Recently, in the Bible study group that my wife and I enjoy
each week, our discussion on authentic Christianity turned to the topics of grace
and works. If you want to get a
theological firestorm started, just get a debate going on the role grace and
works play in one’s eternal salvation. Personally,
I am very thankful that the gift of Salvation is just that, a gift. Forgiveness of sin, being made righteous
before a holy God, and having the confidence of eternal life is nothing short of
the undeserved favor (grace) that God pours upon the soul of a sinner who
finally realizes his or her utter spiritual depravity and calls out to Jesus. He alone can bring peace between sinful mankind
and Holy God.
As the song writer penned, “My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus blood and righteousness.”
The Scriptures declare, “He has delivered us from
the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the
Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His
blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14,
NIV).
I know you will join me in giving praise to the Lord for His
grace. Yet, in our thanksgiving for God’s
indescribable gift, we cannot forget that following grace must be a transformed
life that declares through our actions that we have indeed received grace. In
reading 1 Thessalonians, we get a glimpse of the power of the Gospel as it is
displayed with both grace and works in the life of a believer.
“We remember before our God and Father your
work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in
our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 1: 3, NIV)
The writer, Paul, was moved by the genuineness of the faith
in these Thessalonian believers. They
had received the message of redemption through Christ and that knowledge had traveled
18 inches south from their ears to their heart.
They did not simply hear the Gospel, it transformed them. Paul remarks, “We remember your WORK, your LABOR, and your ENDURANCE.”
A few verses later, Paul states that he did not even have to
write about their works of faith because the whole community was talking about
them. He said, “For they
themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and
true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:
9-10, NIV)
The
Apostle James writes, “as the body
without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2: 26,
NIV).
Even
Jesus taught, “…a tree is recognized by
its fruit.” (Matthew 12:33, NIV).
Life Application:
Are
you a follower of Jesus? If so, have you
stopped to give thanks to God today for the incredible grace He offers you
through Jesus? As you give Him praise,
ask Him to empower you to live out your faith so that others will believe your
testimony by your actions. Show others
through your life that change Jesus makes.
