Grace is challenged continually across the world by preachers who are concerned about a sinful Church. The fact is the Grace of God is the answer to a sinful Church.
To live by grace means you are not denying or trying to forget the sin in your life, but by allowing grace to expose it you find who you really are. Grace calls you to keep coming back to Jesus. Let Jesus bind up the wounds.
Let grace be with you and with you in the midst of others. Let the community of God’s people be marked by grace words, grace reactions and grace decisions.
Paul has been writing of what he said to Peter when he confronted him over withdrawing from the Gentiles. He now brings that to a close.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” Galatians 2:20-21 NIV
- he has died to the law (trying to please God)
- but he is very much alive
- what you see isn’t now me but Christ in me.
- he does not deny the grace of God.
- he cannot hold to grace and the law.
On that last day when each one of us stands before Jesus Christ it will not be because we have lived such holy lives that will enable us to stand. Even if we think we are far better than the fallen Christian or even perhaps you feel your life is worse, the same truth remains: the only way anyone of us will be able to stand before Jesus Christ is His pure grace not our pure works.
Grace wasn’t only given for that day when we came into the revelation of Jesus and began to follow Him having our sins cleansed; it isn’t only for today when each day is a day of His unmerited favour and blessing on our lives; it is definitely for our future when we stand before Him.
Until He comes let grace live!
Missions Paul 