Grace Works!

By Francis Frangipane
(En Español)

Whether we realize it or not, most Christians of Protestant lineage carry in their doctrinal heritage the revelation of Martin Luther, that "the just shall live by faith." For whatever flaws may have otherwise been in Luther's life, his contribution remains a living revelation in the consciousness of the modern Church.

Today, we know we are saved by grace and justified by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ. The Lord's grace remains a consistent, liberating power in our lives. If I fall, grace does not retreat; rather, it lifts me up. If I become virtuous, I know virtue is truly the result of grace working in me.

We must never forget that salvation is the gift of God. As it is written, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast" (Eph. 2:8-9).

God knew us before we were born. Before we knew Him, He was working in us in secret, drawing us to Himself. He led us to someone who then helped us find Christ. Of course, we told others that we made a "decision for Jesus," but in truth, it was God who made a decision for us before the foundation of the world.

So, we can thank God in Christ for liberating us from a "works based" salvation, thanking also Paul for explaining grace so well in his epistles, and Luther for persevering to see this great truth restored. It is obvious why "salvation by grace" is the inspiration behind most of our greatest hymns.

Salvation and Good Works
Christ delivered us from a religion about God and brought us into a family fathered by God. We are not working for acceptance or to earn our salvation. Such a difference is profound.

Yet, the revelation that salvation is not based on our works should not be interpreted as though the family of God is a "work-free zone." God has not liberated us from the realm of works, only from self-generated, religious "dead works." As new creations, the Holy Spirit dwells in us in an eternal relationship. His presence is a living reality, capable of speaking to us, inspiring and directing our lives to fulfill God-inspired works.

Thus, just after Paul explained our salvation is not "of works," he writes: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

We are not saved by our works, but neither are we saved from works. The truth is, we have been "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand." So we are saved by faith, but God has a plan for us that requires we work with Him to see it come to pass.

Destiny
Our destiny doesn’t just happen; it is connected to our fulfilling the "works, which God prepared beforehand." God is producing something in each of us that fits into the grand scheme of His will on earth. It may be a life vocation or a prayer ministry or feeding the poor or developing spiritual gifts or editing for a Christian writer or raising godly children. The list is as endless as it is varied.

But whatever God's will is for us, Paul says, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12-13).

"God is at work in you." This is such an amazing reality. It does, indeed, inspire fear and trembling, yet it is also the source of great confidence. For if it is God who is working in us, He will soon be working through us. It will look like us working, but it will really be God manifesting His works through us.

You see, our lives are the outworking of God’s grace. Our task is to seek Him, to study His Word, to minister to Him through prayer and worship, and to draw close to Him so we can discern what He is doing in us. Then make His inner working visible through us.

This is exactly how Jesus revealed the Father. He said, ". . . the Father abiding in Me does His works" (John 14:10). Again, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working" (John 5:19). And again, "We must work the works of Him who sent Me . . . " (John 9:4).

There should be God-inspired ideas, love-activated thoughts bubbling up into our minds from the redemptive Spirit of God. His inner working will ultimately affect every area of our lives. He will reach to others; He will work through us to reveal Jesus. These are the "good works" that God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

He whose grace led us to Christ will also conform us to Christ as we obey Him. Yes, grace works!

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Prioritising Between Doing and Teaching

“The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach until the day in which he was taken up ….” – Acts 1.1

It is time as Christians we began to understand the reality of our calling, that the Christian faith is not evidenced by the abundance of words we speak and in the concepts we generate but in our life actions. Possibly, one of the reasons why spiritual formation is on a downward trend today is because we have not extolled the virtue of right living.

Luke, in his account (Acts 1.1) succinctly and declaratively acquainted us with the life of Christ. He asserted that Christ was first a doer and then a teacher. This shows us the reason for his great exploits in influencing people for God. He demonstrated by the life he lived the things he taught.

For example, it took his exemplary prayer life for his disciples to demand of him to teach them to pray (Luk. 11.1). So if a man that is not prayerful is teaching prayer to the people, he will go as far as giving them academic knowledge.

Christ was able to turn the hearts of men to God, simply because of the way he, himself, was committed to the father.

