Making Much of Grace

Tomorrow brings another opportunity to gather for corporate worship. I have no idea how many Pastors and teachers have visited this this blog spot. Nor do I have any idea how many will today. Nevertheless, I wish to pose a question for those of us who will handle the Word of God tomorrow. Will we make much of the doctrines of Divine Grace? If we desire to be faithful to the Scriptures we must make much of grace. If we aim to preach and teach with a godward passion we must make much of grace.

The Teaching of Grace

Over the years I have encountered more than my share of people who clearly misunderstand the doctrines of Grace. It seems overly simple, but yet fair, to place those who misunderstand in one of two categories. There is one view that sees grace as their own personal license to live wickedly. The other concludes that the doctrines of grace must be wrong precisely because of those people who have found, in their own minds, a permission to live wrecklessly. Both groups have obviously failed to grasp the truth of divine sovereign grace.

Paul writes to Titus in 2:11-12 "For the grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age;"

The life that is lived for self and wicked pleasure is contradictory to the teaching of grace. It is not law or legalism that calls for holiness it is grace. That reality takes us is two directions. First, we dare not carelessly toss the label "legalism" upon those exhortatons to live a life of surrender. Second, we must not employ anything other than grace to teach godly living.

I find it of interest that the idea of verse 12 is that of an ongoing teaching or training by grace. It is not a once in a lifetime thing but rather a persistent, habitual reality. I am reminded of John 3:21 "But he that doeth truth cometh to the ligth, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." My personal paraphrase of that verse is "The one who is characterized as being a truth doer keeps on coming to the light to examine the character and source of his actions."

Grace teaches the child of God to be a truth doer. Grace teaches through the Word of God. May we strive to be receptive students as we live under the continual instruction of the grace f God.

The Primacy of Grace

It seems apparent that many of us are prone to look at God through human eyes. Our earthbound perspective limits our understanding and distorts the character of God. Men often conclude that God looks at people the way we look at things. There is this strange thinking that pictures God exercising His sovereign grace because of some hidden quality in individuals. The image presented is that of God peering through the corriders of time and seeing what proper choices made and what good things would come from the lives of certain people and thus God selected them.

Man may come to an abandoned homestead and embark upon a lengthly remodeling project because in his eye he can see the potential. Man may come across some rusty worn automobile and devote countless hours in the work of restoration because he has a vivid picture in his mind of how beautiful the car will look and sound.

God does not operate by such means. Deuteronomy 7:7-8a shout against the above described theology. "The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, becuse ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you ..." This passage may be rightly summarized by saying "The Lord set his love upon you because he loved you!"

God does what He does because of who He is. He loves because He is love. He is grants grace because He is gracious. Praise God that His grace is always primary. If it is not primary then it is not grace!

By His Grace Alone,
Dennis Seiler

By His Grace Alone

For those who have received e-mails or letters from me that phrase is not new. It is one that I latched on to years ago and to this day it serves as a sweet reminder that my salvation rests completely upon the Lord of Glory.

This blog spot is dedicated to the glory of God for His marvelous grace bestowed upon lost sinners. It is my desire in the days ahead, should the Lord tarry, to post my thoughts concerning the wonderful doctrines of grace. I look forward to a ministry of mutual encouragement in God.

My dear friend Phil Siefkes has a blog spot godwardpassion.blogspot.com where he posts thoughts concerning God centered ministry. The two spots will bear much resemblance but you will not find them identical.

By His Grace Alone,
Dennis Seiler