THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE: “Verbs we often ignore.” A while ago I was accused of “preaching” law. The Pastor involved stated that I was passing a whole new law onto the people and that in doing so I am forgetting that we are saved by grace and that we can do nothing to earn our salvation, which is rightfully so. However, being under grace does not mean that we can simply ignore God’s commands as taken up in the New Testament. You see, in the New Testament God has given us a number of rules to live by. These come in the form of verbs or do-words. Sadly, a great deal of Christians is ignoring these do-words stating that they are no longer under law but under grace. In other Words, they use grace as an excuse not to live a holy life, or a life fully surrendered to God. However, before I share some of these do-words we so often ignore, let me state the following: No man can be saved by his works, we are saved by grace alone. This is made clear in Ephesians 2:8-9 which reads: “For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Grace is the freely given, unmerited favour and love of God. As a result we cannot earn our pardon, it is a free gift. Why then are our works of such great importance? Jesus said: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16) Our works brings glory to God and serves the purpose of bearing testimony of our salvation. Our works will also determine our reward as can be seen in Revelation 22:12 which read: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Further to this, James said that his faith in Christ will be revealed by his works. (James 2:17-18) The good works we do should never be in order to be saved but rather because we are saved. We do because of what Jesus did on Calvary. We must do good works because we opted to accept Jesus and now live by the rules He gave us. Let us look at a few verbs or do-words we often ignore or neglect. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:37-39) Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) Seeking God means to long after God, to desire God’s presence or to diligently find ways and means to get closer to Him. Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return. And your reward shall be great, and you shall be the sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, they shall give into your bosom. (Luke 6:35-38) Go into all the world; proclaim the gospel to all the creation. (Mark 16:15) These are just a few do-words, also called verbs or action-words, we often ignore. I have seen the absence of love, have seen how difficult it is to forgive, have noted how seldom we do good or give. Yes I too have failed at times in testifying of Christ or neglected telling others of Christ. But, even in spite of this, God remains faithful. He does what He has promised. He is still able to save and to forgive those calling upon His name. He sees us through the cross, through the blood of Jesus Christ, who died on our behalf. But let us not become so entangled in the theology of grace, that we stop doing what it right. Let us not be so engulfed by our understanding of God’s mercy, that we do not show mercy. As stated above: Let us not do good in order to be saved, but let us do God’s will because we are saved.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:18:55 +0000
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