"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7).
While communicating with a dear sister in Christ this week, she brought my attention to the way I close my correspondence: "in His service by God's grace" or any number of its variations:
In His service and at yours by God's grace
In His service by God's grace in Jesus' name
In His peace by God's grace
In His peace by God's grace through the Cross
...etceteras, ad infinitum...
It appears on my emails. It appears in my formal letters. It appears on our website and lately, on my blogs at Sermon Audio. I had been using that for years and when this beloved saint noticed it and brought it up, it reminded me that I used to hear Pastor Chuck Smith say time and time again, "You can not know the peace of God until you know the grace of God."
That truth has stayed with me to this day and I believe the depth of that truth is what has really distinguished the teaching ministry that the Lord has allowed me to serve Him with.
The word "grace" is bandied about like a mantra among so many ministers these days; yet, the truth of the Cross back of that grace is missing. A bloodless gospel is preached; and instead of the Person of Jesus Christ being exalted and the knowledge of Him being exalted in Scripture, it has been replaced by a "relevant application" for the pettiness our lives must struggle through now. O LORD God, save us from that perverse minset that besets us!
Biblical grace means the glory and wonder of the Cross! The wretchedness of man and the utter hopelessness of sin is only realized when the Holy Spirit supernaturally impresses the truth of the Cross of Jesus Christ upon the soul with whom the Word of God is working.
I can't boast of material wealth or possessions. We don't lead or even serve within some huge multi-million dollar ministry. Very few people have ever even heard of the work we do. In fact, my messages aren't what you called polished, like a lot of the guys you hear on the radio (or here at Sermon Audio). I often stutter. Even in some of my articles, devotions, or publications, I find typos long after its been published. Nevertheless, I am absolutely certain of this: I have peace that surpasses understanding because I have been faithful to do two things in service before God...
It is written,
"For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).
I took that Scripture verse to heart because I know the depth of God's grace through the offense and the foolishness of the Cross of Jesus Christ.
To know God's peace through His grace; so many people that Lisa and I have counseled with over the years have so struggled to know God's peace but cannot because they will not come to Him by His grace.
And yet, there's even more. When once you've received God's peace by His grace, God will multiply both His grace and peace in your life. How's that? It is through the knowledge of Him. It is through the reading of God's Word as He supernaturally revealed Himself to us because of the Cross.
" Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:2-4).
Sermons, messages, devotions, preaching, etc., that attempt to teach us to live and lead godly, glorious, and virtuous lives apart from the knowledge of God through His grace at the Cross of Calvary, and the revelation of Jesus Christ in His holy Word, will never bring a life of peace. That life will fall short of the true shalom of God, as His peace is eternal and only found in the Prince of Peace, Jesus the Son of the Living God.
I am ever...
in His service and incredible peace by God's grace,
pastor jon
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