We'd love to receive your on this article!

AMAZING G R A C E

Just when I thought that this series on GRACE was waning, another passage springs to life ! It's like looking at a wonderful lustrous diamond.

There's always another facet that reflects and sparkles another insight to this topic of truly AMAZING G R A C E that John Newton wrote about so long ago.

That Philip Yancey in WHATS SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE wrote about so well someone described this as "one of the best Christian books ever written" (and I would agree)

But this passage, hidden away within 2 Corinthians, covers two interesting aspects

The first of which is that the realisation of Jesus' work of Grace, is a REVELATION . we either see it, or we dont !

6 God is the one who has helped us tell others about his new agreement to save them. We do not tell them that they must obey every law of God or die; but we tell them :here is life for them from the Holy Spirit. The old way, trying to be saved by keeping the 10 Commandments, ends in death; in the new way, the Holy Spirit gives them life.

7 Yet that old system of law that led to death began with such glory that people could not bear to look at Moses face. For as he gave them God's law to obey, his face shone out with the very glory of God - though the brightness was already fading away.

8 Shall we not expect far greater glory in these days when the Holy Spirit is giving life?

9 If the plan that leads to doom was glorious, much more glorious is the plan that makes men right with God.

10 In fact, that first glory as it shone from Moses' face is worth nothing at all in comparison with the overwhelming glory of the new agreement.

11 So if the Old system that faded into nothing was full of heavenly glory, the glory of God's new plan for our salvation is certainly far greater, for it is eternal.

12 Since we know that this new glory will never go away, we can preach with great boldness,

13 And not as Moses did, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelis could not see the glory fade away.

14 Not only Moses' face was veiled, but his people's minds and understanding were veiled and blinded too. Even now when the Scripture is read it seems as though Jewish hearts and minds are covered by a thick veil, because they cannot see and understand the real meaning of the Scriptures. For this veil of misunderstanding can be removed only by believing in Christ.

15 Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings their hearts are blind and they think that obeying the Ten Commandments is the way to be saved.

16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord from his sins then the veil is taken away.

17 The Lord is the Spirit who gives them life, and where he is there is freedom [from trying to be saved by keeping the laws of God].

18 But we Christians have no veil over our faces; we can be mirrors that brighty reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him

2 Corinthians 3 Living New Testament

The recurring evidence is that LEGALISTS, promoters of the Law, or those who MIX LAW with GRACE, just dont, or wont, 'get it'

There is a veil upon their 'heart' or their mind, that Paul refers to their eyes need the application of EYESALVE to 'SEE' or discern spiritual truth.

You can shine a million watt search-light directly into the eyes of a blind person, but they will only say "what light ? I see nothing"

Again and again, over and over, repeatedly, this is evident some very dear, well meaning people just dont 'see it' at all GRACE is just a word, or a doctrine, not a living vibrant reality !

(And what really bothers me, is that some people usually the paid professionals, DONT WANT TO SEE IT at all their livelihood depends on keeping the pews filled regularly .... on people being continually dependent on them and their 'ministry' )

The King James version uses stronger words in some of these above passages ..

7 the ministration of death written and engraved on stones

9 the ministration of condemnation (the LAW) much more the ministration of righteousness (GRACE) is glorious

13 the end of that which is abolished ( the LAW)

14 the veil the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ.

Which leads on to the second aspect that has recently been emphasised by Joseph Prince in clips of his meetings shown on TV here in New Zealand each weekday evening.

The MIXING of LAW and GRACE is worse that each one being advocated separately. Their admixture brings confusion, and the neutralisation of Grace, and is called the ministration of death !

And that is what so many believers are still trying to do they begin in the Spirit Salvation by Faith but then slip back into depending on works to please God attendance at a 'Church' building, religious good deeds and practices, even theological and Scriptural studies, the religious 'brownie points' that we naturally try to revert to, to somehow try to please God and which we use to barter his continual favour.

All instead of the continued imputed righteousness of God by Faith in Jesus 2 Corinthians 5:21

if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the LAW Galatians 5:18

are you so foolish, having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh ? ( by 'fleshly' or natural religious deeds)

Galatians 3:3

The whole book of Galatians is about such LEGALISM and the legalists who mixed LAW with GRACE in his day, and those who still do it in this day and age, not realising that it ministers 'death'

And Romans Chapters 1 to 8

And Hebrews . written as the name says to the Jews, traditionalists and keepers of the Old Testament LAW

the letter (of the Law) kills, but the Spirit gives life 2 Corinthians 3:6

Oh the revelation of GRACE, that we all need to SEE, and to continue in

As Joseph Prince TV broadcasts usually end remember that

we are indeed

DEEPLY LOVED, GREATLY BLESSED, HIGHLY FAVOURED,

through A M A Z I N G G R A C E how sweet the sound !