Scenes of Grace 4

Today we move on to Genesis chapter 6.  It is not that there are no scenes of grace in chapters 4 and 5, but we could never record all the scenes of grace in the Scriptures.  Chapter 6 reveals a situation of great need and a provision of great grace.  Genesis 6:5 says, “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth.”  Philip Bliss’s great Gospel song “The Light of the World is Jesus” describes the scene in Genesis 6.  He wrote, “The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin.” Chapter 6 also records God’s great grace in the face of this great darkness.  In chapter 6 we find this wonderful verse, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  

Humanity was corrupt before God.  God said of mankind, “that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”  In consequence of this great sinful condition God was about to destroy humanity.  The wages of sin is indeed death.  “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  When judgment was determined, God provided an escape from judgment through grace.  Grace is unmerited, so there is no means by human reasoning why God gave grace to Noah.  Noah responded to God’s grace with faith.  He said yes to God’s offer of grace and then obeyed God in building the ark.  The result was that Noah and all of his family was saved from destruction. 

Noah’s Ark became the means of their salvation.  They got inside of it and were spared from the wrath of God.  In the same way Jesus Christ is our ark of salvation.  We believe in Him and are placed “in” Him by God the Father.  Now all those who have placed their faith in Him are safe from the anger of God against sin.  It is still the work of grace which is responded to with faith.  God’s system has not changed.  God gives grace which brings us to faith and leads us to safety in the ark of God’s preservation. 

Philip Bliss told of the darkness of the world in sin.  That darkness led to man’s judgment and death.  But God sent Light to shine into our darkness so that we could see His grace and be saved.  As Noah in obedience built the ark, today we are come to the Light for our salvation.  “Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee; sweetly the Light has dawned upon me.  Once I was blind, but now I can see; the Light of the world is Jesus.”  Rejoice in God’s grace of Light and life, Jesus Christ. 

 

     You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

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Scenes of Grace 3

How do a beloved Christmas carol and the fall of man converge?  In the 4^th stanza of Charles Wesley’s “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” we find the musical version of the scene of grace that played out in the Garden of Eden in Genesis three.  Eve had been deceived by Satan and ate of the forbidden fruit.  Adam chose Eve over God and ate it with her.  God pronounced His judgment on Satan and man.  But then God demonstrated the wonders of His grace.

 Along with the curse to the serpent God gave a promise of hope for all mankind.  He said to the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed: He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.”  This is the first promise of the Messiah given in Scripture and also the first promise of the Virgin birth.  Man had sinned and broken fellowship with God. God in grace would send a Champion for man, a Redeemer, a Conquering Seed to overcome the curse and set things right. 

Charles Wesley picks up this great doctrinal truth in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”.  In stanza 4 of the carol he wrote, “Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head. Now display Thy saving power; ruined nature now restore.”  This verse is missing in many hymnals today.  When it is inserted it omits the last part of Wesley’s 4^th stanza and mixes it with his 5^th stanza which reads, “Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface; stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love.”

Wesley set forth the great doctrine of grace as demonstrated by God in Genesis 3.  Man had sinned and deserved death.  That was the penalty that had been forewarned.  Man did indeed die, or at least entered into the process of death.  But God in grace killed an animal instead of man and clothed them with garments of animal skin.  He made a substitute for them.  He also gave them the promise of One who would come and win their war with death and restore their original nature and fellowship with God.  Such great grace cannot be fathomed.  The pure and holy would die (have His heel bruised) for the impure and rebellious.  Not only that, but man could live in the constant hope of it happening.  God’s grace gave them both life and hope.  Surely we set our joyful hearts singing along with Charles Wesley, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”. 

 

      You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

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Scenes of Grace 2

We turn today to another beautiful hymn by Civilla Martin, “His Eye Is on the Sparrow”.  As we found God’s great and marvelous grace in Psalm 90 “from everlasting”, picturing Genesis 1 “In the beginning”,  we find a new scene of grace in Genesis 2.  God had made the sparrows and all the other creatures.  He had also made man.  For all the creatures God had created a mate.  For man He had not yet done so.  In Genesis 2 we find God saying, “It is not good that man should be alone.”  God was concerned with the sparrows and God was concerned with Adam.  

Civilla Martin asks, “Why should I be discouraged? Why should my heart be lonely?”  She answers her question emphatically that she need not be because “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”  I feed the birds in my yard year around.  More sparrows come to my feeder than any other type of bird.  It reminds me that there are a lot of sparrows.  They seem to be the most prolific birds around.  Yet, God cares for each of them.  Not one falls to the ground without the Father taking notice.  If He notices the sparrows and cares for them, how much more does He care for His own dear children?

