God's Grace and Spirit

Last month in my article I spoke of us being God’s stewards. I pointed out that God is our Creator and Redeemer who has not only made us but who has put all that we have into our hands in order for us to be blessed and to bless others. In short, all that we have and all that we are belongs to God and is to be used for His purposes. Remember, we are not our own. We were bought with a price. Therefore we are to honor God, even with our very bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

 

As I reread my note on being God’s stewards I noticed that there was a lot about what we are to do and not much about what God has done for us. I certainly mentioned that God is our Creator who provides all things to us. I also mentioned that He is our Redeemer who has saved us through Christ’s perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection over sin, death, and hell. But I didn’t speak much about where our ability to even desire to do God’s will comes from (Why would we ever want to live out the truth that we are His stewards?). 

 

Scripture is clear about this though.  We love (both Him and others) because He first loved us (1st John 4:19). We live as humble stewards by the power of His Holy Spirit working in us and conforming and reforming our wills to reflect His will. The driving power that motivates and refreshes and renews our love for God and our neighbor is not the law of God that expects it of us, but the Gospel of God which shows us all that God has done for us in Christ. Yes, we love (and act in love) because He first loved us and sent His only Son to be the willing and fully sufficient sacrifice for our sins. He freed us from sin, death and hell. Trusting in this truth empowers us to desire to live as stewards and to live out that desire. 

 

Christ freed us from sin, death, and hell. But He also freed us for righteousness, life, and salvation. God made you. He loves you. He loved you from before eternity past. He determined to send Christ Jesus to be your Savior so that you could live forever as an heir of His heavenly Kingdom – forever as a beloved child of Your heavenly Father. As we grow in this eternal identity as beloved children of our heavenly Father, it is only natural that we would desire more and more to do that which pleases Him and honors His greatness, rather than bringing dishonor to Him by our sin. 

 

When we do sin, it is natural that we would feel grief and shame because of our sins. This grief over our sins is natural because we know His love for us in Christ and all that He endured to save us from our sins.  Just as the Holy Spirit gives us a new nature to lament our sins against God, He also gives us confidence through the Word that there is relief and peace for us in the Gospel of forgiveness in Jesus Christ.  Thanks be to God, He has given us the assurance of the Gospel that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1st John 1:8-9).” 

 

God gives us this faith in His faithfulness. He gives it to us through His Holy Word and by the working of His Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. The Holy Spirit brings to remembrance all that Christ has lovingly done for us and He enlivens and strengthens our faith in all of God’s promises to us in Jesus’ name. Having this faith, the Holy Spirit continues to work in us by His Word of grace and truth so that we seek to do the will of our heavenly Father every day in all that we do.  Yes the Holy Spirit works in us so that we both feel convicted when we sin, and so that seek the forgiveness that God has for us in Christ Jesus our Savior. 

 

This is all grace. Grace, upon grace, upon grace.  God has made us and given us all things.  He has redeemed us through Christ Jesus our Savior. He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we may trust in Christ as Savior and grow in our identity as God’s beloved children. Thanks be to God. Amen.