He brought up a couple of interesting points about grace...and how we try so hard not to receive it freely. It's funny how the Word speaks to people differently. Most of what I retained came out of Seth's introduction!
Ephesians 2:8 and 9...we all know, or have heard..."For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Grace is free...we know this.
Yet we often still strive to "work for God", to do great things for Him.
Liken this to when you receive a generous gift from someone to whom you would not usually bestow the same "cost" of gift upon.
Our flesh rises up and does one of a couple of things:
- Oh, no...I can't possibly accept that!
- I'll have to give something back that is equal or better to what I have been given.
How much was the gift that we have been given by the Father? It was everything...His Son.
So our actions in response to that should not be an attempt to earn the gift, but instead, just a natural response of love to the One who has given all for us.
Otherwise, it's just another works-based religion. And that only leads to discouragement, and ultimately, hell...because my "good" works are never going to be enough.
We cannot save ourselves, that's the work of the Father. And that's relationship.
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