Profound Thoughts About the Grace of God

I was cleaning up my inbox this evening, and found an old email that had some profound thoughts I thought I would share.  They are not specifically scripture references, and as such, cannot be taken as infallible truth.  However, they do have specific precepts and truths in them that are scriptural.

(1) "To get something you've never had, you have to do something you never did."

Think of what the disciples were asked to do.  Leave everything they called home, and even their jobs and livelihoods.  What did Jesus promise?

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:29-30

(2) "When God takes something from your grasp, he's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."

It's important that we consider the context of our "punishment".  There are problems or circumstances in our lives that we create by our own wrongdoing.  If it is a result of sin, then we must repent, and turn back to God.  It could be, however, a stumbling block or a test placed in front of us that gives us the opportunity to grow closer to God.  This is the context on which I wish to expound.

In this case, the story of Job is an excellent example.  In Job's case, it wasn't God who took everything from him, but Satan.  However, God allowed Job to be put to the test.  Job did not turn from God, though his family, friends, and everything else suggested he should.  Job was rewarded in the end, with so much more than he ever had.

This quote also brings to mind part of a sermon I remember from the past.  Sometimes sin is not just choosing evil over good, but choosing good over best.  God does not want satisfied Christians.  He wants Christians who continuously seek to grow closer to Him, to strive to be more like Him, to be a better witness to the world for Him.  God wants the very best for us, and sometimes He must ask us to give up the "good" things in our lives to achieve what is "better".  Again, just like the disciples' example above.  A career in fishing may be good, but a mission of fishing for men is better.  And their eternal reward for choosing to follow Jesus is greater than than their present reward of being a provider for their families by fishing.

Sometimes, we perceive this as punishment.  However, Jesus has greater plans for us.  He needs to break us to grow closer to Him.  He reassures us that He "has overcome the world" (John 16:33) and we can "do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

(3) "The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God cannot protect you."

Concerning God's protection:


"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
Concerning temptation:

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I Corinthians 10:14

Being Made Clean, Part 2 - Our Unrighteousness, Christ's Blood and Our Salvation

Part 2 of today's message continues with more thoughts on Leviticus 15:31:

“‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’” Leviticus 15:31

We still have to deal with the unclean things of this world today, which we must set aside.  We also still have to struggle with the sin issue today, as we are all born sinners (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; Ephesians 2:1-2; Psalms 51:5)   This sin will result in our spiritual death until we accept Christ's perfect (I Peter 2:22) sacrifice for them. God is still holy, and still requires righteousness.  However, we do not have to perform all the sacrifices, cleansing ceremonies, and purifying of material possessions today like the Israelites had do to in the time before Christ.  Why?  Consider the following:

First, we must accept that there are consequences for our sin.  Without cleansing, we are doomed to eternal death.

" For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Next, we must recognize that we cannot make amends for uncleanliness or sin ourselves.  And we also know that the sacrifices and cleansing ceremonies were only a temporary relief from sin or uncleanliness.  The priests had to perform these ceremonies endlessly with the blood of lambs, goats, calves, doves, etc. on a continuous basis for all sin (spiritual uncleanliness), whether committed in ignorance or a blatant disregard.  They also had to make clean anything that had become physically unclean (food, childbirth, open sores, mold, bodily discharges).  No sacrifice could fully and completely cleanse you under the Law.

"For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh..." Romans 8:3a

"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."  Hebrews 10:1-4

"Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins." Hebrews 10:11

"For it is by grace you have been saved,through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (emphasis mine)

Finallly, we must accept Christ's sacrifice for us, a sacrifice made once and for all time.  Christ is our sin offering today.  Without him, we are still dead in our sins.  Unlike the sacrifices, He only needed to die once for all time.  Today, he is our perfect high priest, who gave himself for us.

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
Jeremiah 31:33-34

"...God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Romans 8:3b-4

"Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;
with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.
Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, my God.’”

First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second.  And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Hebrews 10:5-10

"But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." Hebrews 10:12-14

" For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit." I Peter 3:18

This Easter, remember Christ's sacrifice for us.  But do more than this.  Make it personal.  See it not only as an historical event which shaped human history, but see it as a personal live-giving experience.  See it as not just an event, but a personal life-defining moment.  See it not just as a loving God dying to save the world, but a loving God who died on the cross for you.  See it as your "born-again" experience.  One day we will stand before God in judgement.  Will you continue to try and justify yourself, fruitlessly and in vain?  Or will you accept God's sacrifice once for all time?  May God be glorified for His loving sacrifice for us.

Being Made Clean, Part 1 - Our Unrighteousness, Christ's Blood and Our Salvation

As we continue to read thru the Bible this year at Zion, I find myself falling behind.  However, though it may take longer than a year, I continue to read, and constantly find a picture of our Christian faith in the Israelite nation long ago.  Someone I recently met pointed out Galatians 3:24 to me as he tried to explain to me some of his beliefs.  This verse pretty well explains why we still have the Old Testament today, to not only use as an example to how God worked with his chosen people, but how He continues to work with us today thru Christ. (I've chosen the Amplified version, because it highlights and stresses particular words found in multiple versions and translations, and "amplifies" or expounds the meaning of the original Greek and Hebrew into English.)

