"BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM, AND HIS GRACE TO ME WAS NOT WITHOUT EFFECT. NO, I WORKED HARDER THAN ALL OF THEM -- YET NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WAS WITH ME." - 1 COR 15:10
At a Bible study tonight we listened to John Piper talk about the power of future grace. And by future grace, he means the grace that God has given to us moment-by-moment. And in this grace, Paul tells the Corthinthians, is power. We humans are sinful, weak, and unholy (Rom 3:23, Is 64:6), but God has given us the Holy Spirit, and through Him the power of grace. Grace is what saved from our sinful nature and the punishment of sin (Eph 2:8). Grace is what allows us to resist sin and live a life pleasing to God (Tit 2:11-12). Grace is what humbles us, pointing us always to the giver of grace: God. How can we do anything but praise Him for such a gift.
Amen! Grace is what allows us to love one another as Christ loves us. John's book Future Grace is also a worthwhile read..it's long, but even a partial read is worth it.
ReplyDeleteBrad
"...through him the power of grace." Isn't it incredible to think that because the Spirit is in us, and because the Spirit is full of grace, we too (in a sense) are full of grace? What a call to look at other people with the eyes of the kingdom!
ReplyDelete(I'm glad you're blogging again :)