Grace Reigns

“But the Scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to all who believe.” Galatians 3:22

“…for in Christ Jesus, you are children of God through faith.”  Galatians 3:26

If anyone has lived a good amount of time on the planet earth, one can see there’s a lot of sinning going on!  The Scripture stated above is such a powerful explanation of why.  All things imprisoned under the power of sin?

As a Christian/believer, when we received Jesus Christ, something marvelous happened to us.  We were born again of God’s Spirit, His Holy Spirit came in our hearts, and we were made new creatures.  We were let out of prison!

“If ANY man BE in Christ, he IS a new creature.”  II Corinthians 5:17.

Here’s a silly illustration: miracle whip in a jar.  No one eats the label or the jar, but the contents.  The jar CONTAINS the substance.  It’s the substance I spread on my sandwich and taste with my palate. 

Christ has become our substance.  It’s not about our human efforts to become something we already are in Him.  We simply need to let the CONTENTS be expressed, flow out, be our all.  We need to grow in Him, His life within.

We as believers CONTAIN the ONE who is Life – eternal LIFE.  We contain the One who IS the POWER.  He is the Spirit of fruitfulness, light, love, goodness. 

“We have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.”  II Corinthians 4:7 

  

Christ Himself is not sin.  He is all that is right and good.  We learn to walk in His Spirit and Grace teaches us.

Our bodies (we are getting immortal ones later!) are the house (jars) where our Lord has come into our hearts in union with Him.  “He who has been joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”  I Corinthians 6:17

Those who do not have Christ in them are still under sin’s power.  They need to BECOME NEW CREATURES in Christ and be freed from sin’s power.  And come out of eternal death into Christ who is Eternal Life!

He not only is the hope of life eternally, but righteous living, good walking, good talking, good anything!  And He is living.  Thank God we’ve been called into relationship and fellowship with the Living Savior through His Spirit within. 

Thank God we’ve been not only forgiven of all our sins, but His Spirit of life within teaches us to walk by His Life and Presence.  Thank God, because of His cross, His blood, we are children of God!

What a Savior, what a Gospel!

Grace is Christ through our faith in Him now and forevermore.  

Grace reigns because Christ reigns,

Sue Gaither

The True Grace of God

Salvation is by grace through faith.  God made it this way through His Son!

Yet the “way in, is the way on.”   Want fruits, works?  Then it continues to be grace through faith in Him every day.  “The just shall live by (grace) (through) faith.”

Faith is not hard, yet it seems we or others at times have made it hard.  Faith does not have to be hard.  That is, if we are looking in the Right Place.

The Right Place is looking at Jesus, looking at God, looking at the Word of God concerning Him and His Son.

Looking to the Holy Spirit in us, who now lives within as well.  God has declared His Spirit to be the Spirit of Truth – He only leads in Truth.

Everything else is false.

Putting it lovingly and nicely, God does not give a “rip” about our opinions and interpretations.  Actually, we need to ask him to do some “ripping” – rip all the “stuff” that is false out of our thinking.

We can be child-like.  If God has indeed made peace through the blood of His Son’s cross and it is written: 

“Therefore having been justified by faith (God’s way), we have peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 5:1), THEN our response is through faith, “Thank you God SO MUCH – I have peace with you because of Your Son!”

Oh, but wait – there’s more!  “Through WHOM also we have obtained our introduction into this grace in which we stand, and we exult in the hope of the glory of God!”  Romans 5:2

Without standing firmly in God’s grace through faith (our response to God), we will not stand – God didn’t make another way.  This is His way!  And the glory of God is, when we walk in faith His way.

Then we will surely experience real fruit in our lives, we won’t have to worry about “put-ons,” or pretending or trying.  Real grace through faith genuinely produces the fruit of His Holy Spirit in us – and His works!

The Gift of God, salvation is astounding – it’s not flesh and blood’s doing, but God’s grace alone and when we place faith in Him, His grace, there will be true results because God is faithful.

Romans 5:17 is a powerful Scripture.  Read it today 😊

If one has a car, and can talk all about it, talk with others who have the same kind of car, start ministries to proclaim how everyone needs the same car, gather together each week to talk about this amazing car – then, some kid comes along and says, “Why don’t you all ever ride in the car you’re always talking about?”

Grace then is the vehicle (The living Christ living in and through us), and Faith (my heart believing and abiding in Him each day) is getting in and going for the Ride of Your Life!

Grace is simple, but pure!  

(We can be child-like yet wise and mature!)

Sue Gaither