Weekly Devotional 5-2-22 Are You Indifferent to God’s Grace
We read from the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The word “for” point back to what Paul had previously written and is therefore the continuation of a broader message. This broader message found in at least verses 1-10 of this chapter tells of God’s work on behalf of the Ephesian Christians who were formally dead toward God. Grace, identified by the text, is God’s unmerited favor toward the recipient; in this circumstance the recipient is the Ephesian believer(s). The grace bestowed on them could not be earned, it was (and is) God’s gift. The words “and is” are added because this same unmerited favor reaches beyond the Ephesian believers to all believers, including you and me.
God’s grace brought (brings) regeneration, justification, and sanctification to all efficaciously called ones, those of Ephesus and all others, free of charge to the recipient, but at great cost to Himself. This is explained by Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, “14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:14-17). God gave His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, as the only acceptable payment for sin. We cannot therefore be indifferent to God’s grace. We must maintain the testimony of the church of Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13), who even under great persecution remained faithful. We must fight (with God’s help) against being like the believers of the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-19). We must not allow ourselves to be indifferent to God’s grace.
God has called us, regenerated us, has justified us, and has sanctified us (set us apart) in a special way, but progressive sanctification is also our work. Consider what Arthur W. Pink shared about sanctification. “It is not as though we could change our own hearts from the love of sin to the love of God, nor even when they are changed to carry forward that change to perfection or completion. No, it is only as we are enabled from on High, for of ourselves we can do nothing (John 13:5). It is ‘our work’ as we diligently use the appointed means and trust God to make them effectual. It is God’s work as the Spirit employs powerful motives to influence us to action. For instance, He impresses us with the fact that God’s eye is ever upon us, and this causes us to walk softly before Him. He applies to our hearts the solemn warnings of Scripture, so that we are afraid to sport with sin or give heed to Satan’s allurements. Or again, He fills the heart with a sense of Christ’s undying love for us, so that the springs of gratitude are set in motion, and we endeavor to please and glorify Him. By various considerations the Holy Spirit stirs up the believer to resist sin and cultivate holiness.” (A.W. Pink 1886-1952)
In his consideration, Mr. Pink not only presents the work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian’s sanctification but alludes to the Christian’s participation. Sanctification will only be realized when he (or she) who is being sanctified responds positively to the Holy Spirit’s work. The realization then of sanctification is both a Divine work, and a human work. Let us consider the cost patiently. The sanctification of the believer is also a mark of his (or her) salvation. The Christian has been called out of spiritual darkness, regenerated unto spiritual life, set apart (sanctified) from the world in thought, desire, and deed unto holiness. If these things are not true in one’s life perhaps that person is not truly spiritually alive.
Paul differentiates between the Christian and the non-Christian this way, “19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:19-24)
Where is your heart? Where is my heart? Are you, am I, indifferent to God’s grace? Remember Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24-26).
Steve
Stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of MAN