Believing in God’s Grace
(Galatians 3:1-3 NLT) Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you had seen a picture of His death on the cross. (2) Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. (3) How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
- There is nothing wrong with God, nothing wrong with the Word of God and through God’s grace and the Blood of Jesus; there is nothing wrong with you!
(Mark 5:25-34 NKJV) Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, (26) and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. (27) When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. (28) For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” (29) Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. (30) And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?” (31) But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” (32) And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. (33) But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. (34) And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
- This woman did not only see Jesus as being full of healing power, but she also saw Him as being full of grace.
- When she saw His grace, He saw her faith.
- When you see Jesus in His grace, He sees you in your faith.
(Matthew 8:5-10 NKJV) Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, (6) saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” (7) And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” (8) The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. (9) For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (10) When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
(Matthew 15:21-28 NKJV) Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. (22) And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (23) But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” (24) But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (25) Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” (26) But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (27) And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (28) Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
- They did not disqualify themselves from being able to receive from Jesus.
- They were not under condemnation and so they could have faith to receive from Jesus.
- They did not approach Jesus not based on what they had or had not done. They approached Him solely on the basis of His grace and mercy.
You cannot have great faith and try to live under the law.
(Romans 5:17 NKJV) For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
- The key to reigning in life is in receiving not achieving.
The basis for Christianity is not in “do, do, do” but rather in “done, done, done”!