Jesus Christ, the One Who Saves

Years ago I listened to a talk show on television, about several women who were being interviewed concerning an eating disorder.  Among them was a doctor.  I will never forget the interview, because it was so obvious the doctor was simply speaking from a textbook view.  He never had experienced an eating disorder and could not come across with empathy and compassion - only speak of the "textbook way out."

The women talked about how they tried to "get out," but to no avail. 

The grace of our Lord.  How many truly know the depths and meaning of this?  I was looking at the Scriptures this morning regarding the grace of God - how many times it is repeated by Paul and other apostles.  

 

"The free gift is NOT like the offense.  For if by the one man's offense many died, MUCH MORE the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many."  Romans 5:15

"Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are NOT under law but under grace." Rom. 6:14

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," is written at least 11 times in Paul's opening letters.

In his closings he says things like, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." 

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all."  

"Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."

"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."

"I do not set aside the grace of God..."

And Peter in his closing says in his second letter, "...but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Now there is a big deal to be made over the grace of God.  I cannot tell you how many times I've heard the argument in my life about grace - that if you preach grace it gives people an excuse and license to sin.  "Now let's not go overboard about grace - people need to hear that their sin is wrong and if you talk too much about how grace is ours, etc., people will be sloppy and lazy and act any way they want to."

Here is how I truly and sincerely have come to know grace in my life.

First of all, sin and the power of it is exactly like being in a dungeon with blackness and darkness.  It's cold, icy but the entrance of it is SO subtle and deceptive.  Like going through a corridor that "seems" pleasurable at first, meeting a need, yet not long after, it's exactly what I described above.

The grace of God is the Hand of Jesus Christ reaching into that dark, cold dungeon and lifting one out by the power of His resurrection.  Not only this, but introducing us to the LOVE and perfect ONE who "dubs" me as accepted in the Beloved, lavishing me with Himself to lead me through the rest of my journey on this planet, until I see Him face to face.

He gave us His book too - to find out and discover that I get ALL that grace through HIM to transform every ounce of me.  My connection to His grace is continued faith in HIM - that if He can pull me out of sin's power, He can keep me day by day.  I get to know Him.

He has asked me NOT to think I can possibly now attain righteousness in living, through flesh and blood - but solely through my spirit in union with HIS Spirit now and forevermore.  I am living by Him, and living through Him - and He is living in me.

The way in is the way on - the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The grace of God IS the Lord Jesus Christ coming to living inside of me and you.  AND our continued faith in Him - from beginning to end.

God has called us to KNOW the Son of God and to live by faith in and of the Son of God.  Galatians 2:20.

It sounds so simple and it really is.  There is lots of knowledge out there - I don't mind knowing more of the knowledge of the Scriptures in every aspect.  But the ONE KNOWLEDGE that is the MOST IMPORTANT to the Father God is for us to understand and know the KNOWLEDGE of HIS SON.

We must know HIM living in and through us.  He is not secondary knowledge.  HE IS THE KNOWLEDGE of GOD. 

We receive grace upon grace upon grace upon grace upon grace - and to do so is to truly grow - a real, honest growth in spirit and in truth. 

If I was on a talk show today with those women and some doctor was telling me "how to" get out of a dungeon of an eating order, my testimony would be this:

"There is NO getting out of that dungeon without the mighty Hand of Jesus Christ reaching down and just pulling you out.  He offers His gracious Hand of Salvation into His life and glory.  All one has to do is take Him, and He will keep them now and forevermore."

AMEN and AMEN - glory to the Living Savior!

Sue Gaither

"Faithful is He who calls you, who will also do it."