… just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.
Summary: The impact of God’s grace affects all of us personally, yet at the same time there are universal qualities to our human response to grace.
In the last meditation, we looked at the first half of today’s passage. We examined what Paul meant by “in the same way” and discovered five “steps” describing what happens when people hear the Gospel and take it to heart.
In today’s passage, Paul offers a minor clarification: Today, Paul adds that a person needs to truly understand God’s grace.
This is a bit like the old question, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” Only God knows the answer. It is the same with the question, “When does a person “truly understand” anything?” Only God knows the answer.
One thing we can know is what we see people do.
We know when people care about other people and when they don’t. We can tell how much a person cares by what they do.
Is someone indifferent to the pain of those around them? They may not hate the people around them, but they do not love them either.
Do you see a person who laughs at someone else’s pain? Maybe they do something to add to the pain? We can see that they are not indifferent, and they are not showing love. What they are doing is not good at all.
What if you see a person who stops what they are doing when they see someone in need? They go to the person and find out what is happening. If they can, they offer help. If they have nothing else to give, they offer encouragement and prayer.
That kind of person is showing love.
Even if we can’t “know” what a person knows, we can see what they do. Paul says that if a person hears the true message of the Gospel and truly understands God’s grace, they will recognize the hope that is “stored up for you in heaven.” When that happens, faith and love spring up and flow out to all God’s people.
Love is something we can see.
Application: Love others like God is watching.
Food for Thought: What happens to someone when they truly understand God’s grace?
I think evidence of someone who truly understands God’s grace is they receive it and are freed. Then they share it with others and become more gracious and merciful people.
And God actually did give us the answer to the chicken and egg question 😊. But I seriously digress.
Brother Rich,
I love the point you make about being freed. Until we fully understand God’s grace we are prisoners, in part or in full, of fear. God’s grace frees us from fear, and allows us to love.
Thank you!
PS – Text me the verse about the chicken and egg, okay? 🙂
Ok. It does appear that when God created the birds and animals, if we take Genesis literally, it appears He created them as adults and not embryos as we see with Adam and Eve. We see a pattern of Him creating animals as adults and then they reproduced. In fact, when he brought all the animals for Adam to name, they appear to be adults. So if Genesis 1 is literal (and I think it is) that is the pattern we see. Certainly with mammals they would have to be either adults or at least past gestation. In fact, in Genesis 1: 21 – 23, He first created them, and afterwards gave them and blessed them to be fruitful and multiply. I realize someone could say he made them all eggs first and then they hatched, etc. But that is not what it says. So I am going out on a limb saying I think we have enough evidence to conclude that He created them with the maturity to mate and multiply. Just like with Adam and Eve.
So that is probably more than you wanted for what is probably an unimportant point or perspective.
Thank you, Brother!
This is awesome! 🙂
I agree with your premise that Genesis is an accurate and literal picture of the Garden of Eden. I also agree with your logic and conclusion.
In addition to the animal you referenced, we have the example of God making Adam full grown from the earth in Genesis 2:7 —
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
I’m convinced.
Thank you! 🙂
Wow! I convinced you of something! I’ll have you know that I am partially in shock right now😂😂😂. I also realize how unimportant this is😊.
I love you brother. There is no other Jeff Englund and I couldn’t be happier for you to be who you are. You are such a blessing.
LOL!
I guess miracles really do happen!
Love you, too, brother!! You are the best! 🙂
I don’t know if we could ever really capture what happens to a person when they understand God’s grace. There are so many seen and unseen areas in our lives that God’s grace touches. Suffice it to say, when a person understands the condition of their heart before and after accepting Christ, God’s grace becomes like a beacon calling us home. I think what I am trying to say is that, once upon a time, I thought of God’s grace as “allowing me to go to heaven, through Christ, despite my sin.” But as I have grown I have come to realize that it is both redemption and restoration. That God’s grace means restoring us to be the creation He meant us to be. That God’s grace brings a tremendous sense of humility, gratitude, hope, and freedom to grow closer to Him in this life, and to be with Him for all eternity. Its like being locked in the dog pound all my life, being rescued, and then finding out I was a cat all along. I was made for something more, and something different than what I had experienced before understanding His grace.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Thank you, Chris
“it is both redemption and restoration”
Yes! Well said!
What happens to someone when they truly understand God’s grace?
James 4:8, When we come near to God, He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
God’s Grace Is About Forgiveness, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
God’s Grace Is Undeserved, He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. 2 Timothy 1:9
God’s Grace Is Open To All, For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. Titus 2:11
God’s Grace Is New Everyday, The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Psalm 103:8
God’s Grace Adopts Us Into His Family, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3
God’s Grace Brings Us Closer To Our Father, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
God’s Grace Allows Us To Live In Freedom, For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
We become a work in progress as we grow in Christ each day, serving our True Father in whatever capacity He chooses to reveal and empower us for.
Thank you, Ron!
As I read through your words, I visualized a large faucet or valve being opened up and God’s Grace flowing through. The better we understand God’s Grace, the more the valve opens and the more Grace can flow through.
Personally I’m greedy for God’s Grace! 🙂
Me Too!
Ron