Before I get into the topic of grace in the following paragraphs, I want to announce that my first book is now completely publicized. You can access my webpage at http://www.pagepublishing.com/books/?book=sticks-and-stones
The word grace has been mentioned in 21 of my previous blogs. I tend to use that word sometimes to simply. The word itself is simple but the interactions between us humans and divinity is a complex maze of twist and turns. Us humans, make it complex by our un-willingness to accept that we need spiritual guidance in life. Make it simple! Go on faith.
A young man witnesses another explaining the lineage of greatness while being stoned to death. The young man even holds onto the coats of the people throwing the stones. This same man later actively persecutes the followers of the greatness described earlier. Yet, somehow this same man becomes an apostle. In my opinion, we are given a free will to decide the path in life. Some of us choose a path that may lead us to pain and destruction. But, if we listen to our inner selves telling us to go another route, we can receive a very precious gift. Continue reading to find out more.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, “I don’t deserve to be called an apostle, because I harassed God’s church. I am what I am by God’s grace, and God’s grace hasn’t been for nothing.” That my friends is Prevenient Grace which is God’s active presence in our lives. It is a gift that is always available, but we have to take a huge step of faith to go beyond a feeling of being directed into an active participant.
I have often thought of where I may be without the acceptance of His grace. His grace was present well before I knew him. It is frightening to go out on faith but the alternative is even more frightening now that I look back on my life. Once we recognize and accept that even while we were sinners Christ died for us, we can move from prevenient to Justifying grace. Our relationship with God is restored through Christ’s death. The joy is that we grow into a new creation and a faithful servant ever growing in faith.
Like Paul who received a wake-up call in the form of temporary blindness to make him turn around, many of us may go from prevenient to justifying grace and linger much longer before we are converted. When we finally reach the point that we are assured of our salvation, we reach that level called Sanctifying Grace. We can grow in sanctification toward perfection according to God’s will for our lives. We never quite reach perfection but should continue towards that higher mark.
T