"So that the Law served [to us Jews] as our trainer [our guardian, our guide to Christ, to lead us] until Christ [came], that we might be justified (declared righteous, put in right standing with God) by and through faith." Galatians 3:24

Today's thought comes from Leviticus 15:31.  After working through what makes a person unclean in the chapters before, and how to become cleansed by the priest, comes this verse:

“‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’” Leviticus 15:31

In part 1 of this 2 part message, we will discuss unclean things and how Christ reacts to them.  First and foremost, this scripture above does not just apply to the Israelites of the Old Testament.  It still applies today, albeit in a much different manner.  It Part 2, we will discuss how we can fully trust Jesus for our freedom and salvation.

Listed in Leviticus alone, the Israelites in the Old Testament (under the old covenant), could become unclean by:

• Improperly eating the fellowship offerings - Leviticus 7:15-21
• Eating fat or blood - Leviticus 3:17; 8:22-27
• Eating the wrong animals like rabbits, pigs, vultures, owls,rats, lizards - Leviticus 11:1-30
• Eating or touching a dead animal - Leviticus 11:31-40
• Childbirth - Leviticus 12
• Being exposed to a skin disease like leprosy - Leviticus 13:1-45
• Being exposed to mold - Leviticus 13:46-59
• Having bodily discharges - Leviticus 15

These things above may not be sin or the result of sin itself, but is a case of something impure which our holy God cannot accept.  Holiness means to be "set apart" or "dedicated to God."  God, in His holiness, cannot fellowship with us if we are not "set apart" toward him.  He cannot fellowship with the uncleanliness of this world.  The Israelites were held accountable for their unclean acts or their exposure to unclean things.  

" I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. " Leviticus 11:44

“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." Leviticus 19:2

" This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light;in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth." I John 1:5-6

How does this apply to us today?

First, there are still unclean things in this world we have to avoid as Christians.

We are to avoid (to name just a few):

• Giving into sensuality, deceipt, unholy anger, stealing, unwholesome talk, bitterness, brawling and slander (Ephesians 4:17-34)
• Adultery, fornication, idolatry, hatred, envy, murder, drunkenness, heresies (Galatians 5:19-21)
• Homosexuality, covetousness, pride, disobedience, merciless, maliciousness, hatred of God (Romans 1:26-32)
• Judging, causing our brother to stumble in their faith, anything not done in faith (Romans 14)

This list includes a list of sins that are a blatant disregard for God's holiness and His instructions of holiness to us.  We also need to consider the following:  what is sin to us may not necessarily be sin to our brother, and vice versa.  Certain things are sinful by nature.  Others are not, but are sinful when not done in faith.

"I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..." Romans 14:14-17

I have adopted several beliefs based on these verses.  For instance, dealing with the consumption of alcohol.  At one time, I did not consider it a sin when it was done in moderation.  However, when this belief led another to stumble, it then became sin.  Also, the enjoyment of my Christian faith in modern music.  There are those I have come into contact that truly believe this type of music is sinful.  For me to listen to this "contemporary" music in their presence would be considered sinful.

Second, we will be held accountable. The Israelites were held accountable for their unclean acts or their exposure to unclean things. They sometimes needed to offer a sacrifice or offering. Sometimes they needed to be cleansed by the priest. And sometimes they were exiled from their families and friends. Today, we have an easier way to become clean once again - through the blood of Christ.

What is the difference between the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and us as Christians today following the new covenant?  It is Jesus Christ!

First, Jesus can overcome the physically unclean things this world contains.  Since Jesus is the Creator (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16), all creation is subject to Him.  Thus purifying or healing something that was considered unclean in Old Testament times is of no consequence to Him.

For instance, in Luke 5, Jesus healed a man stricken with leprosy, considered unclean according to Leviticus 13. Jesus recognized this, but He healed the man regardless.  Then, in verse 14 it says, "Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”  Jesus recognized the importance of the law to guide unbelievers toward himself (see Galatians 3:24 above).  Furthermore, scripture instructs us:

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17

Further examples of Christ healing unclean things:

• An unclean woman, from her flow of blood (i.e. Leviticus 15) - Matthew 9:20-22
• An unclean spirit - Mark 9:14-29
• 10 lepers - Luke 17:11-19

Second, Jesus can overcome the spiritual uncleanliness of our souls.  His blood can wash us clean, just as in the Old Testament, the sins of the sacrifices washed the Israelites.  The difference is that the Old Testament sacrifices covered up the sin, so the Israelites could fellowship with God.  Jesus can permanently cleanse us from our unrighteousness.  But only if we trust Him.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:1-4

"“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”" I Peter 2:24

" But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." I John 1:7

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." I John 1:19

In conclusion, God still requires us today to be holy.  The application of how we become holy, though changed with the nails and the cross.  We will discuss more of this in Part 2 of this message.  In the words of Peter:

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls." I Peter 1:3-9

But, though we enjoy this offer of salvation in Jesus today, we find this reminder from the Old Testament still ringing true today:

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”"  I Peter 1:13-16