The Grace of God has appeared in the person of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word made flesh. He is full of grace and truth" and "of His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace" (John 1:14,16). Literally, we have received grace "piled upon" grace. In much the same way the seashore is subject to the continual arrival of wave after wave so we have received and are receiving continual waves of grace in Christ Jesus.
Do we believe that? If we believe it, we will enjoy it!
Jesus is the Grace of God in human form. He is the full illustration and explanation of Grace. We sometimes forget that Grace is a person (Titus 2:11). When we, therefore, say we are saved by Grace, we are declaring that we are saved by someone other than us. We are actually saved by Christ Jesus and His accomplishments. To consent to be saved by Grace is to consent to be saved by the works of another. Christ’s work for us was perfect, His work is sufficient and by faith alone, His work is ours.
May we never rest on anything or anyone other than Jesus. May we never rest on the fact of our conversion to save us. May we never rest on our faith to save us. May we never rest on 'Christ in us' to save us. May we rest on Christ and His finished work alone. May He be personal to us. May we be able to speak of Christ my Saviour not merely of Christ the Saviour.
When Christ manifests His grace, He manifests Himself.
This is why His grace is Glorious (Ephesians 1:6); Abundant (Acts 4:33)
Rich (Ephesians 1:7).
Manifold (many-sided) (1 Peter 4:10)
Sufficient (there is never a shortage) (2 Cor 12:9).
All the worth and preciousness of Christ is ours. All the guilt we had is His. This is pure grace. All our debt in the past has been settled by grace. All our debt in the present has been settled by grace. All our debt in the future has been settled by Grace.
May we all learn what it is to receive the abundant grace of God for ourselves.
The following is a marvellous illustration of grace in action.
In the 1800’s London had two famous preachers, Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker. On one occasion, Parker commented about the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage. Word of this came to Spurgeon but by the time it arrived, it was reported to Spurgeon that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker from his pulpit and the attack was printed in the newspaper and became the talk of the town. Londoners flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. Here’s what Parker said, “I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage,” Parker said. “I suggest we take a love offering for the orphanage.” The crowd was delighted; ushers had to empty the collection plates three times. Later that week, there was a knock at Parker’s study. It was Spurgeon. “You know, Parker, you have practiced grace on me,” he said. “You have given me not what I deserved; you have given me what I needed.”
May we all have the grace to live as though grace has indeed arrived and may we learn to practice grace on one another!
We can make it personal!
And that’s the Gospel Truth!