Today, I would like to encourage you to “grow in grace.”
2 Peter 3:18 — Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As authentic, Christ-centered Christians our focus must be on God’s grace. The body of Christ must be centered in, on and with our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Titus 1:14 — The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
God’s relationship with us is not conditional. He loves us because HE is good, not because of or when WE are good. We should never forget that all of our “doing” does not alter or modify our relationship with God.
Ephesians 2:4-10 — Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.
We are obedient because we have been saved; we are not obedient so that we can become saved. Obedience is a consequence of salvation—it is not a causal agent of salvation.
How can we, the perishable, imperfect and sinful, perfect the imperishable, perfect and holy? The answer is: By Jesus, through Jesus, because of Jesus; by the power of His Holy Spirit whom we clothe ourselves with and who clothes Himself with us.
Titus 2:11 — For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It is NOT possible for any of us to focus on grace too much. We are saved by grace. Grace is God’s attribute: His gracious, giving and generous Spirit. Grace helps us know and understand God.
Revelation 22:21 — The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
We need more grace, not less.
