[Biblemat] A) TRANSFORMED BY THE GRACE OF GOD

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Thursday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

TRANSFORMED BY THE GRACE OF GOD

     Imagine the meanest, most hateful and self-centered per-
son that you know.  Perhaps this person has mistreated you
or other people dear to you.  Next, decide what punishment
that person deserves for his/her ugly behavior.  Don't be "too
easy" on the person.  Remember that the Scriptures teach that each man will 
receive according to his works (2 Cor. 5:
10).

     The Scriptures also teach that "the grace of God that brings salvation 
has appeared to all men" (Ti. 2:11).  In other
words, God offers salvation to the meanest, most hateful and
self-centered people, even those who actually called for the
crucifixion of His Son (Rom. 5:8-10; Acts 2:22,23,38).

     The gospel is appropriately referred to as "the word of His
grace" (Ats 14:3; 20:32) because it is the story of how God's
favor was extended to mankind in the giving of His Son.  What mankind 
deserved was the punishment mandated by the law, i.e., death (Rom. 6:23).  But God 
decided before time
begain that, in the event that man sinned, He would extend
forgiveness to all those who believed in Christ Jesus (2 Tim.
1:9).

     The grace of God is intended to transform man from a con-
demned sinner to a justified saint.  Through the blood shed by Jesus Christ 
on the cross, man can be forgiven of his sins, a manifestation of God's favor.  
Paul wrote to the Ephes-
ians, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the for-
giveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (1:7).
Although Jesus tasted death for everyone (Heb. 2:9) and thus
the favor of God is available to all men through that sacrifice,
each individual must accept this offer of grace.  God desires
that all men be saved (1 Tim. 2:3,4), but He will not apply His
favor to anyone against his will.

     The transforming power of God's grace extends beyond
the forgiveness of sins.  His grace does not only justify man
by providing the propitiation for sin, but it also is responsible
for the transformation of his character.  Paul commended the
Ephesian elders to "the word of His grace, which is able to
build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who
are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).  Paul wrote to Titus that the grace of God 
teaches us "that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, 
righteously, and godly
in the present age" (Ti. 2:12).

     The working of the divine gracr is not magical.  It trans-
forms man's character by the renewing in his mind through
the application of the revealed Word of God (Rom. 12:1,2) and that requires 
effort on the part of man.  As we allow the
Word of Christ to dwell richly in us by our study and accept-
ance of the Scriptures, it will cause us to put off the "old man" with his 
deeds and put on the "new man" who is "renew-
ed in knowledge" and conformed to the image of God's Son
(Col. 3:9,10,16; Rom. 8:29).

     Praise God for His magnificant grace!   ----- Allen Dvorak
via Gospel Power, Vol. 14, No.1, Jan. 7, 2007.

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