I remember a denominational preacher I once knew about. He was reputed to have always told the congregation he pastored to do what he was saying and not what he was doing. He did that to prevent many of them from becoming cultists like him, but you see, he could not be effective in establishing the realities of our spiritual walk with God in their lives.

Our Christian witnessing would soon move to another level when we understand that God expects us to live the new life than to generate concepts. We must be the ones to first experience the things we know according to Paul: “The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops”

Peter also made us to know that the Lord should be honoured in our hearts always: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness of fear, having a good conscience ….” The place of the heart, from where flow the forces of life, comes before explanations.

Our light shall shine and our good works would be seen by men, from our Jerusalem to the extremity of the world, when we focus much more on living the new life than talking about it.

Both are important, but there is a priority.

Guidance by the Holy Spirit

Guidance by the Holy Spirit

Joel 2.28-; Jn. 14.16-8; Rom. 8.14

One of the reasons why believers will stand out in their interests is in their connection to the source. Being connected to the source connotes having the presence or the influence of the source in your life. God knowing the need for this presence in our lives has been making it available for mankind from the beginning, except for the fact that the presence was limited to a few sets of people: The prophets; the priests; and the kings. At the time of Moses the Holy Spirit came on those who had special roles to carry out (Ex. 35.30-31; Num. 11.14-16; 24-29). The prayer of Moses that day became eventually answered with the promise that the Holy Spirit shall come upon all flesh in the last days- Joel 2.28.

Because the Divine presence is needed by all, He’ll be poured out on all flesh. Children (both gender) will prophesy, speak forth or foretell by inspiration. Both age groupings shall see: old men shall dream (become healthy or strong through) dreams; young ones shall see (perceive, contemplate with pleasure) visions.

Life was worth a living for the disciples when Christ was here. He was everything to them. At the close of his earthly ministry however, he told them of his plan not to leave them alone. He would send to them another comforter (of the same kind as himself) who shall be with them as long as the church is here, and be to them exactly what Christ was to them.

The Spirit would take Christ’s place in the lives of his own. He will serve as comforter (counsellor, helper, encourager, and strengthener, and standby) Jn. 14.16-18, by giving them guidance as sons of God - Rom. 8.14; Gal. 5.18; Jn. 16.13. He will bear witness to the believer’s sonship as a seal. Ro 8:16; Gal. 4:6. The witness would be much more than just an inner feeling. It shall be a Divine involvement with the new creation, a testimony to the reality of the new life (relationship) beyond seasonal emotional flushes. The Spirit will make something better of your live by making it a guided tour, leading you in the way to go – Isa. 30.21,23; Ps. 32.8. He will reveal to you truth/realities beyond this natural plane, by digging into what God has in plan for you and revealing them to you - 1 Cor 2.12-14.

He will also relate you with the past and the future by reminding you of the past instructions from Christ (this he does when the actual hour of need comes, the reminder he gives at such times strengthens you to live and conduct yourself rightly, irrespective of the situation or human opinion) and by relating you to the future, he gives you awareness of the tasks ahead; encouraging you on with the blessings ahead - 1 Cor 2 .9-12; and preparing you for the challenges ahead.

You need his guidance today. To enhance the presence/the ministry of the spirit in your life:

1. Desire his partnership in all aspects of your life, never attend to your tasks without his involvement– Jn. 15.26-7; Acts. 5.32; Heb. 6.4;
2. Ask the Lord for the step to take/the way to go, for sincerely speaking, he that asks shall receive – Matt. 7.7;
3. Don’t leave any of his instructions unattended to for he will not take you ahead until the present stones of instructions have been rightly laid (one upon the other);
4. Humble yourself as one needing the direction not being proud or conceited in your smartness – Jam. 4.6-10; Seek the Lord himself and you will find him: He will draw near to those that come closer to him (Jam. 4.8; 1 Chro. 28.9) while those who fail in this shall be found with evil – 2 Chro. 12.14.
5. Let your disposition however be like Job’s friend’s (Eliphaz) – Jb. 5.8: seek God and commit the cause of your life to him and he will guide you with his eyes.

YET MUCH LAND TO BE POSSESSED 3

Where/What then are the lands yet to be possessed?

Inasmuch as it comes under the description there and not here, it fits into what we are discussing and God is particular about it.

