"No More Grace"
Taken from Rapture in the Air Now:
During his last hours John Knox woke from a slumber sighing, and told his friends that he had just been tempted to believe that he had “merited Heaven and eternal blessedness, by the faithful discharge of his ministry. But blessed be God who enabled me to beat down and quench the fiery dart, by suggesting to me such passages of Scripture as these: What has thou that thou didst not receive? By the grace of God I am what I am…Not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
There are two great errors concerning the Jews often adopted by Gentiles: the first is the foolish notion that God has cast away His people and that there is no hope for Jews either nationally or as individuals. The second is the belief that Jews have some merit before God apart from Christ because they are God’s chosen people. The truth is that Jews and Gentiles are alike lost because of sin and there is no difference between them: For there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22,23). The only hope for either Jews or Gentiles is the grace of God (His unmerited favor).
The continuing human mistake is to attempt to gain more favor with God through works. The Bible is clear. Favor with God is ALL of grace. If works could enhance our standing with Him our relationship would be no more grace (see Ephesians 2:8,9).
The miracle of grace is that there is enough for me.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:6).
During his last hours John Knox woke from a slumber sighing, and told his friends that he had just been tempted to believe that he had “merited Heaven and eternal blessedness, by the faithful discharge of his ministry. But blessed be God who enabled me to beat down and quench the fiery dart, by suggesting to me such passages of Scripture as these: What has thou that thou didst not receive? By the grace of God I am what I am…Not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
There are two great errors concerning the Jews often adopted by Gentiles: the first is the foolish notion that God has cast away His people and that there is no hope for Jews either nationally or as individuals. The second is the belief that Jews have some merit before God apart from Christ because they are God’s chosen people. The truth is that Jews and Gentiles are alike lost because of sin and there is no difference between them: For there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:22,23). The only hope for either Jews or Gentiles is the grace of God (His unmerited favor).
The continuing human mistake is to attempt to gain more favor with God through works. The Bible is clear. Favor with God is ALL of grace. If works could enhance our standing with Him our relationship would be no more grace (see Ephesians 2:8,9).
The miracle of grace is that there is enough for me.
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