There are three realities, at least, that are totally beyond my control, and yet are waiting to transform my life. Actually, I think they have already transformed my life, but they still remain beyond my control or ability to influence.
The first, of course would be grace. I define grace as God’s love in action. It is not something that we can control in any way shape or form. It is the act of God. That is the glory of,
(Eph 2:8 KJV) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:Grace is the beginning of our hope. It is believing that God is willing to extend His omnipotent power toward our salvation and eternal destiny. I cannot pressure Him. I cannot force Him. He extends it, purely by His choice.
The second reality goes by a different names, but let’s just say the blood. You can reference the substitutional atonement. I’m sure there are many other names for it. The point is that our salvation, even allowing for grace, is based upon the fact that Jesus died on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God making the perfect sacrifice to wipe out the blot of sin on our lives. Because of the character of God and the fact that He is a just God, He can’t just wave His celestial wand and say, “It’s good. Go in peace.” Sin requires death. We can’t pay that debt by our death. Therefore God sent His son to pay the price. Again, there are many ways of defining it and explaining it, but the reality is still there.
The third reality that totally transforms even that assurance is the resurrection of Jesus. I’m talking here about a physical resurrection, not just some kind of spiritual fantasy. Jesus rose from the dead. He conquered death. That conquest is a promise to us that we have any internal hope. Paul explains how vital this is,
(1Co 15:17 KJV) And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.People in different theological persuasions may interpret these a bit differently, I think they would put them together in a different way, they might even insist on adding some other elements. Good for them as long as they accept these three is being essential.
As far as I’m concerned, the first two have already been applied to my life and I live in expectation of the third.
What a way to enter a new year.
homo unius libri
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