grace – The Center City Christian

Justified by Faith, Access by Faith

Romans 5:1-2 KJV

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Real Talk – What Is Sanctification?

I’ve wanted to write this post for a while now. In the Real Talk post titled The Way, the Truth, and the Life, we learned that God’s Word is sanctifying truth (John 17:17). John 17:19 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13 are other verses that relate sanctification with the truth.

Sanctified, sanctify(ing) is to cleanse or set apart for sacred use; to declare or make holy. Sanctification is becoming more and more like Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. And its meaning is described in Romans 6:1—8:39; submitting our flesh and thoughts to God’s Word and walking out our kingdom purpose through renewal and regeneration. I encourage you to read it!

What I would like to do for this post is make some connections between verses that use a form of the word sanctify:

For example, in Romans 15:16 and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, sanctification has to do with the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 and 1 Peter 1:2 include the word peace; Acts 20:32, Hebrews 10:29, and 1 Peter 1:2 have the word grace.

According to 1 Corinthians 7:14, God regards marriage as sanctified through one believing husband or wife.

1 Thessalonians 4:3 states that it is God’s will, our sanctification: that we should avoid sexual immorality.

1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, and 1 Peter 1:2 refer to being “called” or “chosen”—God’s foreknowledge of one’s salvation and purpose (Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1:4).

Offerings are a theme of Romans 15:16, Hebrews 9:13, Hebrews 10:29, and 1 Peter 1:2; the blood of Christ as the perfect sacrifice, specifically, in Hebrews 10:29 and 1 Peter 1:2.

Jesus is speaking in Acts 26:18, when He appeared to Paul, telling us that we find sanctification by faith in Him; 1 Corinthians 1:2 and 1 Corinthians 6:11 tell us in Christ Jesus and His name.

Romans 15:16, 1 Corinthians 6:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 10:29, and 1 Peter 1:2 all point to the Holy Spirit as the source of sanctification.

Acts 20:32 focuses on how the message of God’s grace can build us up; 20:32 and 26:18 speak on the inheritance given us among those who are sanctified. Similarly, discipleship is the tutelage and teaching of biblical doctrine that leads to sanctification.

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Made Alive in Christ

Ephesians 2:1-10 KJV

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Real Talk – Where Sin Abounded, Grace Did Much More Abound

When we speak about Jewish law, we refer to the old covenant—the law of God or the law of Moses. These are the Ten Commandments.

God gave us the Ten Commandments to reveal the law and justice of His nature and will. And as a guide for us to live lovingly and responsibly. There were three categories of law in the Old Testament. Some were ceremonial, some civil, and some moral.

By Jesus’ time, the Pharisees had added hundreds of religious traditions to the law. They often tried to accuse Him of breaking what had become more like a set of rules. Matthew 12:1-8 is one example that illustrates this.

Law-keeping became more important than God’s law of love. When Jesus spoke about a new way of understanding God’s law, He was trying to point people back to its original purpose—the moral and ceremonial laws given to help people love God with all their hearts and minds. Which Jesus later said were the greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37 NIV) And “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31 NIV)

In Matthew 5:17, we see that Jesus did not come to destroy the law but fulfill it. And John 1:17 shows us that Christ revealed the grace and truth of God’s nature and will!

Galatians 2:15-19 tells us that obeying the law will not make us acceptable to God or save us. But it is holy, and just, and good (Romans 7:12) and still has an important role as a guide for us in the Christian life.

The Cross — ***Romans 5:20-21 KJV***

***20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:***

***21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.***

When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we begin operating under the new covenant—grace by faith. Romans 3:25 shows us that the shedding of Christ’s blood on the cross paid the penalty of death for our sin—propitiation. Jesus stands in our place! And through faith in Him, we stand acquitted, or not guilty, before God (Romans 3:21-24).

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6)! Having been tempted in every way, He can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:14-15). Through Him, we can come boldly unto God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). By that same grace, we are raised in heavenly places with God in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6). And He will always catch us when we fall!

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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Righteousness Through Faith

Romans 3:21-31 KJV

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

In Pisidian Antioch

Acts 13:13-52 KJV

13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.

16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.

17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18 And about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness.

19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot.

20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.

22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.

25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.

27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.

28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain.

29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.

30 But God raised him from the dead:

31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.

32 And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34 And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets;

41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.

42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.

48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.

52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-12 KJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

Colossians 3:1-17 KJV

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

The Word Became Flesh

John 1:1-18 KJV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.