Are Faith-fruits a Requirement in Receiving God’s Grace?




     


   Tanya and her husband Greg live with the excruciating grief of losing their six month old son to SIDS. Although they have continued to be faithful in worship and well-grounded in the Word, their questions continue.  “Why was our baby taken? What assurance do we have of holding Luke again?” 

Matthew 21:16 From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise.

   Luke’s parents can count on a reunion in heaven: not because their child understood justification, but because of a trustworthy God.  Baptism gifted Luke with saving faith. This miracle is the work of the Holy Spirit, not an effort or action made by Luke or his parents. The grief journey continues life-long for this family, but their hearts also carry the certainty of resurrection joy.

Acts 2:38  Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved

Handicapped Hearts    

   Twenty-six year old Andrea has Downs Syndrome. Thankfully, she was given Sunday School and catechism lessons at her level of understanding. The members of her congregation smiled and were inspired by her loud, “You betcha!” in answer to Pastor Mike’s confirmation service questions.  Despite a low reading level, it does not hinder Andrea’s bold and sincere singing of hymns. Does the Holy Spirit give an extra dose of trusting faith to those with special needs? Or is it that people who are rich in cognitive ability think of more reasons to ignore or reject God’s gifts?  


Matthew 19:14  Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

Mark 10:24 (EHV) “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in their riches to enter the kingdom of God!

Damaged Minds

   Mrs. Sanders was one of those Christian grade school teachers who did it all: showed the love of Jesus to the 3rd and 4th graders through devotions and academics, played organ, volunteered for the grimiest church kitchen chores, and was an encouraging, loving wife. Friends respectfully referred to her as a Proverbs 31 woman. 
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.  She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness."

   But that was before the car accident caused irreparable brain damage.  Ten years later, despite therapy and antidepressants, Mrs. Sanders doesn’t “feel the need to go to church.”   She is unable to read the Bible or keep focused attention to anyone trying to share its truth.  This once very capable servant of Christ is now is too confused to do simple necessities for herself.  The cognitive, emotional, and physical systems misfire or don’t properly connect. Caregivers in the assisted living center understand her anger, rudeness and frustration as results of the injury.  Caring friends and family members have learned what behavior to expect and what might be helpful. Listening to hymns often has a calming effect.  Sometimes Mrs. Sanders sings along, remembering most of the words.  Her husband prays that God does not hold his wife responsible for her occasional Christ-denying outbursts.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor rulers, neither things present nor things to come, nor powerful forces, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 11:6 Now it it is by grace, then it is not the result of works--otherwise grace would no longer be grace. 

What are the LORD’s expectations of believers who are suffering with a serious illness that seems to have damaged their faith?   

2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, because my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Romans 5:20 (EHV) But where sin increased, grace overflowed much more.




Weary Souls

   Frank was raised in a Bible-believing church.  He bragged about marrying Kalinda;  “the best looking woman in the choir.” They thanked God for three healthy daughters, whom they taught and modeled a love for the Lord. When Joelle had married and Akira and Brianna were in college, cancer took their mother’s life. Frank knew his Savior would lead him through his grief journey.“I know God has a plan for me, but I don’t want to face it without my wife.” The crying wouldn’t stop, and the sleep wouldn’t come, so he turned to alcohol to numb the pain.


   Along with adding to his depression, Frank's drinking prompted poor decision-making. It was as if Satan was speaking through the vodka: “ This is helpful therapy!  When you are coping better you can always stop. Then you can just ask God for forgiveness.”  Frank stayed alone in his house, venturing out only to buy fast food.  When he got caught driving under the influence, the ticket added shame to his despair.

   For the past six months, Frank has been too embarrassed to go church services. He knows what he is doing is not God-pleasing. Despite praying to make better choices, he continues the cycle.  He told his sister, “It would serve me right if I died, condemned, in this sin.”   

1 John 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 

John 1:16  For out of his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 

Romans 7:15-25   I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do...Now if I do what I don not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it...Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

An Example of Mercy

   John (chapter 8) shares what happened when Pharisees (and others who took pride in following the Law), wanted to stone an adulteress woman.  The words, “caught in adultery”, infer she was not the one who stopped her sinful behavior.  What was Jesus’ response to this woman who hadn’t asked for forgiveness? The Savior humbly stooped down into the dirt with this sinner and offered her grace.
John 8:11  “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
   Sound familiar?  Jesus left the perfection of heaven to walk in this dark world, and offer forgiveness to God-rejecting, slow-minded, self-righteous sinners.


 Ephesians 2:4-5  (EHV)  But God, because he is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in trespasses.

 

 2 Timothy 1:9-10 He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began,  and it has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus.

What Grace Requires


    There are times when fruits of faith (Galatians 5:22-23) are more apparent in a believer’s life.  There are also many back-sliding, sad, dark situations when the Holy Spirit’s faith fire might not be detected by the human eye.  But when it comes to salvation, whose actions are the only ones that count?  Which of our faith-fruits could qualify to be added to Jesus’ death and resurrection?  His "It is finished" shows us the answer: NONE. Our heavenly Father sacrificed his beloved son, in order to uphold the requirements of holy justice. God’s perfect provision of grace means “no prerequisites needed.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God.


   God has sections of heaven reserved for Luke, Andrea, Mrs. Sanders, Frank, me and you!  When we are incapable of making decisions, unable to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading, depressed, confused or stunted in faith by sinful actions or illness, we can count on his faithfulness.

Romans 7:24-25  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Psalm 86:15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.


With whom could you share the truth of God's grace ?




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