An Abundance of Grace

I can rest in the understanding that I am complete because of Jesus in me and I can rest in the whole growth issue because it’s in God’s hands , it’s His work.

You know, after you are genuinely saved, Christ is no longer ‘out there’ or ‘up there’ or ‘somewhere’. But He is forever IN THERE, in you, and you are IN HIM. Let this really sink in. Union in Christ is one of the most fundamental creeds we have.

I can relate to Peter; he was a ‘ doer’ , a ‘get r done’ kind of guy. So, he couldn’t just sit around waiting for Jesus. I think he was also the kind of guy that could carry a big load, a big load of guilt that is. So, after Christ had risen from the grave and they had made the trek to Galilee, Peter said to his fellows, “I’m going fishing.” I mean what else was there to do besides wait.

Yes, fundamentally, God’s love through us is a choice, our choice, our response . It’s His love, His power, but our response. And as if to amplify this point, Jesus told the guys, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” That is, this choosing ability should never go to our heads or be taken for granted for we only get to choose God’s love because He first chose us .

The implications of this verse are staggering. If you love Christ and keep His word, you’ll be loved by God Almighty and both the Father and Son will come to you and make a home with you. Think of that! No camp out. Not a visit. But a permanent residence, a home or dwelling.

And we should note that all signs given by God are intended to generate trust in Him: And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:30,31)

And as you may already know, it was an impossible command for men to obey. People can give ‘lip-service’ to it but no one without the help of the Holy Spirit can love God that way, or one’s neighbor. Mankind simply could not (and cannot) keep the Law, so Jesus fulfilled it and set it aside:

So why did Christ use the two men and two judgements along with their similarities and distinctions? I’ll suggest that it is because there will be two groups of people, God’s people, who will be saved from or in the midst of catastrophe in the last days.

Beyond this, they witness the power and value of God’s love. They see that because of God’s love in and through us, for unlike the angels, we are graciously united in one with Him and they witness that God chooses to make His home with us:

Before the age of earth, they witnessed the creation of the cosmos both seen and unseen. They saw how the Almighty created, nurtured and ruled all things. They beheld His indescribable beauty and light, His wonderful kindness and power, His glory.

You see, God is far greater than we have the ability to imagine. He’s not a soothsayer; He’s not looking forward in time. He’s not just knowing all things; all things exist in and because of Him.

Whenever it dawns on you that you’re trying harder but actually just warming yourself by the enemy’s fire, remember what Peter learned. Remember Christ’s love. Remember this life, called Christianity, is NOT about you, your reputation, your glory, your ‘ministry’, your efforts. It’s simply a matter of trusting obedience to His will.

Aren’t you glad that Christ is eternally good and loving? This is an eternal union, which as far as we know is not offered to the angels and it may even be what was behind the plan for man from the beginning:

So, what the Holy Spirit is teaching us in this is that it is critical to ‘take in’ Jesus, to take Him into our souls, our inner man. It’s a spiritual lesson!

Clearly, the rivers here (also torrents, floods) of living water represent the Holy Spirit, but most believers think of the Spirit as being received as in verse 39. However, Jesus spoke of it as pouring out of our heart as a torrent or flood. So, it’s a gift to us and a gift through us . Let’s consider both these actions to see what we can glean.

He wants a burning heart . He’s looking for a heart filled with joyful discovery of Who He is and the solid, everlasting realization of His Being.

You see, contrary to modern ‘theology’, Jesus wasn’t just a good man, wasn’t just a prophet, wasn’t even just a Savior; the power of His love and purity was so great that He did all that we could see with our eyes that was miraculous AND what we couldn’t see - He carried all of our sin (and its consequences) with Him to hell (where it belongs).

Although He was the victim of victims, the ultimate victim of all time because He was faulted for all our sins. But He never acted like a victim because He knew He was the Victor, the Victor over death and He used that status to minister mercy and grace to Peter.

What did she touch? The word used in the Greek for “hem” referred to a tassel, but in two accounts, Jesus specified “Me”. That is, Christ knew she had contacted Him , His inner being, not simply His garment. He explained, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” (Luke 8:46)

Irrespective of your life’s circumstances, rich or poor, leader or loser, exalted or expelled, if you come to Christ, He will respond to you. You may actually touch Him from behind or worship Him before His face and He will respond.

When the morning stars sang together , And all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:7) Now, this verse is the Lord speaking to Job. At the conclusion of his tribulation, God chided him, saying: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. ” (Job 38:4)

A single word from Jesus turned dear Mary from a weeper to a worshipper. Of course, it was a spirit-filled word as are all the words from Christ. In an instant, she was no longer feeling alone or forsaken. Her Maker, her Love, her Redeemer was clearly alive.

Even in the beginning, there was a distinction between life and eternal life (which was available via the tree of life – see Gen 3:22) and it was always a choice. There was/is more to life than just living.

So, what is the person who thirsts spiritually looking for? What do they sense that they lack? Purpose, love, life, consolation, understanding, truth, wisdom,… many possibilities. I’ll suggest that anytime a person senses that they are missing, lacking something inside , not money or power or any fleshly thing; but rather, they are missing something in the heart, they are thirsty.

The first eviction. The language indicates that it was forceful. And the follow up made it clear that there was no coming back to Eden and especially to the tree of life for God placed at least two powerful angels and an impassable flaming sword to guard the way.