THE GLORY OF CHRIST'S GRACE

THE GLORY OF CHRIST'S  GRACE

Sunday, October 8, 2017, the Year of Our Lord

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Beholding the glory of Christ is the greatest privilege which is given to believers in this life.  This is the dawning of heaven on earth.   It is the first taste of that heavenly glory which God has prepared for us, for this is eternal life now, to know the Father and Jesus Christ who have made their abode in us.  We are to cry after the knowledge of the glory of Christ, and lift up our voice for this understanding.

Eph. 1:6: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he has made us accepted in the beloved.

Heb. 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

Grace=charis:  “That which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness; grace of speech; good will, loving-kindness, favor; of the merciful kindness by which god exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to exercise of the Christian virtues.  Our spiritual condition is governed by the power of divine grace.  The tokens of grace are gifts of grace and include benefit and bounty.  Thanks, for benefits, services, favors, recompense, reward.”

To the Christian, who is living near to the throne of grace, there are sources of joy unknown to all others.  It is the realm of “rest” where we can rejoice in tribulation and be glad in the Lord.  This does not mean we are insensible to trial and affliction, nor would we choose a path of stoic endurance.  The affections of those who live at the throne of grace are warm and tender.  Because grace flows so richly from His throne, we through that same grace are quick to be gracious to others.  It is the same principle as forgiving others that we may be forgiven.  Those to whom we show grace may not be able spiritually to reciprocate in grace.  However, just as we sow into the lives of others: love, joy, peace, goodness, kindness, longsuffering, finances, and our time, we sow graciousness; and in return reap a harvest of grace in our life.

John 1:16: And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.

We understand that by grace we are saved; and the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. (Tit. 2:11) All Mankind is without excuse to fail to recognize, worship God, and receive Christ Jesus as their Savior.   Creation declares His Glory.  Conscience declares His Glory.  Grace has appeared to all men. 

We understand that the gifts and callings of God are given to us by the grace of God:  We each have gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.

Eph 3:7:  I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Eph. 3:8:  To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Eph. 4:7: To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.

We are accountable for those gifts and callings to minister by grace and with grace for His glory; in proportion to our faith.    

The Word of God is clear that through a root of bitterness, we can fall short of the grace of God and be defiled.   This is spoken in the Old Covenant and reaffirmed in the New Covenant.  Moses and the Prophets and all the Scriptures testify to Christ and his glory (Lk. 24:27).

Zec. 12:10:  I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Heb. 12:15: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled…

Satan will attempt to bring days of trouble against the elect with the trap of defilement; but the LORD has given us grace for those days.

Ps. 50:15: Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

Here is a promise of grace and graciousness for the season of conflict and trial.  In our journey heavenward, we are told to expect trouble, changes, and sorrow.  We won’t travel very far in the journey of life, until we find the road to Canaan is through an enemy’s territory.  In the midst of all trouble, we have this precious promise, call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.

Trial and trouble will bring a Christian to solemn thought and intense prayer.  When the sun of prosperity continues to shine---the child of God is prone to forget his true mission on earth, and to be entwined with the world system.

In the day of a contrite and broken heart, He will assuredly deliver us.  Never will our prayers be in vain.  Never be discouraged by seeming delay; let the value of the blessing you seek, give fresh impulse to your prayers---ask again, and again.  Cleave fast to the word of promise. 

Acts. 20:32: Brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

We know the Word of God then is the word of his grace, a living word, performed by angels, to build us up and to give us an inheritance.  The inheritance of a Son of God who shares in the full inheritance of Jesus Christ. 

Ps. 45:2-4:  You are fairer than the sons of men; Grace is poured upon your lips.  God has blessed you forever.  Gird your sword on your thigh, O Mighty One, Your splendor and your majesty! In your majesty ride on victoriously for the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness.  Let your right hand teach you awesome things.

Grace was poured into Jesus lips.  The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.   By his word, his promise, and his gospel, the goodwill of God is made known to us and the good work of God is begun and carried on in us.  The gospel of grace was poured into his lips; for it began to be spoken by the Lord, and from him we receive it.  He has the words of eternal life.

2 Co. 9:8: God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.

This abounding of grace includes our ability to “overcome,” “be victorious,” “prosperous,” “fulfill our destiny,” “love and be loved,” “defeat the evil one.” “minister the gospel of grace,” “healing is the children’s bread,” “all sufficiency in all things,” “abound to every good work.”

Every life activity and/or relationship that you and I will encounter in this life journey, the LORD’s grace is sufficient.  However, like Faith, we must appropriate this grace through prayer.  Lord I ask for the gift of grace to supply all my needs according to your riches in Heaven.  I ask for the gift of grace to supply all the needs of this ministry and each family in this ministry. 

2 Th. 1:12: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is our privilege daily to behold by faith the glory of the grace of Christ Jesus.  If we regularly behold the glory of Christ our Christian walk with God will become sweeter and more pleasant.  Our spiritual light and strength will grow daily stronger.  Our lives will more gloriously represent the glory of Christ.  Do we daily meditate on the wisdom, love, grace, goodness, holiness and righteousness of God as revealed to us in Christ?  Do we really realize to see this glory on earth as it is in heaven is our everlasting blessedness? 

We have the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  This is the chief, fundamental mystery and truth of the gospel.  The light of faith and gift of grace is given to us to enable us to behold the glory of God in Christ.

Rom. 5:1-5: Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  Not only that, we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character/ and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.  The invisible things of God are understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead.  We must not rest with only a head knowledge of these truths.  Its power must stir our hearts and fire our spirits.   Our present view of the glory of Christ prepares us to behold and see the glory of Christ in heaven.

Jn. 1;14: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

This is a glory whose beams are so wonderful that the blind world cannot see their light and beauty and so many deny the incarnation of God.  This is that glory which the angels long to behold, the mystery they desire to look into ( 1 Pet. 1:12).  This desire of theirs was represented by the cherubim in the most holy place of the tabernacle, which were symbols of the ministry of angels in the church.  The ark and the mercy seat were a type of Christ carrying out his work.  These cherubim were standing over the LORD, earnestly looking down upon His glorious Presence.

This is the glory on which lies the foundation of the Kingdom of God.  The foundation of the whole creation was laid in an act of absolute sovereign power, when God hung the earth on nothing (Job. 26:7).  There are so many who do not have the grace of faith to believe our Creator God stretched out the north over empty space; he hangs the earth on nothing.

It is our joy and privilege to search for and meditate on the glory of Christ.  From the throne of his majesty, by audible voices, by visible signs, by the opening of the heavens, by the descent of the Holy Spirit on him and us.  In the Gospel of grace, the glory of Christ is a pearl of great price.  The Scripture is an ocean into which we dive to discover Him, or the mine in which we dig for its precious treasures.  Every sacred truth that reveals something of the glory of Christ to our souls is a pearl or precious stone which enriches us.  But when we discover the glory of Christ, we can never be satisfied with anything less.

2 Co. 6:1:  We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

We must let Christ’s glory fill our hearts with love, admiration, adoration, and praise to him that our souls will be transformed into his image.  As we are more heavenly minded, we will apprehend the grace of the Kingdom of God ever beholding the glory of Christ. 

Out of the beauty of our souls will come the creation beauty of the LORD.  We will speak words of grace and beauty.  Our relationships will be free of envy, strife, or jealousy.  Then we will continually behold the beauty of the LORD.

But the promises concerning the growth of this grace, is conditional.  According to 2 Peter 1: 4-10, we are expected to make every effort to grow strong in this glorious grace.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all.

Carolyn Sissom, Pastor

Eastgate Ministries Church

www.eastgateministries.com