The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe
"From Grace, For Grace"
"What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?" (Matthew 22:42).
Life and eternity hinge on the answer of our hearts to this question.
First, we believe to receive salvation and the beginning of relationship with God: "these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name" (John 20:31).
Having trusted the Lord Jesu as Savior, we then believe to experience His life subsequent to having received salvation: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God" (I John 5:13).
Note the seeming redundancy in the Apostle John's declaration. Those who already "believe on the name of the Son of God" are called to "believe on the name of the Son of God." This speaks to faith in its origin and its ongoing. It is one thing to trust the Lord Jesus as God's Son for the beginning of relationship with Him - the new birth by grace through faith. It is another to trust the Savior regarding the the life to which we are called as believers - "walk by faith" (II Corinthians 5:7). Ask every believer, "Is Christ the Son of God as your Savior?" All will respond affirmatively. One cannot be a believer otherwise. However, "Is Christ the Son of God regarding this particular matter, circumstance, condition, or situation?" Believers do not always answer as affirmatively regarding the everyday challenges of life.
Regarding our walk with God believers, is the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God regarding the blessings of the present? If so, let us believe and gratefully acknowledge our appreciation to our Father who "with Christ also freely gives us all things" (Romans 8:32). Is Christ the Son of God regarding challenges of difficulty, pain, or perplexity as our "very present help in trouble?" (Psalm 46:1). If so, let us believe and trust Him in our trial. Is He the Son of God regarding the everyday and mundane matters of our existence? If so, let us believe and open the eyes of our hearts to see His presence and involvement in all things and in every moment. "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).The Son of God we trust as Savior no less serves as the Son of God regarding every aspect of our life and being. "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21).
The Apostle John referenced this ongoing bestowal of Christ's presence and pertinence in our hearts and lives:
"And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16).
"Grace for grace?" This references the truth we consider, namely, that once we receive God's freely given favor in Christ through the new birth, we become qualified, led, and enabled to receive His grace for all other matters. We may or may not do so, but the grace ever awaits our believing on the name of the Son of God. We live from grace, for grace. Believers… believe. Yes, may we who believe on the name of the Son of God as our Savior be found consistently and increasingly believing on name of the Son of God as our Lord and life.
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand."
(Romans 5:1-2)
Weekly Memory Verse
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men, for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
(I Timothy 2:1-2).
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