John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth came through Jesus Christ."
Most believers haven't known much about our covenant and the family relationship we have with God our Father. We also know very little about Grace and Truth. The more we try earning or deserving God's Blessing, the more we resist Grace, which is unearned and undeserved favor." The deceiver (satan) has managed to blind our minds to the Truth that sets us free.
Because we don't understand Grace and Truth, we've allowed ourselves to be brought back into the bondage of the Law. Jesus said in John 6:63 (Amplified), "It is the Spirit Who gives Life (He is the Life Giver); the flesh conveys no benefit whatever (there is no profit in it). The Words (Truths) that I have been speaking to you are Spirit and Life."
Jesus also said in Matthew 6:33-34 (Amplified), "But seek, aim at and strive after first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides. So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own (Sufficient for each day is its own trouble)."
We are instructed to "Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right)." What is His way of being right and His righteousness? 2Corinthians 5:21 (Amplified) tells us, "For our sake He made Christ virtually to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in and through Him we might become endued with, viewed as being in, and examples of the righteousness of God, what we ought to be, approved and acceptable and in right relationship with Him by His Goodness."
We've been made the righteousness of God, by faith in His Grace, through Jesus. We've been placed back in right standing with God, by faith in His Grace. This is God's way of doing and being right, righteous or in right standing again with Him. We see this same faith and Grace carried out through His Love for us in Ephesians 2:4-5,8 (Amplified) which says, "But God-so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense Love with which He Loved us. Even when we were dead, slain by our own shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; He gave us the very Life of Christ Himself, the same new Life with which He quickened Him, for it is by Grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation." Paul continues in Verse 8 saying, "For it is by free Grace (God's unmerited favor), that you are saved, delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation, through your faith. And this salvation is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your striving), but it is the free Gift of God."
God's way of being right (righteous) and His way of salvation (as well as temporal things in this earth) all come by faith in His Love and Grace for us, in Christ Jesus. Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-32 we're not to worry about food, clothing or shelter, because God cares for the birds of the air and the lilies of the fields and He will take care of us too." These things come from God's Grace and we are to receive them by faith.
God will Bless your faith in His Grace to meet your needs, even in this world. We were saved when we placed faith in God's Grace and His Word and His Love for us, through Jesus Christ. We didn't have to sacrifice, do great things to show we changed, observe rules or traditions, but we were only required to believe and apply our faith to His Grace, in order to be born-again. Why do we now feel like we need to do something to deserve healing, Blessing, favor or Grace?
We've allowed ourselves to be brought back under the Law, by believing we must do works, instead of trusting in the completed work Jesus did on the cross. We've exchanged Grace for Law and then wonder why things don't work for us like God's Word says they should. How can we believe that God is a Healer and simultaneously believe He is the One Who is making us sick? This is being double-minded, according to James 1:8 (Amplified) which tells us, "For being as he is a man of two-minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), he is unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides."
We trusted and put faith in God's Grace and Love, leading to our being salvation, but now we've stopped growing in faith, beyond salvation, to obtain His Grace and mercy. When we continue getting sick as Christians, we feel that "This is God's will for my life" and accept that sickness, without seeking God's Wisdom about it.
All believers need to read and meditate on Psalm 103:1-22 (Amplified), which lays out God's Promises to those who are in Christ Jesus. Verses 2-5 tell us to "Bless and gratefully praise Him and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives everyone of all your iniquities, Who heals each one of all your diseases Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption. Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercy Who satisfies your mouth, your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle's strong, overcoming, soaring."
These are all Spiritual Gifts, favor upon favor, Gift heaped upon Gift, Grace upon Grace and Love to grant them free of charge to all of us (the redeemed). These include the renewing our youth like the eagle, in order to overcome, soar and be strong. Verse 5 tells us that, "He satisfies your mouth, your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation." If you're still a baby in Christ, then your mouth and situation might be less than what you need or desire. If you're a mature Christian, then God's mercy and Grace will supply your needs, as we grow in faith.
We must stop trying to earn and deserve God's Grace and Blessings and simply rest in them, by faith. This is what the Israelites in the Wilderness failed to do and they were prevented from entering into the Promised Land. They wouldn't enter into His rest. As new creation people, we are to enter into His rest. This means we simply, by faith, accept what Jesus has already done for us. We must stop striving to earn it by works and receive it by faith.
Galatians 5:6 (Amplified) says, "For if we are in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumsicion counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through Love."
Paul was saying that, "It doesn't matter if you're under Law or Grace (circumcised or uncircumcised), because works don't count for anything-only Love counts." Paul wasn't referring only to our loving others, but he was saying that we must understand God's Love for us. The more we understand God's Love for us, the stronger our faith in Him becomes. Faith works by Love.
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