ve been brought into light. And the things that I once did, Father God says (because of grace), “I don’t even know what you’re talking about. Enjoy life from this point on until the end of eternity! This is the life I’ve prepared for you…the life of the ages.”
Receive the gift! Then share the gift with others.
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