By Truthful Speech in the Power of God

Receiving God’s Grace in Vain

“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, ‘In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.’ Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2 ESV)

Paul and Timothy were working together with Christ, as ambassadors for him, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and on behalf of the church in Corinth, to present the truth of the gospel to them and to warn them against following after the lies, and against disobedience to the commands of God. So, at the end of chapter 5 (originally not in chapters and verses, but as one whole letter), they implored the church of Corinth, on behalf of Christ, to be reconciled to God, which means to exchange one’s old life of sin for this new life in Christ to be lived for his glory and in obedience to his commands.

And this was then followed by an appeal to them that they not receive the grace of God in vain. So, what is God’s grace? Well, it was the grace of God which sent Jesus Christ to that cross to take upon himself the sins of the entire world so that, in his death, he put our sins to death with him. And in his resurrection, he rose victorious over death, hell, sin, and Satan on our behalf so that we will now be crucified with him in death to sin and raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to God and to his righteousness in obedience to his commands.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

[Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10; Romans 6:1-23; 2 Corinthians 5:15,21; 1 Peter 2:24; Luke 9:23-26; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 4:17-24; John 10:27-30]

If you received God’s grace in vain, it appears to me that your receiving of God’s grace was not in truth and in righteousness, or it was very superficial and so it never really took root, or it was genuine but it did not endure, which reminds me of the first 3 types of soil in the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1-23. And “in vain” means that your receiving of God’s grace was empty, worthless, and to no good purpose, for it did not produce the fruit of the Spirit and the righteousness of God and the forsaking of sin, and following Jesus in surrender to his will and in obedience to his commands.

And many professing Christians today here in America, and perhaps in other countries, too, are receiving God’s grace in vain mainly because what they are receiving is a false half-truth grace and gospel message intended to tickle itching ears and to not offend human flesh but to appease the flesh, instead. For the true grace of God requires that we die with Christ to sin, not just once, but daily, and that we walk in obedience to his commands in holy living, in practice. And if sin remains our practice, and not obedience to God, then we do not have salvation from sin and eternal life with God.

[Matt 7:21-23; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2]

No Obstacles in Anyone’s Way

“We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 ESV)

If you are a teacher of true grace and biblical salvation and eternal life with God, which is of the Spirit, and not of the flesh, get prepared to be treated like Paul and Timothy and the other NT apostles were treated for telling the people the truth that many did not want to hear, and that many did not want to accept as truth. But no matter how you are treated for speaking the truth, endure, and keep on doing what the Lord says to do. For many people are believing Satan’s lies over the truth and they are being led to follow after what is false, but to their deaths, yet on the promise of life eternal with God.

We’ve Spoken Freely to You

“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” (2 Corinthians 6:11-13 ESV)

Maintain your integrity, too, regardless of how others treat you. And keep loving those who mistreat you, and pray for them, and do good to them, and say to them what is beneficial for them to hear. And reach out to them in love. And if they profess faith in Jesus Christ, but they are being led astray by the lies, remind them of the truth unless they tell you they do not want to hear it. And encourage them to search the Scriptures (in context) in order to learn what they teach so that they will now follow the truth and no longer follow the lies. But keep loving them into the kingdom of God. 

And keep teaching the truth!

Songs in the Night  

An Original Work / December 18, 2013

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84

Lord, I praise You forevermore.

You, my Savior, I now adore.

Hope in heaven awaiting me,

Because You died at Calvary.

I have been forgiven,

And I’m bound for heaven.

Jesus set me free from

All my sin, I say.

I will praise Him always!

Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:

Overcame death, my vict’ry won!

Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!

I rejoice in His love for me.

I will walk in vict’ry!

My sin is but hist’ry!

I am free to please Him

With my life today.

I will love Him always!

Lord, I thank You for giving me

A new life bought at Calvary.

Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.

Tender mercies now flow within.

Lord, I am so thankful;

Through my Lord, I’m able

To sit at His table;

Fellowship with Him.

I will thank Him always!

https://vimeo.com/379484387