In His marvelous grace God saw that Adam was incomplete by himself.  God had given him all the animals as companions, but it wasn’t enough.  He had given him a job to do, but it wasn’t enough.  He had given all the good food and living environment that he needed, but it wasn’t enough.  God didn’t chastise Adam for being incomplete.  He loved Adam and he wanted what was best for His special creation, so God gave Adam a wife.  His grace was concerned for the need of Adam and His power satisfied that need.

God is still concerned for the sons of Adam.  Although we have sinned and offended Him in every way imaginable, He still sees our need and desires to help. This time a wife won’t do.  This time we need a Savior so He sent us His Son.  In grace He hung on the cross and died for us.  In power He was raised from the dead.  Now He takes us as His bride, his special new creation for the perfect Adam.  From the Garden to the Cross to Eternity God’s grace is revealed to us.  We can joyfully sing with Civilla, “I sing because I’m happy; I sing because I’m free; for His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”  The grace of God never rests. 

 

      You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

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Scenes of Grace

The oldest hymn still sung by the church was probably written by Moses.  It is Psalm 90.  The father of modern hymnody, Isaac Watts, paraphrased that psalm in his hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”.  The third stanza of Watts’ hymn is from the second verse of the psalm.  “Before the hills in order stood, or earth received her frame; from everlasting Thou art God, to endless years the same.”  It is in this point of “everlasting” past that we see our first scene of grace in the Scriptures.

In First Peter 1:18-20 we discover a scene that took place “Before the hills in order stood”.  Peter tells us that we are saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ that was “ordained” to be shed for our sins BEFORE the foundation of the world.  Before we were, God had prepared grace for our needs.  This God who was from everlasting and will be the same to everlasting is the God of grace.  It was His nature before He made a single atom of all of creation.  It is His nature to oversee with grace all the atoms of His creation.  It will be by His grace that all the atoms are recreated in perfection for eternity. 

Isaac Watts wrote, “To endless years the same”.  Malachi recorded God’s word to the returned remnant of Israel in chapter 3 of his book.  Here God said, “For I am the Lord; I do not change.”  The author of Hebrews said of Jesus Christ, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  The God of grace, who would plan before He made man or any other creation to sacrifice His own Son for our offenses against Him, is the same God of grace who cares for His flock every day.  He changes not.  The power He displayed in creating the heavens and the earth is the same power He uses today to care for His church.  In Matthew 28 Jesus said to His disciples, “All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye.”  The power of Christ goes with His church every day.

It is easy to see why we can title Isaac Watts’ hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”.   The God of power and grace is the God who has helped us even before time began.  Reflect on these rich words, “O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home!” 

       You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

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Grace Thoughts

In her beautiful hymn “Accepted in the Beloved” Civilla Martin shares a variety of wonderful thoughts about grace.  Each of them could be a meditation in itself.  We have looked at many hymns, Gospel songs and choruses over the past 5 weeks.  Each of them has proclaimed the marvelous grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ.  The time that we spend thanking God for His indescribable grace each day is insufficient to generate the depth of gratitude and praise that His grace should elicit.  Grace needs to become a more common theme in our thoughts and on our tongues.  Civilla Martin captures some of that for us.

She begins, “In the Beloved accepted am I”.  Grace places us in Christ.  Christ is in heaven in the very presence of the Father.  We are there with Him.  Christ is in control. We are under His gracious control.  Christ is unruffled. We are secure.  Christ has been approved by God and raised from the dead.  So are we.  We are in the Beloved Son of God Jesus Christ.  Just to reflect on that should keep us busy for eternity.  All of her first stanza concentrates on this great truth that is effected by “His infinite grace”. 

Civilla’s second stanza stresses our security in Christ.  In Him we lack nothing.  She says, “In the Beloved accounted complete”.  Completely what?  We are complete in the righteousness of Christ.  We are complete in the promises of Christ.  We are complete in the relationship of Christ to His Father.  The brokenness of our lives has been restored in the completeness of His forgiving grace.  Our hope is complete for Jesus said, “It is finished”. 

Her last verse records the work of Christ to make us accepted and complete.  By God’s “Infinite Grace” the wrath of the Father against our sins was poured on the head of His own dear Son.  She describes it as “infinite wrath rolling over His head”.  Then she exclaims, “Infinite grace, for He died in my stead.”  The punishment of the cross was really ours to bear.  But beyond the cross the grave was ours to keep us in eternal darkness and despair.  But by infinite grace “He died in my stead”. 

