Living in God’s Grace

Wolves will come. Be on your guard. Seek God’s Will and be true to your calling. Make sure that it is God who is calling. Commit ourselves to the word of his grace. By this we are refreshed and renewed, and supplied. I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace. God is your shepherd. And his Word is your green pasture and your still waters. All the flock have God as their shepherd and all the flock feed on the Word of his grace… not just pastors, priests, elders, but all of us.

Image courtesy of: Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon

Scripture:
“Now I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” – Acts 20:32

Observation/Application: 
When we live in God’s grace, we can have confidence knowing

(1) It Brings Us to the Inheritance – The inheritance is salvation, the kingdom of God, the new heavens and new earth, eternal life – the riches of the glory of God. A few key scriptures that talk about inheritance include:

• “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” – (Ephesians 1:18)
• “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” – (Romans 8:17)
• “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ” – (Corinthians 6:9, 10)
• “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – (Galatians 5:21)
• “A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Jesus replied…) “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Luke (18:18, 25)
• “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. ” – (Titus 3:6,7)

(2) It Takes Away the Love of Money and Things – In Acts 20:33 Paul says “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.” By the Word of God we learn that truly live by the words “it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

(3) It Produces a Passion to Meet Others’ Needs – Paul did not want to get rich off anyone at Ephesus. Instead he wanted to meet people’s needs. He wanted to make people rich with Jesus Christ. Notice he also says that we need to work to pay our own bills: “These hands ministered to my necessities.” He served from his heart (v. 31). He cared nothing for his own life, and only wanted to finish the race, the course set out in his life. To him, faithfulness is better than life (v. 24). He declared the whole counsel of God. He didn’t concern himself with what was profitable (vv. 27, 20).

So how do we live in God’s grace? Paul teaches us a very important lesson here. It is all about the Word of God. The Word gives the inheritance is by sanctifying us, by making us holy. And this is exactly what Jesus said the Word of God does. In John 17:17 he prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth. Thy word is truth.” The Word of God sanctifies. Therefore the Word of God gives the inheritance of eternal life; because the inheritance is given to all who are sanctified. It’s like an athlete building up, working out, and getting trained muscles. We get strengthened to achieve the victory, eternal life.

Let us seek first and foremost the Word of the Lord, our God, Creator of heaven and earth, our Father in heaven.

Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for this Word, and this guided Bible study today. We give all honor and glory to You Lord. We thank you for bringing people into our lives who can stretch and expand our understanding of You Lord. We give you all the honor and glory. Remember us, your humble servants. We know that although we are unworthy on our own physical merits, that we are worthy through You and Your Spirit that resides in us. Unleash this power within us Father, and bless us with Your gifts, and all your promises, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Today’s full reading: Leviticus 20-22; Acts 20

Photo By Art4TheGlryOfGod by Sharon

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