To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
While Paul specifically addressed the letter to those in Rome, we can see in a broader sense that the letter is directed to all who are called by God to be saints. I think it's important to spend some time looking at what this means.
This letter is addressed to any person who has been born again, and is indwelt with the Holy Spirit. There are many things in this letter, and throughout the Bible as a whole, that will not and can not make sense to anyone void of the Holy Spirit. (1 Co 2:14, 1 John 4:6)
There are difficult truths in this letter, for as the righteousness of God is revealed, our unrighteousness becomes more and more visible. It's our nature to want to hide or justify our unrighteousness as it is revealed. It is because of this that we need to approach these God-breathed Scriptures with total submission to the wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit (Pro 3:5), casting aside the need to "make sense" of things according to our human mind.
We can be confident that if we do seek God fully He will not let us down (James 4:8) and we will find a peace that the world cannot know and a discernment only available to those who know Christ as Lord and Savior (Php 4:7)
While it is probably safe to assume that Paul knew this letter would also be read by or to those who do not know Christ, he specifically addressed it to those of us who have been called to be saints, by God. It is our responsibility to take everything that has been written very seriously, and pay close attention as God molds and sanctifies us through the convictions of the Holy Spirit (as painful as it may be)!
I look forward to any other thoughts on this verse. I look forward to digging into this book with you, and pray that we all, myself included, will grow closer to God as we look at each verse. Please take a minute today and pray that God will give all of us the strength to set aside all human opinions and ideas, and guide us with the pure spiritual wisdom and discernment of the Holy Spirit.
Good post.
ReplyDeleteThe question which comes to my mind is, "why does he wish them grace?" I think it's because grace is needed to overcome sin, deny self, confront evil, and glorify Him in many other ways.
ReplyDeleteFurther, Paul says grace and peace because the grace given, leading to the a fore mentioned things, ends in a greater inner peace and nearness to our Father when we do as he asks, for his commands are not grievous.
And as all good gifts are from above, Paul gently reminds us that so are grace and that resultant peace.
Calvin
I would agree, the peace that we have is a direct result of God's saving grace. Grace, by definition, is unmerited favor. It seems that Paul was praying God's favor upon them. God's favor brings peace in one's life.
ReplyDeleteI think we have to be careful about how we view grace. This is not directed at you, Calvin, but has been brought up in some conversations I have had and I wanted to get your thoughts. I believe grace is unmerited favor, a free gift which cannot be earned. The free gift is a restored heart, and all that comes with that...the ability to have a relationship with God, eternal life, power to overcome sin and live for God, etc. (By grace (God's unmerited favor) you have been saved.
The danger is when we view grace as God's help in our life. Such as I can live an overcoming life with the grace of God. I could never do it on my own, but with the grace of God I can. I feel this indicates that God's grace is power from God that helps us live the life we are called to, but requires a reaction from us to be complete. Grace is not help, and does not require a reaction. Grace is the 100% free gift of a restored heart that creates a reaction.
I am open to discussing, this is just what I believe at this point. If scripture proves me wrong, I am happy to learn and grow!
What are your thoughts?
i would agree with you andrew, grace creates the reaction, it does not require it in order to make it efficacious. we do not add the key ingredient of willingness or compliance to make grace into something useful or something that works. that compliance on our behalf is a direct result and key indicator that grace has already been given/at work.
ReplyDeleteAs I read and considered the thoughts you shared, Andrew, the verse came to me that says, "...for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (I Peter 5:5 & James 4:6). I believe, that while God's Grace is undeserved - a free gift - we must also be in the right frame of mind/heart to receive it. Humility is our part - "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10) So, while I believe that Grace cannot be earned (it is a gift), we do have a responsibility - to keep ourselves humble before God. Grace saves us, then enables us to overcome sin (die to self) and grow in Christ. "Let us therefore come boldy unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:16) I think Grace has many dimensions and in part, remains a mystery :) But we are encouraged to "...grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ..." (I Peter 3:18)
ReplyDeleteMarsha, thank you for your thoughts, I hope you will continue to follow and share as you feel led.
