What's in the box for you this Christmas. What gifts will you unwrap?
Last time we looked at God's great gifts of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life. It is in Christ that we receive these amazing gifts from God. Gifts that come as a result of God's incredible love
This week I grace and peace. These gifts like the last are in many ways intangible, yet we know when we have them and when we need them.
Like the previous gifts we looked at these gifts are available for the asking. They are the two powerful gifts of Gods grace and unmerited favour and his peace that is like no other.
1. Grace
God's grace is made manifest toward us through the person ofJesus Christ. Jesus is the embodiment of God's grace.
Without Jesus, without his sacrifice, we would not be able to have a relationship with God and we would still be under the law and judged by the law. We would still be in darkness, without the light of God.
Eph 2:8
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Our salvation comes through God's amazing gift of grace towards us. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We are wholly and totally dependent on God's wonderful grace, displayed to us in Jesus.
The apostle John totally understood the difference between law - trying to do it ourselves, and grace.
John 1:17
For the Law was given by Moses but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus
The KJV says "grace and truth came through Jesus Christ".
This represents the Greek a little better. The great gift of God in Christ is truth and grace. This shows God's unfailing love towards us.
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has been revealed bring salvation for all people.
Grace - Charis - something that affords joy and pleasure; governed by divine grace. Not something we earn, but something bestowed on us, from the love, mercy and gracious kindness of God.
This is what John understood. In Jesus we are governed by divine grace. This is favour from God. It is the same word used to describe Mary in Luke 1:30 - "fear not for you have found favour with God".
And Jesus in Luke 2:40- "the grace of God was upon him".
So grace is divine favour bestowed on people by God. This grace is available to both Jew and gentile. Paul says that both the Jew and the gentile is saved by God's unmerited favour. It does not matter what background we have, where we have come from or who we are. God's grace is available to everyone.
We cannot earn God's grace.
Romans 11:5
It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace - his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by works. For in that case God's grace would not be what it really is- free and undeserved.
Sometimes we can take God's amazing gift of grace for granted or worse, forget that it is by grace we are saved, and we revert to trying to gain God's favour by works.
The Galatians had certainly fallen in to the trap of forgetting that it was by grace and not by works. Paul speaks to them about God's grace to him, and his grace is also the same for us.
Gal 1:15
But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvellous grace.
Even before we existed, God's grace was there for us,outworked in our lives through our calling by God, chosen for his purpose. So he says to the Galatians, don't take God's grace for granted, don't use it as a reason to sin, or forget about his grace and fall into empty works.
Gal 2:21
I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.
But the law does not make us right with God, only the grace of God through Christ can make us right with him.
Eph 1:7
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he has purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.
God is so rich in kindness. God's grace is free, and it is ongoing. We have relationship with God; we can come boldly to God and receive grace whenever we need it.
Heb 4:16
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us when we need it.
God's grace was not just a one off that is given, but is constantly available to us whenever we need it.
James 4:6
He gives us grace to stand against evil desires.
What do you need God's grace for today? Come boldly into his presence and receive it, without strings attached. It is freely available.
God's grace is also to be extended to others. Paul knew that because he had received God's amazing and incredible grace, he had a responsibility to share that grace with others.
Eph 3:2
God gave me the special responsibility of extending grace to you gentiles.
Eph 3:7
By God's grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this good news.
Paul's responsibility was to the gentiles, but we too have a responsibility to tell others of God's amazing grace available to them.
Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirement of the law. Instead you live under the freedom of God's grace.
God's grace brings freedom from the law, freedom from the power of sin, and freedom to follow God. Continue to live in God's grace.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As we grow in understanding of who God is, we understand his grace more and more, and live by it. What will you do to continue to live in grace and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ?
2. Peace
God's peace is also a gift to us.
Col 3:15
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body we are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
God's peace is not the same as worldly peace. It is not an absence of conflict in the sense that we would know it. It is an inner peace that cannot be explained in earthly terms.
God's peace is one that our finite minds find difficult to grasp, because it is a peace that passes understanding. Jesus said that the peace he gives us is not as the world gives it.
John 14:27
I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give so don't be troubled or afraid.
God's peace is different to anything we can otherwise know. In fact God's peace is so different, that it is available regardless of our circumstances.
Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus is the everlasting Father and prince of peace. Jesus is our peace.
He brings us peace with God, and peace between Jew and gentile, Eph 2:14, but he also brings peace to our hearts and our minds.
John 16:33
I have told you this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.
This world is full of trials and sorrows, and stuff that challenges us, but in Jesus we can have peace, because he is our peace.
It is in Him, that we have peace. And this peace exists even in times of trial and sorrow. The level of the peace we have is probably indicative of the relationship we have with God.
The word for peace is Eirene and is the way that leads to peace, a place of tranquility. In the Christian context it means: "The state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is."
In other words, it is a peace that comes to us from God that means we are afraid of nothing, and exists no matter what the circustances are. We have access to God's peace for the asking. Will we avail ourselves of it or continue to fret and worry?
Like all God's good gifts, peace is available if we ask for it. But will we receive it and apply it? That is the real question.
Phil 4:6-8
Don't worry, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can undertand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.
There is a message in itself here. But here are some practical things we can do to help us receive God's peace which is freely available. It is his gift.
Will we actively receive it or leave it wrapped in the package and look at it as something unattainable when it is actually well within our reach and available to us? This would be like having a gift card that we never use.
This passage helps us in practical application.
Simply:
Stop worrying - each time you catch yourself worrying, stop it, be deliberate, don't continue worrying.
You don't add to your life by worrying, you subtract from it. God says simply stop it.
Secondly - now that you have been deliberate - pray.
At this stage, this is seeking God in prayer, seeking him for his sake, talking to him and listenning to him. Then - having engaged with God in prayer, tell him what it is that you need, and thank him, for what he has already done.
This is an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude, for what has already been done, and expecting in faith that God will answer your prayers as you tell him what you need. (He might answer differently to what you want or expect.)
It is when we have done these things that we will experience God's grace. Its like having to unwrap a package. Its always there and available, you just have to take the paper off.
It takes faith to trust God, but his peace is available to those who trust him.
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Those who trust, who open up the package will receive. What will you choose?
2 Thes 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.
This is God's desire for us and his gift to us.
Conclusion
Grace and peace is made freely available to us.
Make a decision to receive these gifts today, and to extend grace and peace to others as we grow together in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
