THE PICTURE CHANGED AND YET IS UNCHANGED

THE PICTURE HAS CHANGED AND YET IS UNCHANGED

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Matthew 4:17-19 From that time [of being led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the Devil. 4:1] Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. [Mk.1:15] And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Ephesians [MKJV] 2:1-10 And He has made you alive, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also had our way of life in times past, in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the thoughts, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which He loved us (even when we were dead in sins) has made us alive together with Christ (by grace you are saved), and has raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God [Rom.5:16-18; 6:23], not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

Hebrews [GW] 11 Faith assures us of things we expect and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot see. God accepted our ancestors because of their faith. …

  Reading Hebrews 11 we see that individuals have by faith always realized redemption; trusting God’s love and grace throughout the circumstances of life.

  Before the law, salvation was by faith in God’s love and grace.

  Though no one was ever redeemed by keeping the law, keeping the law was and continues to be a matter of faith in God; a matter of ordination, godly living for Him and our fellow man. (Mt.22:35-40)  Doing so however did not, cannot and still does not gain the gift of everlasting life.

  Jesus explained that repentance, thinking anew, is required. People then and now love idea of deserving; earning, gaining, winning – the concept completely contrary to simply trusting god and undeservedly, without any merit on the part of recipient, receiving His truly free gift. 

  Jesus had to explain this more than once. One of my favorites is when He illustrated with practices they understood quite clearly. (Mt.9:16-17; Mk.2:21-22; Lk.5:37-38)

  How well do we understand and accept God’s love and grace; His granting undeserved and unearned favor?

  Or is the unrepentant question of “Am I good enough?” expensively remaining in heart and mind?

  I for one confess to not being good enough nor will I ever be!

  Trusting Him alone for redemption, He lifted me from the horrible miry pit in which I slipped and stumbled and now by His grace I walk securely on solid ground. My soul sings a new song, “Written down in glory!” (Ps.40)

EBB4