Grace Still Amazes Me

It's 2017...And for the life of me I cannot figure out why the Grace of God is still considered such a controversial subject. While many of the self proclaimed gatekeepers of orthodoxy (right thinking) would have you think that you need to be careful of a "Hyper Grace Gospel", I'm here to remind you that what you should be looking out for is a hyper sin "gospel" that dominates much of the western world.

What is the hyper sin "gospel"? To put it quite simply, the hyper sin "gospel" puts all of its emphasis on the Fall of Adam rather than the finished work of Christ. Filled with the notion that there is still something that you need to do. Centered upon you, the fallen human, and your need to make something happen. Totally misrepresenting the New Creation that Jesus Inaugurated. Missing out on the abundant life that has been granted to us through the grace of God. That's why I put the word gospel in quotation marks. The word Gospel literally means Good News. I ask you: Which one sounds Good? and Which one sounds like News?
"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people." - Titus 2:11

Somewhere along the way the message changed. What most people consider to be a Hyper Grace teaching is really just a return to the biblical writers. The Apostle Paul, John, Peter, and even Jesus Himself carried and preached a grace that has been lacking in the western world. You can follow this historically as many of our teachings changed after the so called Enlightenment Period. While much of the modern world was advancing the Church was fighting for legitimacy. You may not want to hear this, but what followed was some teaching that became very much man centered. The Gospel itself is God centered. I continue to be amazed at how many people don't even understand the difference between the two covenants. The Old Covenant being an agreement between God and Israel. The New Covenant being an agreement between God and His Son. The emphasis upon grace that is needed in the Church brings the Gospel back to its true center: Jesus Christ.

In describing grace Paul used three Greek words: huper-ballō, huper-perisseuō, and huper-pleonazō. Recognize the common element in these words? It’s the prefix huper or hyper which means exactly what you think it means. God’s grace is over, above, and beyond your wildest expectations.
Romans 5:20 speaks of a Grace that MUCH MORE ABOUNDS
2 Corinthians 9:14, a Grace that EXCEEDS
1 Timothy 1:14, EXCEEDING ABUNDANT Grace
Folks, you can't get much more hyper than that!!! And frankly, I'm glad. Gone is the life of trying to become acceptable to God. Gone is this need to perform, to execute, and to create a holy life. Come is the life that is founded upon the finished work of Christ. A life that learns to be empowered by the grace of God rather than through self effort. These are the days that were spoken of by the prophets. When God writes His Law upon our hearts. Where His Spirit guides and our lives begin to thrive. Salvation itself has become more of an awakening to the reality of the grace of God rather than an event. An entry into the life that the Father has promised. Revealing all that was within His heart already for humanity.

Now I'm not here to tell you what you need to believe. Do I wish to persuade you to give everything up for a life of grace? Absolutely! However, what I would encourage you to do is try it out for yourself. Take God at His word and see what happens in your life. This grace that He has lavished upon each and every one of us is so much greater that we have understood. So much more amazing than what we have previously sung. So much deeper than we have experienced. We are talking about a God whose mercies are new everyday. A Creator who loved His creation so much that He was willing to give of Himself so fully. A Father who desperately yearned for His children to come into the freedom that He had promised. That's why I can honestly say after all of these years, GRACE STILL AMAZES ME!

I pray that you are encouraged, but more importantly I pray that this life will be fully realized in you. That you would not dismiss the grace of God as something that should be carefully monitored. Cautiously considered. But rather that you will fully embrace the EXCEEDING ABUNDANT GRACE that He has given. Your life will never be the same. Each and every day is a new opportunity to experience His grace. Each and every day being conformed more and more into the image of the Son. Realizing and rejoicing in the fullness of life. This is your journey. Enjoy it!