Footnotes

I sometimes think that when God authored my life, he included footnotes along the way referring me back to various pieces of information from my past or new references to things that will give me more information. His word is an ever growing list of powerful foot notes that are added to my understanding of my journey.

At the point in time when I gave my life to the Lord, each of these foot notes were listed to give guidance on future events. These footnotes give the reader of my book clarification of the end goal (Christ likeness) and how I will get there. As my salvation is "worked out" with God, I believe these footnotes are peppered on the pages of my daily walk.

The day that it became clear to me that my actions are in response to the Lords grace, not a means to earn it, there is a footnote referencing Romans 11:6:

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. -Romans 11:6

Likewise, throughout my life I am sure there are constant references to Paul's words in Philippians each time the reader finds another example of a change in my heart leading me to be a more Christlike example.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. -Philippians 1:6

And each time I forget about the power of God's grace and try to add my efforts to it, the all popular question from Paul appears again (and again......and again......)

Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? -Galatians 3:3

As music is such an important piece of my life, I think there are also many footnotes that refer to hymns and songs. I can't think of a song writer that would be credited more times in my book than John Newton with his weekly mention for various thoughts in his "Amazing Grace" composition. As I think this morning of how God continues to perfect us I'm sure there is a note that says, "See John Newton, Amazing Grace. Second half of third verse:

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

How about you? If you could read from God's book of life, where would the footnotes from your chapter lead you? If you are a believer, I'm sure these footnotes will be full of grace. Not only for your salvation, but grace for today.

Father, I thank you for your everlasting grace. I thank you for pointing out through your word, and my life where you are working and for the confidence that it is indeed your work. Your promise that you will not give up on me until you are finished. I so look forward to standing before you as your creation. Molded and shaped to be the final work that pleases you.

Guilt free

Considering again the analogy of bankruptcy, there is still a problem even if I assume that I have filed chapter 7. In the business world, chapter 7 bankruptcy doesn't totally settle the score. It doesn't pay the price of your debt, instead it cancels it. It frees the debtor from his responsibilities, but it does not free him from the guilt of knowing the lenders only received a portion of what was due to them. It also leaves the business man at square one to start over. To try to perform better the next time, full of guilt and either a resolve to try harder next time or depression that they have failed.

In the Christian life however, our debt has been paid in full. God sees us in the full righteousness of Jesus Christ. And not only the debt of the past, but any debt that we may incur in the future. We can live a life of peace with God, free of guilt knowing that our score is settled.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. -Romans 5:1

I know I have a tendency to find some level of confidence in my Christian life based upon how I am "doing" in my spiritual life. I know when I don't spend time in the word, pray or go to church I get down on myself and assume that God is looking down at me too. While it is true that there are natural consequences for my actions, it is also true that he will lead me back to him. When I consider the times of my life when I have experienced the greatest growth, they are associated with these periods of my walk when God leads me home.

I have experienced his gentle nudge back in his direction many times. I have also experienced his forceful hand on my back. In either case, it was because of His grace that I came home. Not because of my spiritual discipline, lack of sin or good Christian habits.

The writer of Hebrews talks about this new life of guilt free living this way:

let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 (emphasis mine)

Jerry Bridges describes it this way, "We are brought into God's Kingdom by grace, we are sanctified by grace; we receive both temporal and spiritual blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace' we are called to serve and enabled to serve by grace; we receive strength to endure trials by grace; and finally, we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God's grace."

God, thank you for giving me grace for today. Not only your promise of an eternity spent with you, but a life lived with you. Thank you for pursuing me daily, changing me through both my good and bad decisions. Thank you for being the God of my circumstances, using them for the good of your kingdom and my sanctification. In short, thank you for your grace.

Sanctification by Grace

The total Christian experience is often described in three distinct phases.

Justification - Being declaired rightous before God through faith in Jesus Christ.

Sanctification - Our growth in Christlikeness.

Glorification - Occurs at the time we depart from this life to be with Christ.

It is easy to think of Justification as being Grace based.

For it is by grace you were saved, through faith. -Ephesians 2:8

It is also easy to think of Glorification as a graceful gift from God. This will ultimately happen upon the return of Christ when:

the spirits of rightous men will be made perfect. -Hebrews 12:23

But this piece in the middle is a bit more trouble to deal with when considering Grace. Our walk here on God's great earth is where we are molded, shaped to be more like Christ. I tend to view this time between justification and glorification as a time when my works are mixed with God's grace to produce the goal of becoming more Christlike. I think this is reinforced by the Christian culture that we live in.

But ultimately there is nothing we can add to the work that Christ has already done. All we are and can be is in response to who He is and what He has done. Our works are in response to His grace. Here is a visual difference Jerry Bridges uses in his Transforming Grace book.

He proposes that the sanctification process is based solely upon God's grace and the works that Jesus Christ has completed. Our decisions to respond to that grace are similar to the decision we had to make in responding to the grace offered for our salvation. By holding this view of God's grace, it puts a new perspective on my daily walk. The legalism that I hold on to goes away and I can now freely respond to God's grace. It gives me something firm to stand on knowing that God is truly in control. Not just to comfort me (which he does), but by his grace he is moving me in the direction of becoming more like Christ. Preparing me for the day that I will be in His presence.

Lord, help me to respond to your grace today. Prepare in me a new heart. Help me to respond to your grace, rather than trying to do good to earn it.