I am currently looking into the abundance or put another way the richness of GOD. And as I said, that Grace is in effect GOD's presences restored to man as prayed by Jesus and recorded by John in chapter 17 of his letter in the synoptic gospels. These gospels mark the beginning of the end of the Jewish Age in which GOD through Christ as LORD dealt solely with Israel, with few exceptions. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his dealing with king David and Grace. And as always under the led of the LORD, I will move into Grace and Salvation as they are to be operative within those who believe. Making the use of the ESV translation.
"More on David and the Lord's Lovingkindness"
"How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." (Psalm 36:7)
"Lovingkindness is one of the terms in the Old Testament that has profound spiritual kinship with the term Grace in the New Testament. Lovingkindness speaks of GOD's zealous love for His people. This love includes His mercy to hold back the judgment we deserve, as well as His goodness to pour out all that we need. David's heart for GOD's Grace can be seen in the way he cherished GOD's lovingkindness. "How precious is Your lovingkindness, O GOD!" In our present verses, David reveals why he greatly valued GOD's lovingkindness. It involves the far-reaching implications of GOD's dealing with us on the basis of His lovingkindness.
After announcing his high estimation of lovingkindness, David begins to explain why it was so. "Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings." When people catch a glimpse of GOD's lovingkindness, they understand that it includes His desire to protect them. Thus, they draw near in faith to be sheltered by His loving care. "Be merciful to me, O GOD, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by" (Psalm 57:1). Like a devoted bird guarding its young, the LORD displays His lovingkindness in keeping those who trust Him.
Jesus expressed His desire to care for people in this intimate fashion, even though they might deserve the opposite. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34). David was one who was willing to be gathered under the loving wings of GOD's care. "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, from the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me" (Psalm 17:8-9). What joy this brings to those who flee to the LORD's lovingkindness. "Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice"" (Psalm 63:7).
Divine Grace and Salvation by,
Acts 15:6-11 "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter (the Jewish law requiring circumcision). After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days GOD made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. GOD, Who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the His Holy Spirit just as HE did to us, and HE made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting GOD to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? For we believe that we will be saved (made whole, healed, restored to a Genesis 2 status) through the Grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
Romans 3:21-26 "Now the righteousness of GOD has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of GOD through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD, and are justified by His Grace as a Gift, through the (releasing effect from one nature allowing for another) redemption that is in Christ Jesus, Whom GOD put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show GOD's Righteousness, because in His Divine forbearance HE had passed over former sins. It was to show His Righteousness at the present time, so that HE might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Romans 5:15-17 "For the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the Grace of GOD and the free Gift by the Grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. The free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of Grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
Romans 11:1-6 and Ephesians 2:1-10 "I ask, then, has GOD rejected His people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. GOD has not rejected His people whom HE foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to GOD against Israel? "LORD, they have killed Your prophets, they have demolished Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." But what is GOD's reply to him? "I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by Grace. For if it is by Grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise Grace would no longer be Grace."
Ephesians 2:1-10 "You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which HE loves us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by Grace you have been (been restored to health, delivered from judgment) saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming Ages HE might show the immeasurable riches of His Grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by Grace you have been saved through faith. This is not your own doing; it is the Gift of GOD, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Titus 2:7-14 "Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of GOD our Savior. For the Grace of GOD has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present Age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great GOD and Savior Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His Own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 3:1-9 "Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of GOD our Savior appeared, HE saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Whom HE poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His Grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed GOD may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless."
No comments:
Post a Comment