Growing in Grace

Growing in Grace…

This is really BIG! I am growing to understand why an in-depth study of Galatians lead to the reformation by Martin Luther. Please study and meditate on this letter with me. This week consider the “grace-filled” life. Galatians is about the Gospel. And we never grow beyond the Gospel; we just grow growing deeper into IT! (Gal. 3:1-14) Are you going to live by Grace or not?! Paul asked, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” (Gal 3:3 NIV) 

“Christians think that we are saved by the Gospel but then we grow by applying biblical principles to every other area of life. But we are not just saved by the gospel, we grow by applying the gospel to every area of our life.” Dick Kaufman

     The grace-filled life is accepting that “we are no longer slaves but Sons!” (Gal 4:7) We are Heirs not mere guests!! This is not a prison! There are no inmates here! It is amazing to consider that when Jesus began to preach He proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me… He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners!” (Luke 4:18) We are all sons and heirs to God through Christ! There is no difference! Paul declares, “you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ”.  (Gal 3:26) We all come to God and receive life through Grace by trusting in what God did through giving His SON. It is His Gift to all who believe in Him!!   We do not perform to be accepted. We are accepted because God justifies.

Don’t be like the Elder Son and miss the party! When the prodigal son comes home and the Father throws the party the “older brother became angry and refused to go in”. (Luke 15:28) WHY? If we trust in our own merits or efforts we will be angry when “Grace” shows up. The older son cries out, “All these years I have slaved for you… and you never gave me…” (Luke 15:29) Was the elder son trusting in his efforts to save him and give him worth? NOTE and never forget the Fathers response, “My Son…everything I have is yours! But we had to celebrate because this brother of yours was dead and now is alive again!”

Paul helps us see that “the Gospel shows us that it is the strong, moral, religious, self-righteous person who in the end, are really the slaves”. (Tim Keller  - Galatians for You)

Now that we are truly free and growing in Grace, we discover the freedom to let others BE free… to grow in Grace… AND join the party! I for one don’t want to miss this party any longer. We have to celebrate - Our brother who was dead and now he is alive again! Grace-full… and growing.