ReplyDelete1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6 both refer to two verses in the Old Testament: Proverbs 3:34 "Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly." and Psalms 138:6 "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off."
In the context of the Old Testament verses, the proud and the scorners are those that are not saved, and the lowly and humble are those who are saved.
A lost sinner is consumed with selfish pride, as we will see in the coming chapters. God's initial act of grace is opening our eyes to our lost state in light of His perfect righteousness, which leads to brokenness, humbleness, and repentance, the characteristics that flow from a regenerated heart. God's initial act of grace creates a humble heart!
I agree with you completely that as Christians, we are responsible for dying to self daily. We are commanded to remain humble as James 4:10 states. Allowing pride to creep back into our lives affects our relationship with God, it builds a fence that prevents us from experiencing God's grace in all of its awesome power. Drawing near to God allows us to experience His unmerited favor, or grace, on a higher level. We should always be praying for Him to reveal areas of our life that are preventing us from experiencing the fullness of His grace. This is the lifelong process of sanctification.
I appreciate you sharing 2 Peter 3:18, it is very easy to grow complacent when we become comfortable with where we are. It is crucial that we continue to step out, seeking a closer and deeper relationship with God everyday, "to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:14)
I also agree with you that, while always a free gift, grace has many dimensions, and in part remains a mystery. We will come across many of these dimensions of grace throughout Romans, however, we will never wrap our human minds around all that God is!
Andrew,
ReplyDeleteYes I would indefinitely agree that grace can be called God's unmerited favor, which is not mutually exclusive with needing grace to overcome sin. We both mentioned the need to deny/die to self. I don't feel it's possible to do this without grace.
I struggle, but when I overcome sin or stand for truth and right when someone is defaming an absent party, etc. it is by his grace that this is done, not my own self. The flesh wars with the spirit, I am weak and hesitant but by his grace I am able (2 Co 13:4). I believe that each time I miss the mark of the high calling of the example Christ Jesus gave: it's because I did not rely upon his grace. 1Th 5:19, James 4:3.
Looking to his grace for help we are able to live for him, but he will not force us. 1 Co 10:13 and 2 Co 12:9.
He is the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2) and we are continually changed more and more into His image (2 Co 3:18) would you agree that this is only possible by His grace?
The apostle Paul ends nearly every letter in the NT with a phrase something like, "grace be with you." Even John's Revelation, the last verse in the bible grace is wished/desired for the believers. What is this for?
I don't know if this is the best wording, but I would say his grace is what breaks the power of sin when we fall on the rock of our salvation, are broken, and converted. Then grace continues to help us overcome more and more (the perfecter) for the rest of our believing years.
Your thoughts on 2 Peter 3:18 demonstrate our agreement that efforts are needed. Maybe an order of operations would be: we need to step out and seek a closer intimacy with Him and as a result we are more fully able to rely upon his grace, and thus be changed from glory to glory, to the praise of his name?
Calvin
I know we will get more into grace as we study further into Romans, so I will try to keep it simple: My thoughts on grace are that it cannot be earned, so it cannot be viewed as a reward, or something we get for doing something (ex: if I humble myself enough, if I go to church more, if I read more, if I pray more - then I will receive more grace). Rather, I see grace, being completely free, as something that we experience as we draw closer to God. God is grace, mercy, and love...so when we draw close to Him we experience these things on a higher level, when we move away from God we don't experience these like we could.
ReplyDeleteHumbleness, spending time with other believers at church, being in the word, prayer - these things do not earn us more grace but instead draw us closer to God, where we experience more fully His Amazing Grace!
Thank you all very much for your comments, and I hope I haven't confused the issue. I have contemplated this topic of grace for a long time, so I really appreciate the different points. I look forward to digging in deeper as grace comes up again and again in Romans!
i think you're comments are important so we recognize that grace is not a reward or result of humility initially. our humility itself is a result of grace. a godly response in grace surely results in greater grace but we cannot say that we somehow became humble outside of grace or in order for grace to begin. if humility is present then grace has already started working. God giving grace t the humble in no way allows us to conclude that the humility came without grace.
ReplyDelete