Revelation, Faith and Grace: The Three Amigos

Post date: Jul 21, 2017 3:18:43 PM

A few days ago a colleague shared an amazing incite with me while we were discussing the impact that the Holy Bible was having on our lives. She said; “the bible is a real mystery don’t you think”. Her comment seemed rather insignificant at first but after pondering her comment for a while I became overjoyed when I saw how the gospel had been impacting her life. The Apostle Paul wrote: “We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love for all the saints, because of the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven, of which you heard before in the word of truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world; and is bringing  forth fruit, as it is  also among you since the day you heard  and knew the grace of God in truth...”(Colossians 1:3-6)

Romans 10:9-10 “that if you confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and you believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

It was only a few months ago when my colleague approached me unexpectedly, looking rather concerned.  She had heard of my faith in Christ, so, to my delight, she sought me out to ask if I would pray with her. Unaware of a yearning that she had had from God to commit her life to Christ I posed this question which no one had asked her previously; “Have you ever asked Christ into your heart?” She said no. I said; would you like to? She said yes and then we prayed. The bible teaches; “…For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” (Romans 10: 13-15)

Romans 12: 2 “And be not conformed to this world, but be  transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”

The reason for my colleague’s conversion was her faith was ignited when she responded and submitted to the voice of conviction that she had been hearing within her heart.  The bible teaches; “…For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2: 8-9) We can see from this scripture that faith and grace working together produced divine results. The Apostle Peter enlightens us even further by writing: “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1: 13)The definition of grace is divine favor or divine influence; so, this verse can be more easily read like this: “Gird up the loins of your mind, and hope to the end for the divine influence (grace) that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus.” Finally this is what I am trying to convey. The revelation of Jesus produces divine influence, divine influence inspires faith and faith appropriates that which was revealed.  In her case she was first inspired and then she hoped, before she knew, that her submission (faith) would lead to salvation. What she didn’t know was that in an instant following her confession of faith she was “translated into the kingdom of his dear Son: in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins…” (Colossians 1: 13-14), or, that her former sin nature had been divinely renewed (2 Peter 1: 4), or, that she “...after God had been created in true righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24).   “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”           (2 Peter 1:4)

Colossians 3: 10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”