Grace on every side equals “manifold grace.” God offers the gift and we receive it simply and thankfully. We are to become stewards, yes “house stewards,” monitoring the income and the outgo of this magnificent grace, to and from our soul. We operate in such a manner because grace must be what people learn about God, who’s policy toward mankind is and always has been supreme grace. “Sovereign grace” defines it also, the one and only operation that God performs towards men. See first Peter chapter 4, and verse 10.
“Grace is God acting freely, according to his own nature as love, with no promises or obligations to fulfill, and acting righteously, of course , in view of the cross.
“God acts toward whom, and how, He pleases. God has no debts to pay to mankind.”
“Likewise, man has no conditions to fulfill for God to wait for. Grace is uncaused in the recipient, it’s cause lies wholly in the Giver , in God.”
From “a few words about grace,” William Newell .
A man under grace:
- Is not on probation.
- As to his life past, it does not exist before God. Philippians 3:13
- Grace, once bestowed, is not withdrawn. Malachi 3:6
- The failure of devotion does not cause the withdrawal of bestowed grace.
- …has been accepted in Christ, who is his standing. Ephesians 1:6
Trying to earn grace nullifies it. Living a certain lifestyle does not qualify a person more for it. Winning at the many competitions of life on our Planet does not place us as deserving grace.
“A believer refuses to make resolutions and vows, he trusts not his flesh . To consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.”
In adopting his responsibility as a steward of this manifold grace, the believer makes several discoveries.
- To hope to be better is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.
- To be disappointed with yourself, is to have believed in yourself.
- To be discouraged is unbelief,
- To be proud is to be blind. So we have no standing before God in ourselves.
- The lack of divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief and not from failure of devotion.
Yes, the book of Titus chapter 2 and verse 11 tells us that grace is the great teacher. And what does it teach us? let’s quote Matthew Henry.
“This gospel revelation is to teach, and not by way of information and instruction only, as a schoolmaster does his scholars, but by way of precept and command, as a sovereign who gives laws to his subjects. It directs what to shun and what to follow, what to avoid and what to do. The gospel is not for speculation only or chiefly, but for practice and right ordering of life; for it teaches us,”
First, it teaches us to abandon sin. “Thus deny ungodliness (hate and put it away); and worldly lusts, all corrupt and vicious desires and affections that prevail in worldly men.”
I simply explain this teaching as “get rid of all that hinders, effects negatively, or nullifies grace. ” But hold fast to all that encourages, enhances, and welcomes God’s magnificent grace.”
Live soberly, righteously, and godly — the positive side of the Christian character.
- soberly “… with self-restraint, in relation to one’s self:
- “righteously” or justly, in relation to our neighbor;
- “godly” or piously, in relation to God (godly, with love and reverence toward God).
In closing,
” …an householder, went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. ” He did the same at the sixth, ninth, eleventh hours. At evening, He called the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. All got the same but some who worked longer expected more.
Beloved, Father has but one gift for us, grace. None deserve it. Allow it into your soul-house. Give it out to others. Love ya
