The Proper Attitude Under Grace
WE now come to the end of this third chapter in this section of the Green Letters, Principles of Spiritual Growth titled Acceptance. This is a precious truth of God’s grace in making us accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6). The previous posting ended with the note that, There being no cause in [us] why Grace should be shown…. [we] must be brought off from trying to give cause to God for His Grace… God knew all the human exigencies beforehand: His action was independent of them, not dependent upon them…
“The Proper Attitude of Man Under Grace: “To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.”
WE’LL finish this section by seeing more of that list of “proper attitudes” (thoughts truly worth chewing on), and close out by looking at the final considerations regarding the motivating factor behind it all, God’s wondrous and eternal love.
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 3—Acceptance – Part 4, conclusion
“The Proper Attitude of Man Under Grace:
“To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.
“To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth…
“To rely on God’s chastening [child training] hand as a mark of His kindness…
“Things Which Gracious Souls Discover:
“To ‘hope to be better’ [and hence acceptable] is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.
“To be disappointed with yourself, is to have believed in yourself.
“To be discouraged is unbelief,—as to God’s purpose and plan of blessing for you.
“To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves.
“The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion…
“To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God’s order, and preach law, not grace. The Law made man’s blessing depend on devotion: Grace confers understanding, unconditional blessing: our devotion may follow, but does not always do so – in proper measure.”
“Have we been afraid to really believe God? Have some even been afraid to allow others to really believe Him? We must never forget that “God’s ways are not always man’s ways. To some men constant peril is the only spur to action, and many religions and psychologies are dependent on fear to keep their disciples in line. Fear, too, has a place in Christianity, but God has higher and more effective motivations than fear, and one of these is love. Often fear after a while produces only numbness, but love thrives on love. To promise a man the certainty of his destiny may seem, on the human level, like playing with fire; but this leaves God out of the picture. Those who have the deepest appreciation of grace do not continue in sin. Moreover, fear produces the obedience of slaves; love engenders the obedience of sons” (J. W. Sanderson, Jr.).
“For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” (I Cor. 14:8). Until the Christian is absolutely and scripturally sure of his standing, he is not going to do much standing. “Stand therefore” (Eph. 6:14).
“Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (II Thess. 2:16, 17)
