26 lines
4.4 KiB
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26 lines
4.4 KiB
HTML
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<title>Blue Letter Bible: Day By Day By Grace — Bob Hoekstra</title>
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<div class="head">Day By Day By Grace</div>
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<div class="subhead">Bob Hoekstra</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020">April 22</div></div>
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<h2>Characteristics of Living by Grace</h2>
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<div class="block"><i>Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is <b>from God</b>, who also <b>made us sufficient</b> as ministers of the <b>new covenant</b>.</i> (<a onClick="return mV('2Cr',3,5,6);">2 Corinthians 3:5-6</a>)</div>
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<p>When we live by the new covenant of grace, God impacts our lives. He makes us sufficient by sharing His sufficiency with us. <i>"Our sufficiency is <b>from God</b>, who also <b>made us sufficient</b> as ministers of the <b>new covenant</b>."</i> This sufficiency is from His <b>grace</b> at work on us, in us, and through us—which produces <b>spiritual characteristics</b> in our lives. A <b>brief reflection</b> upon the workings of God's grace will provide a helpful <b>context</b> as we begin to consider these characteristics.</p>
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<p>The grace of God is brought to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. <i>"And the <b>Word</b> became flesh and dwelt among us…<b>full</b> of <b>grace</b> and truth"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',1,14);">John 1:14</a>). When Jesus came to earth as God's incarnate word to man, He came overflowing with the grace of God. This <b>abundance</b> of <b>grace</b> in <b>Christ</b> is to be our <b>ongoing</b> spiritual provision for <b>living</b> the Christian life. <i>"And of His fullness <b>we</b> have <b>all</b> received, and <b>grace</b> for</i> [upon] <b><i>grace</i></b><i>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Jhn',1,16);">John 1:16</a>). One work of God's grace built upon another work of His grace is to mark our pilgrimage day by day.</p>
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<p>This constantly-available grace of God is able to justify and sanctify lives. <i>"And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the <b>word of His grace</b>, <b>which is able</b> to <b>build you up</b> and <b>give you an inheritance</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Act',20,32);">Acts 20:32</a>). God's grace, held forth by His word, offers us new birth by grace. When we believe on the Lord Jesus, we are justified (declared not guilty, righteous in God's sight). Thereby, we obtain the spiritual <b>inheritance</b> of the children of God: <i>"the <b>word of His grace</b>, which is able to…<b>give you an inheritance</b>."</i> This same grace of God then becomes our heavenly resource for progressive sanctification (practical growth in godliness): <i>"the <b>word of His grace</b>,which is able to <b>build you up</b>."</i></p>
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<p>Part of growing in godliness involves being set free from the dominating influence of sin in our lives. God's grace provides this liberating reality. <i>"For sin shall <b>not</b> have <b>dominion</b> over you, <b>for</b> you are <b>not under law</b> but <b>under grace</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Rom',6,14);">Romans 6:14</a>). As we learn to live by God's grace, instead of by our own best performance, the grace of God is working deep within us, bringing spiritual stability to our inner man. <i>"It is good that the <b>heart</b> be <b>established</b> by <b>grace</b>"</i> (<a onClick="return mV('Hbr',13,9);">Hebrews 13:9</a>).</p>
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<p>This working of God's grace in us marks us with <b>distinctive spiritual characteristics</b>, which will be examined in the passages of Scripture that lie ahead.</p>
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<div class="dbdbg_prayer">Lord God of abounding grace, give me spiritual eyes to see and a humble heart to receive all the ways You want to mark my life by Your grace, in Jesus' name, Amen.</div>
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<div class="desc-center"><div class="pad2020"><a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0421.html">Yesterday's Reading</a>
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<a href="./devotions/daybyday/04/0423.html">Tomorrow's Reading</a>
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