Good morning and welcome in everyone. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
There was a young man born on a small farm out in North Dakota who would eventually go on later in life to invent something that would ultimately change the sport of diving. In 1947 Ray Rude had a friend who came to him and needed help. He was throwing a pool party in his backyard and the varnish was coming off of his new diving board. Because he had been an engineer at Lockheed, he had a few spare airplane parts in his shop. He found a discarded airplane wing, drilled a few holes in it, and created a makeshift diving board for his friend. Apparently the springboard was such a success, that guests at the party were nearly hitting the far side of the pool. A few years later he patented his invention in 1953. His diving board allows divers to spring up higher than ever imagined possible, and it’s been used in the Olympics since 1960. There were even some schools that were forced to raise their ceilings, just to keep the divers from hitting their heads.
This reminds me of the Christian life.
When we effectively use the grace that has been given to us by God, it can launch us into a brand new life of obedient living. Like a springboard, it can lift us up to the level God wants us to be at.
2 Corinthians 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
God’s grace can result in amazing things, but we must remember why this free gift of God’s forgiveness is given to us. God wants us to grow into spiritual maturity, undergoing a transformation from a sinner into a saint. It is given to us for a specific purpose, so that we can turn away from our simple past and become obedient servants of God. God gives us the opportunity to get it right this time. If there are no results of obedient living, If there is no attempt to submit to the will of God, then the grace that has been given to you is not serving a purpose in your life. The Apostle Paul received a lot of grace and is an example to all of us what can happen in someone’s life, when you accept the grace of God, and run with it. When he got forgiven, he didn’t receive God’s grace in vain, but used it as a springboard to begin a new life, becoming a new creature in Christ.
Ephesians 3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
1 Corinthians 15:9-10 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
God washes our sins away so that we can become something different than what we were in the past.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
We are given His grace to go on unto perfection.
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Forgiveness is provided so that we can become obedient to the will of God.
Romans 6:1-2, 15-16 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
To receive God’s grace in vain means that it doesn’t cause a change, and is ineffectual and fruitless. It doesn’t produce the results of transformation. It never results in a changed heart. A person in that state of mind never goes on to spiritual maturity. We must always remember that God gives us grace so that we can grow.
2 Peter 3:17-18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
When we receive God’s mercy, it should cause us to serve Him from our hearts.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
In the past, each of us have been caught up in sinful works, but now we are to focus our minds on doing God’s will. Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His own life so that we could have forgiveness. Now we want to return that great love for Him by lovingly submitting to His will and purpose for us. As we were involved with sinful works in the past, now we want to focus on good works, because without them, it only shows the vanity of ones professed faith.
James 2:18-26 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
God gives us grace so that we can become fruitful.
Luke 13:6-9 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Instead of taking advantage of God’s grace and repenting from dead works, some will only misuse it.
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
You don’t want to receive God’s grace in vain but take advantage of the opportunity that has been given to you by Him The opportunity to become a new person. The opportunity to live a whole new life. The opportunity to someday inherit eternal life. God wants to take us there, but each of us need to allow God’s grace to work in our hearts. We need to use His mercy to launch us from darkness into the light. It’s just a matter of stepping onto….
……The Springboard
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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