GRACE HAPPENS, REALLY?

GRACE HAPPENS, REALLY?

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Matthew [ESV] 5:43-48 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. [Also note 2Pet.3:1-9]

  The meditation followed by Bible study began a few days ago while traversing the parking lot at Home Depot. The bumper sticker declared “GRACE HAPPENS”. My immediately reaction was “Not really. Grace exists.”

  Grace is God’s undeserved favor and blessing unto all mankind. Considering what you and I are and are not, this is definitely true. God’s grace is existent for one and all: Consider what our lives would be like without God’s undeserved favor and blessing. Jesus explained this fact.

  Grace if as happenstance means that God’s grace is an exception . . . given only upon occurrence, or not; such activity then meaning God is capricious. He is not at all so.  As He is love, God is inseparably grace. God is perfect, the same perfection that Jesus says God’s John 1:12 family are to strive for. (Mt.5:43-48)

  Let us consciously live in and by God’s ever-present grace.

EBB4