SCANDALOUS GRACE
Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.Paul was "convinced" that the Gospel was and is the announcement, the Good News of the "grace of God." He was determined to see to it that the "Gospel" was preached in its purest form. He spoke to the Galatians warning them of those who would "trouble" and "pervert" the gospel. (Gal. 1:7). He cautioned those who were not "straightforward" about the gospel. (Gal. 2:14)Rom. 1:16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Rom. 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”Paul was "convinced" that the "gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation." If we desire to see people "whole" we must preach and display the very "gospel of Grace." This is the "gospel that has the power to save humanity".I too am "convinced" that the "Gospel" is the "Grace of God" revealed to each of us. I believe that Jesus gave his life for us. That His work on the cross redeemed us from our sins and empowers us to be blessed by His righteousess. This is a righteousness that is by "faith in the finished work of Christ."For far to long we have allowed religious people to evaluate and judge the performance of other brothers and sisters and therefore determine whether they are qualified to receive the blessings of God. "...He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."(Heb. 9:26b). Therefore, {Eph. 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Col. 1:14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.}We have become so "sin conscious" that we have real trouble understanding and being "God conscious." Many, many, Christians today are timid in their approach to God the Father because they are unaware of the sacifice that opened the door so that they could approach the Father."Their sins and lawless deed I will remember no more." Heb. 10:17I love the Message Bible follows on:Heb. 10:19 ¶ So, friends, we can now—without hesitation—walk right up to God, into “the Holy Place.” Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The “curtain” into God’s presence is his body. BECAUSE OF THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS WE CAN "WALK RIGHT UP TO GOD, INTO THE HOLY PLACES!" Hebrews 10:19-27 So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. ¶ If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice [there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,] and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be!The enemy of our faith, disguised as an angel of light, a religious person, has always raised doubts in the minds of believers as to whether or not they were worthy to approach the Father and receive help. They have continually pointed to the behavior or performance of the believer and determined if they were acceptable in the Presence of God.The truth of the Gospel is that it is the performance, the behavior and the obedience of our Great High Priest, our Saviour, our Lord Jesus, the Sacrificial Lamb of God that has opened the way that we might come into the Presence of God. Into the Holy of Holies and receive help.Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.There are mulitudes of people that need to know that Christ has opened the way through His Blood for them to approach the "throne of grace" and "find grace to help in time of need." I know this is Scandalous .... "shocking, appalling, obnoxious, exceptionable, objectionable, dispicable, distressing, disturbing, upsetting" But it is the Grace of God! The Gospel is all about God being "Merciful, Kind, Good" to people who are the worst of the worst.I mean -- I get it. If you lived your entire life trying to earn the acceptance of a King and He finally said, "your attempts will never satisfy Me, so I'll just do it for you." I understand, it would frustrate you, it would be Scandalous!It is just that " SCANDALOUS GRACE!The idea that God would become a man and take man's place on the cross. That through the work of this God/man all men would be redeemed. It is simply Scandalous!