When and Why we get GRACE
2 Peter 2:1-3
False Teachers and Their Destruction [1] But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.[2] Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. [3] In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Experience is what we get
when we don’t get
what we wanted.
Grace is what we get
when we don’t get
what we deserve.
Peter writes of “false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign LORD who brought them…” You might read through the Bible and think that this was a problem in Peter’s day but that there are no “false teachers” around today. Nothing has changed.
In Peter's day the heresies had to do with denial of the GODNESS of Christ. They were "in your face" heresies and brought out some of the best writing in the New Testament. There are still those who question the diety of Christ but they do it in a less confrontational manner. They ask questions like, "Do you really believe a truly loving God will only accept those who come to Him through Christ?"
The answer for me is, "YES!" The next step is for them to ask "How can you believe that?"
The answer for me is, "The Savior said it. The WORD of God repeated it through the writings of His followers. God inspired those writings so what the Savior says I believe."
It is a good thing that we get our GRACE from the Creator because we certainly won't get any from modern heretics. They believe the old phrase, "There but for the grace of God, go I." They truly feel that the LORD saved them from a life of hardship or failure. What I've seen of my God is that He leads us to a life of hardship and stands beside us in our failures. Our failures will lead us closer to Him.
Grace is what we get instead of what we deserve. I can only pray that the LORD will extend His grace to the modern day heretics. They won't understand it but I can assure you they will accept it.
Wilkie Nunn, Pastor, Downsville Church of the Brethren
False Teachers and Their Destruction [1] But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.[2] Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. [3] In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
Experience is what we get
when we don’t get
what we wanted.
Grace is what we get
when we don’t get
what we deserve.
Peter writes of “false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign LORD who brought them…” You might read through the Bible and think that this was a problem in Peter’s day but that there are no “false teachers” around today. Nothing has changed.
In Peter's day the heresies had to do with denial of the GODNESS of Christ. They were "in your face" heresies and brought out some of the best writing in the New Testament. There are still those who question the diety of Christ but they do it in a less confrontational manner. They ask questions like, "Do you really believe a truly loving God will only accept those who come to Him through Christ?"
The answer for me is, "YES!" The next step is for them to ask "How can you believe that?"
The answer for me is, "The Savior said it. The WORD of God repeated it through the writings of His followers. God inspired those writings so what the Savior says I believe."
It is a good thing that we get our GRACE from the Creator because we certainly won't get any from modern heretics. They believe the old phrase, "There but for the grace of God, go I." They truly feel that the LORD saved them from a life of hardship or failure. What I've seen of my God is that He leads us to a life of hardship and stands beside us in our failures. Our failures will lead us closer to Him.
Grace is what we get instead of what we deserve. I can only pray that the LORD will extend His grace to the modern day heretics. They won't understand it but I can assure you they will accept it.
Wilkie Nunn, Pastor, Downsville Church of the Brethren
posted by Wilk | 11:19 AM
2 Comments:
I guess I am even more of a heretic than that. I believe we don't get what we deserve, exactly, but we definitely experience the effects of everything we do. I hope there is such a thing as grace, and I will surely accept it gratefully if there is: you're totally right about that. Skeptics can't believe just by wanting to or wishing to.
Maybe the definition of "deserve" differs between us. To me one deserves something for an accomplishment. We cannot possibly accomplish the forgiveness of our sins, and since we continue to commit them, we "get what we don't deserve".
You are right that "Skeptics can't believe just by wanting to or wishing to." The nature of skepticism is that it seeks proof. I can't prove the LORD's grace but I believe it exists. I have seen enough of God's creation and the work of His WORD that I believe.
By the way, you don't have to worry about accepting grace. We all get it simply because we don't deserve (or believe in) it.
Wilk
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