| |
Much has been written about
God's "grace" and much misunderstanding exists. The following quotations
are taken from the venerable William R. Newell's commentary ROMANS, Verse by
Verse, in hopes that visitors discover the essence of genuine Christianity.
Note: the word "man" and masculine pronouns are used below in the
universal sense of all mankind.
The Nature of Grace
Grace
is God acting freely, according to His own nature as Love; with no promises
or obligations to fulfill; and acting of course, righteously--in view of the
Cross. |
|
|
Grace,
therefore, is uncaused in the recipient: its cause lies
wholly in the GIVER, in GOD. |
Grace,
also is sovereign. Not having debts to pay, or
fulfilled conditions on man's part to wait for, it can act toward whom, and
how, it pleases. It can, and does often, place the worst deservers in
the highest favors. |
|
|
Grace
cannot act where there is either desert or ability:
Grace does not help-- it is absolute, it
does all. |
There
being no cause in the creature why Grace should be shown,
the creature must be brought off from trying to
give cause to God for His Grace. |
|
|
The
discovery by the creature that he is truly the object of Divine grace, works
the utmost humility: for the receiver of grace is brought
to know his own absolute unworthiness, and his complete inability to attain
worthiness: yet he finds himself blessed,-- on another principle,
outside of himself! |
Therefore,
flesh has no place in the plan of Grace. This is the
great reason why Grace is hated by the proud, natural [often
religious] mind of man. But for this very reason, the true believer
rejoices! For he knows the "in him, that is, in his flesh, is no good
thing"; and yet he finds God glad to bless him, just as he is! |
|
The Place of Man under Grace
He
has been accepted in Christ, who is his
standing! |
|
|
He
is not "on probation." |
As
to his life past, it does not exist before God: he
died at the Cross, and Christ is his life. |
|
|
Grace,
once bestowed, is not withdrawn: for God knew all the human
exigencies beforehand: His action was independent of them, not dependent
upon them. |
The failure of devotion does
not cause the withdrawal of bestowed grace (as it would under law).
For example: the man in I Corinthians 5:1-5; and also those in chapter
11:30-32, who did not "judge" themselves, and so were "judged by the
Lord,--that they might not be condemned with the world"! |
|
The Proper Attitude of Man under Grace
To
believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy,
is the great secret. |
|
|
To
refuse to make "resolutions" and "vows"; for that is to trust in the flesh. |
To
expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth. |
|
|
To
testify to God's goodness, at all times. |
To
be certain of God's future favor; yet to be ever more tender in conscience
toward Him. |
|
|
To
rely on God's chastening hand as a mark of His kindness. |
A
man under grace, if like Paul, has no burdens regarding himself; but many
about others. |
|
Things Which Gracious Souls Discover
To "hope
to be better" is to fail to see yourself in Christ only. |
|
|
To
be disappointed
with yourself, is to have believed in yourself. |
To
be discouraged
is unbelief,--as to God's purpose and plan of blessing for
you. |
|
|
To
be proud, is to be blind! For we
have no standing before God, in ourselves. |
The
lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief,
and not from failure of devotion. |
|
|
Real
devotion
to God arises, not from man's will to show it; but from the
discovery that blessing has been received from God while we
were yet unworthy and undevoted. |
To
preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God's order, and
preach law, not grace. The Law made man's blessing
depend on devotion; Grace
confers undeserved, unconditional blessing: our
devotion may follow, but does not always do so,--in proper measure. |
|
Mail this page to a friend
| |
- SEATED
- ASCENDED
- RAISED
- BURIED
- CRUCIFIED
General &
Special Revelation
Christian Agnosticism
|