Tag: grace

A Wesleyan Moment | What is Sanctifying Grace?

The third movement of God’s grace in our lives is called Sanctifying Grace. God has been at work in our lives with Prevenient Grace. When we heard the Gospel and believed we were born again as God applied Justifying Grace. Now the question becomes what will God do next? God has an amazing plan and desire for our lives.

Peter answers a question that many of us have asked: What is God’s will for my life? Now, the response that we make to the answer Peter gives should not be, “Is that all?” That would not be correct. The fact that God, in his wisdom and purpose, has decided to tell us what He will do should create in us joy and peace; patience and passion. So what is God’s will? Listen to what Peter says is 1 Peter 4:3:

For this is the will of God, your sanctification (ESV)

The New International Version says it this way: “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified.” Do you see that. The implication here is not that this is an option we can opt into or out of. God’s will, what he has determined will happen is that you become like Jesus. That is what it means to be sanctified. To look so much like Jesus that the world sees Jesus and not us.

Could that be why we don’t want to be sanctified? We don’t want to have our identity replaced with Christ’s? I cannot think of anything I want more than to have my weaknesses replaced by his strengths; my sorrows by his joy; my pain by his healing; my sin by his grace. That is what God has offered. That is what Jesus has purchased through his death and resurrection. That is what the Holy Spirit has applied to our lives. Be sanctified. God desires that for you.

A Wesleyan Moment | What is Justifying Grace?

The second “movement” of Grace as John Wesley understood it is Justifying Grace. Once Prevenient Grace has worked in and on our lives we come to that moment of decision. We are called by the Gospel and the work of Jesus to trust in Him for salvation and a restored relationship with God. At the moment that this conviction fills our hearts, God is applying grace to our souls. What makes this movement special and unique is this, at the moment that we exercise faith we are justified before God. We have not been made totally righteous, not yet. That comes next as we “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12, ESV).

What we experience at the moment of salvation is the declaration by God that what has begun at salvation is as-good-as-done in the eyes of God! Can you believe that? We are not as we ought to be, but God has declared the work finished! That is what Justification means, we are no longer held guilty of our sins AND we are now set on the path of eternal life.

There are two places in scripture that help us here. Philippians 1:6 reveals God’s promise to finish what HE has started. Meditate on that and rejoice. The second passage reveals something that is just as wonderful. Peter tells us where our salvation is kept for safe keeping in 1 Peter 1:3-5. This is important for us because it provides our confidence in the Father’s love for us, Christ’s work in us and the Spirit’s power through us to accomplish God’s will in the world. Peter tells us that “we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (NLT). The key here is the word “for.” The burden of my salvation is on God, in Christ. That is the majesty and wonder of God’s love and grace. He protects, sustains, maintains and finishes His work of justification. Thank God for justifying grace!

A Wesleyan Moment | What is Prevenient Grace?

One of the distinctive contributions of John Wesley to the Christian world was a clearer understanding of what God was doing in the lives of all people. Wesley understood God’s grace to function in three distinct “movements” in a person’s life. The first movement is understood as being “Prevenient.” Historically, this was also called God’s preventing grace. The essential reality is that even before a person knew or understood or even desired God’s grace, God was at work in a person’s life preparing the way for them to hear and know Jesus Christ. (Look at Ephesians 1:4 and 1 Peter 1:20 for examples of this.) So what does this mean for you, the Christian, and for those who are not yet believers? It means that God is always at work. When you want Him and when you don’t. When you need Him and when you think you won’t. As we grow in our knowledge of what God is doing, our confidence in His love grows as well. What’s the bottom line?

YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!

Chrysalis Journey #15 | Just when you thought you knew…

Just when you thought you knew what God was up to He demonstrates that you have no idea whatsoever.  One of the most amazing things about this weekend was that God is not in a hurry.  We might be, but not God.  God is able to work out His plan on His time without any help on our part.  On the first night with this group I began to “size up” several of the participants.  In general there are two types of people that end up at these kinds of retreats: Those who think they need it and those who think they don’t.  The first will find the weekend to be refreshing and memorable. These are the ones that are hungry for something more than than the stale bread of religion.  They will be fed by the living bread of Jesus.  These who are thirsty for the living waters to spring forth and will be satisfied beyond measure.  I am continually surprised at how God is able to do this over and over again.

The second group, however, can sometimes fail to see the point in everything that happens.  These are the ones that one wonders about.  These are the ones that one looks to God and says, “God, I don’t know how you are going to get through, but I hope that you do.”  The weekend is drawing to a close and you find yourself just standing in awe of how God subtly and softly moves in, on and through people.  And then all of a sudden, the wave of God’s power crests and the dam of stubbornness is broken.  In the end this is what it is.  “I don’t need this,” or “I know what’s missing.  And this isn’t it,” attitudes are just ripped right out and you begin to feel God’s presence for the first time.

You see I was among the second group.  I was a “professional Christian.”  How was this weekend going to be any different than all the others?  What was I going to find that I didn’t already know about God?  You see, that’s the problem.  This weekend wasn’t about getting to know or learn something else about God.  No, it was about knowing God as He is.  We all who are a part of this journey of faith must battle the attitude of Job within us.  It is not enough to have heard of God.  For when we see God for the first time, that moment will imprint itself within your mind, heart and body.  You will yearn for it.  You will seek it, for you will understand that only in the presence of your maker is life to be found.

The beauty of God’s hand stripping away every conception that is not in line with His character, purpose or plan is freedom.  That is what Paul said to the Galatians, “For freedom Christ has set you free” (5:1).  God sets us free so that we can enjoy the freedom that He provides!  For it is only then that we are able to truly enjoy God.

Just when you thought you knew… God shows up!

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