“Word Of his Grace.”

THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD! IT IS THEREFORE, A MUST FOR US TO ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GIVE US “THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION” IN READING AND STUDYING IT.

“I keep asking…….the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph. 1:17).
 

IT’S INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT IN THE BIBLE YOU CAN FIND THE “WORD OF GOD’S LAW” AND THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE.” 
THE APOSTLE PAUL FOR INSTANCE, KNOWING THAT HE WILL NEVER SEE THE ELDERS IN EPHESUS AGAIN, COMMITTED THEM TO GOD AND THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE”.

 “Now I commit you to God and to the Word of His Grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). 

TAKE NOTE, THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE” CAN BUILD US UP AND GIVE US AN INHERITANCE AMONG THE BRETHREN!

THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE” IS THE “GOSPEL OF GOD’S GRACE” THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL PREACHES.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the Gospel of God's Grace” (Acts 20: 24). 

IT WAS THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE THAT THE EXALTED CHRIST GAVE HIM BY REVELATION.

“I want you to know, brothers that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.”

THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE” IS ALSO THE TENETS OR THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW COVENANT THAT CHRIST MEDIATED.

“Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance--now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant” (Heb. 9:15).

THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE” OR THE “GOSPEL OF GOD’S GRACE” OR THE “NEW COVENANT OF HIS GRACE” IS THE TEACHING OR DOCTRINE THAT CHRIST REVEALED TO THE APOSTLE PAUL; IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS AND HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS! 

OBEDIENCE TO THIS DOCTRINE SETS YOU FREE FROM SIN AND MAKES YOU SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS.

“But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching (doctrine) to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.” (Romans 6:17-18).

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ALREADY GAVE US A WARNING CONCERNING THE FUTILITY OF MAINTAINING A LAW-ORIENTED MENTALITY IN A GRACE-ORIENTED DISPENSATION.

“And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins” (Mark 2:22).

CHRISTIANS ARE ADMONISHED TO NO LONGER CONFORM TO THE PATTERN OF THIS WORLD AND BE TRANSFORMED BY RENEWING THEIR MINDS.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

YOU SEE, THE PATTERN OF THE WORLD IS LAW-ORIENTED; “DO GOOD GET GOOD, DO BAD GET BEAT.” SOME CALL IT “CARMA”.

HOWEVER, THE “WORD OF HIS GRACE” SAYS,

“God made him (Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him (Christ) we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). 

CHRISTIANS WHO ARE MADE RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST ARE ADMONISHED TO LIVE BY FAITH!

 “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17b).

ONLY WITH A TRANSFORMED MIND FROM LAW-ORIENTED TO GRACE-ORIENTED MINDSET OR FROM I-ORIENTED TO CHRIST-ORIENTED MENTALITY WILL YOU FULLY UNDERSTAND THE GOSPEL OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST. ONLY THEN WILL YOU TEST AND APPROVE GOD’S PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL IN YOUR LIFE.

REMEMBER, CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT JESUS; HIS LOVE, HIS UNMERITED FAVOR, HIS NEW COVENANT AND HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS.

(Michelle Chee - ACCF-Philippines)