Grace

John 1:16, grace upon grace – Grace after Grace after Grace…

A PK definition: Grace is God’s determined work to transform a people through new birth into  Christ-likeness so to serve as ambassadors of His glory and truth.

John 1:14 – we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father

Those of His day did not acknowledge Jesus as God and glorious and the vast majority today do not acknowledge His glory nor see Him as the beloved one of God.

Why not?  They are blinded!  Man is born blind – blind to truth – blind to God and God’s glory – blind to the glory of Jesus – blind to their wretchedness and coming damnation – BLIND!

Chris Sebranek in his 1.4.7 Missiology lesson for his middle school SS class talked about people not realizing they are free-falling from an airplane without a parachute while some think they are alright because they have a backpack (they don’t know that it does not contain a parachute).  They are “blind” to their condition and their soon “landing.”

But GRACE!  God’s Grace!  God is up to something!  God is on a mission!

So as Jesus healed physical blindness on a number of occasions, so God is about gifting (Gracing) certain ones with sight.  When God gives sight, men suddenly see God in nature, see God in circumstances, see God in others, see God in the Scriptures – they see God!

When God’s grace gift is bestowed, suddenly men see Jesus other than special or powerful or good or unique – suddenly they see Jesus as God – as God in flesh – they see glory in Jesus!

With sight – spiritual sight – men see themselves as God sees them: sinners, selfish, rebels, and genuinely guilty.  They come to see that Jesus died for sinners – for them.   They come to recognize the incredible danger they are in and willingly bow before the cross confessing and pleading for salvation (the words of “Rock of Ages” fit here).  And God’s grace grants to them new life – a second birth.  Ephesians 2:8, For by grace have you been saved through faith – it is a gift of God.

But God’s Grace gifts don’t end there – it is “grace upon grace” – it is Grace and Grace and Grace.  It is gift and gift and gift.  God gifts His people with imputed righteousness (PAID), power and hope, family, Christ’s friendship (intercession), and security (held).

God Graces His people with tools and helps that they might “put off” and “put on” so to become more and more like Jesus.  Consider the gifts (graces) God gives to the church family that they might help one another grow spiritually.  I Peter 4:10, As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

And God gives continued Grace that His people might effectively serve Him as ambassadors of His glory and His truth.  Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

So, Grace is God’s determined work to transform a people through new birth into Christ-likeness so to serve as ambassadors of His glory and truth.

Thank You, thank You, God, for Your gift of Grace!