All of this should warm our heart not just occasionally but constantly.  We are, as Civilla says, “In the Beloved, God’s marvelous grace; calls me to dwell in this wonderful place; God sees my Savior and then He sees me, in the Beloved, accepted and free.”  Let these abundant grace thoughts fill you with joy, praise, thanksgiving and contentment today. 

The Friday Benediction

Until Monday, my friends, may the good God envelop you with His grace; may you prove the common confession of faith, “I believe in the holy Christian church and in the fellowship of the saints”, and may you be enriched with joy and hope as you exercise that confession this weekend.  Amen

 

      You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

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More Comprehensive Grace

In the 12 century Bernard of Clairvaux wrote these lines which are now part of the hymn “Wide Open Are Your Hands”: “Open wide your arms, a fallen world embrace, to win to love and endless rest our wayward human race.  Lord, I am sad and poor, but boundless is your grace; give me the soul transforming joy for which I seek your face.”  Bernard was totally captivated in this hymn with the grace of God.  The boundlessness of God’s grace should indeed captivate every redeemed heart and mind.

A few years ago we had a very wet summer.  A friend of ours had her basement wall cave in due to the excessive hydraulic pressure.  I asked if her insurance covered it.  The sad answer was that it did not.  Comprehensive insurance isn’t always very comprehensive.  I asked our insurance agent if we were covered.  We were not.  Now we are, but it cost us extra to do so.  Our insurance is now more comprehensive, but I am sure there will be holes in it that we will only find out in a catastrophe.  It is sad to expect something and then to discover that it isn’t really covered after all.

That does not happen with God.  His grace is boundless.  It is comprehensive.  His grace covers all.  If we honestly assess how much we had offended God before we came to Him as Savior, we would realize that we had a debt too big to pay.  If we honestly assess how much we have offended the laws of God since we came to Him as Savior we would only discover our utter unworthiness to still be called His child.  But God’s grace is comprehensive.  It covers all.  It forgets our past, forgives our present and forecasts our future hope with Him in heaven for eternity. 

Bernard’s response to this boundless grace was a heartfelt cry to have his whole mind and heart caught up daily into the acute awareness of God.  In response to this boundless grace Bernard offered up the greatest sacrifice he could give – himself.  Meditate today on the last lines of this great hymn that extols God’s boundless grace.  “Draw all my mind and heart up to your throne on high.  And let your sacred cross exalt my spirit to the sky.  To these, Your mighty hands, my spirit I resign.  In life I live alone to you; in death am yours alone.”  Thanks be to God for grace that covers us so comprehensively and rightly deserves all our sacrifice. 

You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

available here: 

                        http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BTSN1DU

  

Comprehensive Grace

“Complete in Thee, no other need; Thy grace abundant is my plea.  Whole at last in Christ alone; by grace my life complete in Thee.”  These simple lines express so clearly the truth that God’s grace is fully comprehensive.  We have looked at grace from A to Z and have barely begun to plumb the fullness of grace.  We can go over and over the alphabet to add on to the picture of the complete sufficiency of God’s grace.  If we ran out of words in our language we would have to make up more just to express the truth of how full the grace of God is.  But we will step back from alphabetizing for a while and see God’s grace in His word and in our lives from different perspectives.

Last week my wife and I took a short vacation.  It did not get off to the best start.  We were going to see our new grandson 230 miles from our home.  We had gone 50 miles when we heard an unpleasant “bump”.  The car didn’t react as if I had a flat tire, so we drove on.  A couple of miles later I had no power steering.  The air conditioner wasn’t working.  The engine was overheating.  It was 90 degrees outside and we were seemingly in the middle of nowhere.  Then, right in front of us was an exit.  We pulled off and found that the serpentine belt had broken.  A few hundred yards from where we stopped was a truck repair shop.  They helped us find a tow truck and a car mechanic.  Our son from our own town drove the 52 miles to pick us up and returned us the next day to pick up our fixed car and continue our trip. 

This kind of thing can happen to both the saved and the lost.  Does this mean that grace wasn’t involved?  I saw grace in it.  I saw a reason to be thankful in it.  Actually there turned out to be multiple reasons to be thankful that came about over the next few days.  I saw God’s care and felt God’s peace.  The Bible says that God causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust.  Who gets better mileage out of the rain?  Those who can see God’s grace in the heavenly drops.  Look for God’s grace in the sunshine and rain of your life.  It will enrich you greatly.  A heart full of thanks will produce a life full of joy. “Complete through grace, no other need; with heart of thanks for Christ’s supply. By joy enriched on Christ I feed; complete in Thee no other need.” 

 

You may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,

available here: 

                        http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BTSN1DU