Change of things

Hi friends, 

I want to start this post by apologizing for the lack of attention we have paid over the last several months. Life gets busy and such. But I’m going to put a great deal of effort into revamping things some. 

With that revamping, I’m thinking of making this blog less article and essay driven and more about resources and music that has been helpful refreshing and helpful in leading the people of God in worship. I’d love some feed back if you have any. But my hope, in the coming months, is to post more often and be of help how ever I can. 

In Christ, 

Matt

The paradox of the Gospel

In all likely hood, this post isn’t going make any sense. 

The gospel is a very perplexing thing. A holy Creator sends His perfect son, Jesus, to live among us, set an example for us, and then die the most grueling death in replacement for all believers going to hell. 

As imperfect human beings, the death of Jesus give us hope. Without Jesus, we are merely sinful people, roaming this earth with no purpose what so ever. The gospel is about redeeming a sinful race. The human race. The gospel is about us. 

Yet, the gospel brings glory to God. We are called to carry this gospel to others. And what does the delivery of this Gospel accomplish, exactly?? That God will be glorified above everything else. So, we are called to sacrifice every day so that the name of Jesus would be known. The gospel is not about us. 

As my good friend, Collin would say, Gospel Paradox. 

What is “AMAZING GRACE”?

What is the definition of “grace”? So many thoughts come to mind as I consider the different options of this one very POWERFUL word. 

Grace. 

Definition (according to Webster): The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.

Webster defines grace as an over-loving sense of affection, if you will. His definition focuses on doing good deeds for one another, and putting others before yourself. Webster has a correct definition of grace, in a worldly sense. 

I heard a message on grace a couple of weeks ago that I am really not sure if you could seriously call it a message. All the evangelist did was read scripture that had grace in it, which is great! But at the same time, if you are going to preach, dig into the text and find the true exposition of the passages you are preaching. So LET’S! 

One passage of Scripture that came to my mind is Romans 6:14:

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

What Paul is writing to the Romans here is that we do not answer to the law of Moses anymore. The ten commandments are not what we “follow” to be saved. Paul says that we are under charis, which is the favour of God is upon us. We have a divine influence upon our hearts from Almighty God. Thank God we do not answer to laws anymore and that there is no boundaries that our sin outweighs. Romans 5:19-20 clearly shows us this wonderful promise of grace in our lives:

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grade did much more abound.


In this point of the blog, you would think I would have more Scriptures quoting grace to you, but let’s be honest, everyone knows what grace is. Right? Well, no. A lot of people, actually, all unsaved people, do not know what grace is because they have never experienced a divine intervention in their life. Let me take you to a passage that is going to sound SO familiar to you, but we will break it down because it is more powerful than you think. Ephesians 2:8

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Did you read that, by GRACE are you SAVED. Grace is what saved our souls from dying without Christ and living in a sinner’s hell for all of eternity! What kind of grace are we talking about though? Strong’s Concordance gives the greek word and it is… CHARIS. The same grace that covers our sins and also humbles us. That same grace that intervenes when we get a big head and calms us, is the same grace that covers are sins and makes us righteous before a sinless God. Let’s really be honest, how amazing is grace? Look at the last part of the verse, it says that grace through faith is a GIFT from God. The greek word doron is written here which means a present or a sacrifice: gift, offering.

Where did grace come from? - The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross of calvary.

When do we obtain grace? - When we chose to follow Jesus Christ in faith and put our faith AND trust in his death, burial, and resurrection. 

What does grace really do? - Grace gives us what we do not deserve. Hope. We now have a hope that no other non-believer has because of what Christ’s suffering did for us and what his blood covered. Jesus took care of sins bounty toward us and paid the penalty.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


It is no accident that Romans 6:23, and Ephesians 2:8 both have the word “gift” in them. God’s gift of grace toward us gives us a rest for our weary soul, a mender for our brokenness, and a hope for our lives. 

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see. 


- Ben