Things we have asked and trusted God for: We need to realise that we are not bastards for there shall be a performance of things we have asked and trusted God for (Lk. 11.9-13). God will grant our requests inasmuch as they are according to His will and the season of favour shall surely come for unanswered prayers – Lk. 1.13,20; Acts. 10.4

Things still dark or unknown to us: The second area of of lands to be possesed has to do with things currently unknown. The plan of God is not to leave us in the dark but to reveal by His Spirit to us things that he has prepared for those who love him. There shall be revelations of things still dark or unknown to us, for we do not have a full awareness yet of the things God has prepared for us (1 Cor. 2.9-10; Dan. 2.21,22; Isa. 45.2,3). There is more to be known, if He can grant revelation unto a gentile king because of his desire, He will surely meet your desire to know.

Reward for all past obedience and faithfulness: Reward shall come for all past obedience and faithfulness, inasmuch as you continue to be obedient to God and to listen to your heart and not your head in truly following the Lord. It was after forty years that Joshua's season came to be rewarded for his faithfulness as a youth in following God. God is not mocked; you will reap whatever you sow (Eph. 6.7; Jos. 14.7-13). God has not forgotten your labours of love.

Help to tackle greater challenges: Greater experiences in life are shielded behind greater challenges. Many never attained greater heights in life simply because of the fear of great challenges. Everyman would need to prove himself in God as worthy of the greater height God has provided by being willing to tackel the challenge. Be assured also that there will be help to tackle greater challenges for greater experience: Jos. 17.17-18. True challenges only come to those who are dissatisfied with the status quo. As you attempt to do things differently to create a better result, and such attempts bring greater and fresh challenges, there will be help if you are really willing to face them: Jos. 17.18; 14.11,12

Sing and rejoice for greater things are awaiting you. It is not too late yet! What will happen to you is greater than what you see around. Glory to God!

YET MUCH LAND TO BE POSSESSED 2

The Scriptural Indications.

There are four scriptures that give indications that there is more to life (and with God) than what we’ve experienced or seen:

First, everyone has dreams or desires, and for those who trust and rely on God they have definite requests. No matter how lofty and impossible these are, Eph. 3.20-21 gives indication that God’s power is able to perform beyond man’s imaginations and requests. Paul writing to the Corinthians told them that as the scripture says, "What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who love him" (1 Cor 2:9 - TEV). Think out of the box when you take your requests to God in prayer and ask for the extraordinary, God is willing and He will make your joy to be full (Jn. 16.23-24).

Second, man’s need is unlimited and enormous, and often when man comes to God with them he would rather see the enormousness of the need than the greatness of God. Paul, while writing to the poor, yet liberal hearted and philantropic Macedonian church, prays for them that God shall supply their need according to his riches in glory in Christ (Phil. 4.19). The implication here is that the workings of God in the lives of His own is according to his wealth, possession, and ability, and not according to man’s need. There is a world beyond what we have as need.

Third, the love of God for his own is unfathomable and beyond description for the natural mind, that what He has in plan is far beyond what we presently see. What we appear to be is not yet the fullness of what we are supposed to be. John the beloved in his old age told the church that “now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears (or when it [what we are supposed to be] is made known), we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 (NIV). The standard for what we should be is Christ or in Christ. If therefore you have seen someone whose stature (person) made so much impression on you that you so much desire to be like the person, good news! There is much more awaiting you in Christ Jesus. Those who desire to fully evolve into that fullness cleanses themselves, that is separate themselves from impurities (which of course cannot be found in Christ), for they stifle the manifestation of all that we are to be in Christ, when they find their place in our lives.

Fourth, there is a reality beyond what man can do, it is God’s ability. Man was endowed with great potentials by God. Being made in God’s image and in God’s likeness indicates that there will be exceptional abilities with man than you would found with all other creatures that God made; and man, of course, has been found with great and impressive feats. From the tower of Babel and other wonders of the ancient world, to both the great and profitable and the wild and destructive technologies of the post-modern world, man’s achievements continue. But with all his accomplishments, there is an extent to what man can do. Jesus said those things which are impossible with man shall with God be possible (Mk. 10.27) if impossibilities have characterised your life experience, it is good to know that such should be put behind for the possibilities to be secured with God or in God.