Grace is the Solution - Study 6/2/11
Grace is the Solution
This Memorial Day weekend, we went shopping for Jonathan’s bike. On the way to pick his bike in ToysRus, his eyes lands on the well positioned Lego box titled “Alien Conquest”. Of course we had to buy it. The Lego had 42 tiny pieces to be put together to form the aliens and their space craft. By themselves, the tiny pieces mean nothing. In fact without seeing the pictures in the brochure, there is no way of imagining what it could look like. In addition, without the step by step instructions that were included in the box, no child or even an adult can put it together.
We humans come into the world like the Lego pieces. We need to be put together and that is the only time we have meaning. Someone else needs to put us together because we cannot put ourselves together. We have a problem of meaningful existence as intended by our maker. All of our other problems stem from the primary problem of sin. Sin separates us from God and has shattered us into pieces. The only solution is the grace of God that has been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Right at the beginning of a long 16 chapter Letter, Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian Church who they are and how they came to be in Christ. They are now called the “Saints” of God. Yes, the Corinthian church had all kinds of problems. But without identifying their MAIN problem and its ultimate solution upfront, there was no need addressing the other symptoms like divisions and jealousy, envy, marriage problems and etc.
Jesus, the Scripture says is the embodiment of grace and truth, the ultimate solution for all our problems. “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And[e] of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,[f] who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:14-18).
Jesus, full of “grace and truth” had been given to the Corinthians and to us. Listen to Paul,
4 “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4). Grace and truth will always set us free from any shackle of sin or problem.
In Christ is all solutions to our main problem (the SIN PROBLEM) and other problems. We must to continue to deal with the main problem before dealing with the other related problems in our lives. I submit to you that you and I do not have any problem greater than the main problem of sin. To this God has given us His grace. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Grace provides us an effective rescue from sin through identification with the death and resurrection of Christ.
May we stop trying to solve our problems by looking to the wrong human solutions of self efforts. May we look to the only solution that there is the grace of God. “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12).
Please read all of the 16 chapters of first Corinthians. Let’s dig in and study to experience fully the grace of God. In all and any problem, may we recognize like Paul and agree with God who said to Paul, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). May you and I experience God’s Grace today. “For the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge” (1 Corinthians1:4-5). With God’s grace we lack nothing but rather we are enriched.
Have you received God’s grace – Jesus Christ? Note that now and in the future, the goal of life is “that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). What else are you looking for other than God’s grace? Let’s live by grace and grant grace to others. Would someone describe you and I as gracious or do you always want someone to pay for what they have done? Remember you did not pay for yours, Jesus did. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
ectarianism Is Sin
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”[a]
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Glory Only in the Lord
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”[c]
This Memorial Day weekend, we went shopping for Jonathan’s bike. On the way to pick his bike in ToysRus, his eyes lands on the well positioned Lego box titled “Alien Conquest”. Of course we had to buy it. The Lego had 42 tiny pieces to be put together to form the aliens and their space craft. By themselves, the tiny pieces mean nothing. In fact without seeing the pictures in the brochure, there is no way of imagining what it could look like. In addition, without the step by step instructions that were included in the box, no child or even an adult can put it together.
We humans come into the world like the Lego pieces. We need to be put together and that is the only time we have meaning. Someone else needs to put us together because we cannot put ourselves together. We have a problem of meaningful existence as intended by our maker. All of our other problems stem from the primary problem of sin. Sin separates us from God and has shattered us into pieces. The only solution is the grace of God that has been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Right at the beginning of a long 16 chapter Letter, Apostle Paul reminds the Corinthian Church who they are and how they came to be in Christ. They are now called the “Saints” of God. Yes, the Corinthian church had all kinds of problems. But without identifying their MAIN problem and its ultimate solution upfront, there was no need addressing the other symptoms like divisions and jealousy, envy, marriage problems and etc.
Jesus, the Scripture says is the embodiment of grace and truth, the ultimate solution for all our problems. “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And[e] of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son,[f] who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:14-18).
Jesus, full of “grace and truth” had been given to the Corinthians and to us. Listen to Paul,
4 “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4). Grace and truth will always set us free from any shackle of sin or problem.
In Christ is all solutions to our main problem (the SIN PROBLEM) and other problems. We must to continue to deal with the main problem before dealing with the other related problems in our lives. I submit to you that you and I do not have any problem greater than the main problem of sin. To this God has given us His grace. “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Grace provides us an effective rescue from sin through identification with the death and resurrection of Christ.
May we stop trying to solve our problems by looking to the wrong human solutions of self efforts. May we look to the only solution that there is the grace of God. “11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12).
Please read all of the 16 chapters of first Corinthians. Let’s dig in and study to experience fully the grace of God. In all and any problem, may we recognize like Paul and agree with God who said to Paul, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). May you and I experience God’s Grace today. “For the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge” (1 Corinthians1:4-5). With God’s grace we lack nothing but rather we are enriched.
Have you received God’s grace – Jesus Christ? Note that now and in the future, the goal of life is “that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:7-8). What else are you looking for other than God’s grace? Let’s live by grace and grant grace to others. Would someone describe you and I as gracious or do you always want someone to pay for what they have done? Remember you did not pay for yours, Jesus did. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1
1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
ectarianism Is Sin
10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. 16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Christ the Power and Wisdom of God
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”[a]
20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Glory Only in the Lord
26 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”[c]
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