Grace

When we think about the grace of God, our minds go to its two faceted aspect. Of course, there is the wonderful grace of God at salvation, as well as the precious grace of God in trials. What is the application of God's grace in each of the two aspects? I think we first have to look at the two arenas of spiritual life. One, being the event of salvation, or spiritual birth. The other, being the process of sanctification, or spiritual growth. In salvation, God's grace is seen in the long-used acrostic of God's Riches At Christ's Expense. it is all of God, in that there is nothing a sinful heart can ever do to redeem himself from his estranged state. But God so loved the world, that He sent Christ to pay for our sins. In this way, both justice and mercy were executed. In sanctification, God's grace is seen as in the acrostic of God's Resources At Crisis Encounters. As various life difficulties are encountered, God has taught us, in James 1, that we can count it all joy with the knowledge that the trying of our faith works patience. It is as we draw near to God, James goes on to say in chapter 4, that God draws near to us. It is as we, in our impatience, snuggle close to His heart, that His divine attribute of patience begins to be seen in the character of our lives. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength, and when the world questions our "ability" to manage great trials, we can give a reason of the hope that lies within us, and thus glorify God. And so, for the obedient, growing believer, his life engages both the saving and the sustaining grace of God. The saving grace was at the event of salvation; the sustaining grace is available on a repetitive and continuing basis every moment of every day. We know, according to 2 Cor.12:9, God's reply to Paul was promised to be sufficient for every need. "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul's response was "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." May we know the two-fold grace of God today!


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