In my last
post I encouraged you to completely
unwrap and embrace The Father’s gift of grace; imputed righteousness,
power, knowledge, readiness, and insight into the Father’s heart of grace. Assuming you have opened, unwrapped and
embraced the free gift of grace by faith in Jesus, you have all the enrichment
spoken of in 1 Cor. 1:4-9.
post I encouraged you to completely
unwrap and embrace The Father’s gift of grace; imputed righteousness,
power, knowledge, readiness, and insight into the Father’s heart of grace. Assuming you have opened, unwrapped and
embraced the free gift of grace by faith in Jesus, you have all the enrichment
spoken of in 1 Cor. 1:4-9.
Many
believers receive the gift grace and open it, but as time goes by begin to fall
into old patterns of belief and behavior. They begin to forget the value and
full dimension of God’s gift of grace. They begin to fall away from grace and enter
into works; often subtly and slowly. Why? Because most people and our world systems do
not reinforce the concept of unmerited favor, blessing, power, righteousness,
and insight. Therefore, so many believers are drawn backward rather
than being led forward by the Spirit. Paul
told us that if we are led by the Spirit, we are ‘not under the law’ (Gal. 5:18).
believers receive the gift grace and open it, but as time goes by begin to fall
into old patterns of belief and behavior. They begin to forget the value and
full dimension of God’s gift of grace. They begin to fall away from grace and enter
into works; often subtly and slowly. Why? Because most people and our world systems do
not reinforce the concept of unmerited favor, blessing, power, righteousness,
and insight. Therefore, so many believers are drawn backward rather
than being led forward by the Spirit. Paul
told us that if we are led by the Spirit, we are ‘not under the law’ (Gal. 5:18).
It’s a lot
like what we Americans do after Christmas. We have opened our gifts and
finished the celebration. Then we decide to return the gift. We decide one particular gift is not quite
right for us. So, we go to a merchant and either get a refund or exchange it
for something else. We don’t keep it! We return it! That is exactly what
Paul warned the Galatian believers about. They initially received and believed
the good news of grace with great joy. Then others influenced them to return to
certain aspects of the Law of Moses, such as circumcision, to prove they were
righteous. He said ‘I am astonished that
you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and
are turning to a different gospel’ (Gal. 1:6). They were returning the gift…exchanging
grace for works. They were giving up grace and going back to works to
be justified and righteous in the eyes of God.
Paul said they had ‘fallen away
from grace’ (Gal. 5:4). Wow!
like what we Americans do after Christmas. We have opened our gifts and
finished the celebration. Then we decide to return the gift. We decide one particular gift is not quite
right for us. So, we go to a merchant and either get a refund or exchange it
for something else. We don’t keep it! We return it! That is exactly what
Paul warned the Galatian believers about. They initially received and believed
the good news of grace with great joy. Then others influenced them to return to
certain aspects of the Law of Moses, such as circumcision, to prove they were
righteous. He said ‘I am astonished that
you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and
are turning to a different gospel’ (Gal. 1:6). They were returning the gift…exchanging
grace for works. They were giving up grace and going back to works to
be justified and righteous in the eyes of God.
Paul said they had ‘fallen away
from grace’ (Gal. 5:4). Wow!
This
Christmas season hold firmly to the gift of grace. Don’t let go of it! Don’t get a refund. Having unwrapped it,
opened it, and enjoyed the enrichment of it, continue in that gift. Keep
it! It has the power to keep you! So, you may exchange some of those other material
gifts you received at Christmas, but not the gift of grace. Cherish it. Live
it. As Paul spoke of grace, he also speaks to you saying, “in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of
speech (to speak of your faith), and complete knowledge and illumination (to
give you full insight into its meaning).” ~ 1 Cor. 1:5.
Christmas season hold firmly to the gift of grace. Don’t let go of it! Don’t get a refund. Having unwrapped it,
opened it, and enjoyed the enrichment of it, continue in that gift. Keep
it! It has the power to keep you! So, you may exchange some of those other material
gifts you received at Christmas, but not the gift of grace. Cherish it. Live
it. As Paul spoke of grace, he also speaks to you saying, “in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of
speech (to speak of your faith), and complete knowledge and illumination (to
give you full insight into its meaning).” ~ 1 Cor. 1:5.
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