God’s Grace is the Empowering
Presence that enables us to feel good about ourselves. The English word Grace
is translated from the Greek word charis which describes the absolutely free
expression of the loving kindness of God to man, finding its only motive in the
bounty and benevolence of the giver... completely unearned and unmerited favor
that produces joy. Grace demonstrates God’s willingness to will and work in us
of His good pleasure. Through the exceeding riches of Grace we have access to God’s
gift of salvation, and apprehend it through faith: The “Grace alone” embodied
in Christ corresponds to the “Faith alone” of believers, the marriage of which
produces salvation. Charis is, initially, the regenerating work of the Holy
Spirit whereby man’s enslavement to his sin nature is broken, allowing willful
submission to the Lordship of Jesus and the implanting of the Christ-Life
within. The new believer is Graced with a cloak of righteousness... Christ’s
own righteousness, as he embarks on a journey of transformation into
Christlikeness... what some call sanctification. This lifelong transformation
process requires an unbroken and immense supply of Grace which remains constant
in and basic to the believer’s outward fight against the powers of darkness,
and inward struggle against their sin nature which is constantly trying to
regain power. God’s abundant Grace ensures committed hearts will persevere until the end,
providing the power whereby we are enabled more and more to die daily to Self
releasing more and more of the nature of Christ... becoming like Jesus. All of
this produces joy and thankfulness as we realize we are becoming a new creation
from the inside out. Confirmation into Christlikeness makes us feel good about
ourselves... because our Self is becoming His Self. God’s abundant Grace is
always sufficient, providing the power, equipment and assurance for living the
Christian life. God’s Grace is an inescapable Empowering Presence... an endless
ocean... a bottomless sea... always enabling what it commands...
AS WE BEHOLD HIM...
WE BECOME LIKE HIM...
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