In response to an age in which grace has been reduced to a word as opposed to powerful force at work in the lives of believers because Christ incarnate has come and brought with Him this marvelous nature to be expressed in new creatures.
I hope to topically shed some light on this.
2Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
Paul says in the authority of the Holy Spirit that it is by grace that they conduct themselves in this world, and grace enabled them to conduct themselves this way more abundantly toward the Corinthians. So in this case grace is something more than just an entry point into relationship with God it is also a maintaining force that enables the followers of Jesus to live their lives in fruitful ways. Living sacrificially is not a manifestation of my greatness towards God but rather the greatness of His grace at work in me. Grace is the means of God for bringing forth His nature within me to an outward expression.
Dying to ourselves and becoming living sacrifices unto God requires that we walk in His grace. If Jesus could not embrace death without grace how shall we?
Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
Jesus tasted death for everyone by the grace of God! This makes the cross a manifestation of the work and nature of grace. Remove grace and the cross is likely to become missing from history. Those who brag about the sacrifices they make in life for God are putting the emphasis in the wrong place. It places the emphasis on them as opposed to the nature of Christ they received through faith as a result of the work of grace.
It is still the work and the nature of grace that enables us to lay down our lives in worship to God as living sacrifices.
Grace really matters!
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
