Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:58:17 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Nov. 12); BP: Rom. 5:1-11; RBTTY: Heb. 9; Jer. 51-52
November 12 &nb sp; “The Grace for Believing”
“Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ—by Whom also we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God.”
Romans 5:1-2
Even when our faith seems small, He continues to sustain us by His Grace to draw us closer to His heart.
Few folks walking down the street have a good, working knowledge of the Biblical truths of justification, sanctification and glorification. Not only are they hard to spell, they’re even harder to understand. Perhaps that’s part of the reason our efforts in outreach and discipleship too often yield meager results at best.
But, today’s Manna is a beautiful, succinct, simple explanation of the nuts-n-bolts of the above three dimensions of salvation. And, our understanding of them will definitely aid us in our sharing them with others.
Paul’s use of the word “Therefore” at the outset links his teaching in ch. 4 with what’s to follow. In 4:1-25 he looks at Abraham’s righteousness before God and how it was apart from works (vv.1-8), circumcision (vv.9-12) and the Law (vv.13-15); instead, it was rooted solely in faith, which the Latin fathers termed “sola fide.”
Thus, his first word in our Manna is a bridge connecting the previous lesson with the current one. Truly, we are “justified (Grk. ‘dikaioo’—‘to render or regard as innocent, be made righteous, etc.’) by faith.” It’s a legal term for “pardoning” and shows how our salvation is “imparted” unto us—i.e., something “obtained,” not “attained.”
That’s why we have “peace with God.” He takes the initiative to come looking for us and then invites us into His Family as an adopted child “through our Lord Jesus Christ.” And, it is through our relationship with Him that “we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God.”
Look at those words again, Pilgrim:
“Peace with God”—the essence of the Atonement whereby we are “reconciled with God” (vv.9-10). “Through our Lord Jesus Christ”—He is both the Medium (Jn. 14:6) and the Mediator (I Tim. 2:5) Who enables us to “come boldly unto the Throne of Grace where we may obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).
Is not this a wonderful thought and assurance?
Assuredly it is.
And, when we reflect further on the words “By Whom we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand,” we realize anew that salvation is truly “a Gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:9). Hallelujah!!
Thus, during those times when doubts and confusion begin flooding our soul, we must whisper, “By Grace through faith. By Grace through faith” and keep doing so until that Grace renews our faith, helping us to continue running the race (Heb. 12:1-2).
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