Hi there,
So there is a very simple fact that needs to be addressed: there is a gospel, that progresses beyond "saved by Grace". Being saved by Grace is still foundational, but it is not exclusive. In other words, there is a time for being saved by Grace, but there is also a time for dying to yourself, that God's gospel take on a greater place. That place is in the heart. The maturity of dealing with Grace, is what grows. "Why do you deal with Grace?" you ask? It comes down to what Jesus said "unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it cannot produce more grain" (gospels, from memory). You may develop faith, at some point, but unless you surrender, as you did when you first fell in love, then your faith will remain dangerously close to being futile.
Why do we entertain faith if it is futile? There are a lot of ways to reminisce over the ways in which Grace remains foundational; I'm not saying that if you play your cards right you will never have to return to your foundation again. What I am saying is, that there is a dynamic, that grows out of our relationship with God, which moves beyond dealing with Grace. What is that dynamic? The dynamic is the relationship between "inspiration and peace", specifically 'inspiration to work', 'peace' that surpasses understanding. What does this mean? It means you get going and you don't look back! You are always pleased to return to the foundation of Grace, but you don't stay there.
What sort of works, should be inspired? That is down to the Holy Spirit; if you get on the ground level, with the Spirit of Truth, you know well, what will please God and what will not. It's about taking on things that advance the Kingdom of God, preaching, witnessing, sharing. There is power in this, because you do not work in vain, but when the Holy Spirit has lead you in what you should do, He comes alongside you and helps you with the work. That's one of the ways you can determine if you have moved on to a mature faith - if the Holy Spirit is with you in your work. The difference between this and the world, is that the World labours in vain, with no love for the work or the One that gives it to them: God.
And what is peace beyond understanding? Peace beyond understanding (as mentioned in the letters, from memory) is an acceptance of the heart, that God's Judgment is final, that God's power is righteous, that God rebukes the Devil. It is a resting, in the Spirit of God. This peace that surpasses all understanding, is able to make our beginning faith compatible, with our later more mature faith. The two are able to coexist. We should be feeding off each other, as our faith feeds off our faith. If we allow this or do this, our faith will grow. The peace that surpasses all understanding, is there that we should grow. In this God is manifest in Us, since He adds His Spirit to our efforts. If God does this, we know we are inspired of God and at peace with being One with God. There is no point in doing the works of God if you do not have peace with God (for which the foundation of Grace is important), but the greatness of our peace, should be awakening us to the remembrance and instruction of the Holy Spirit that makes our peace with God worthwhile (that is, through works). There is no point in returning to our foundation in Grace, without some sense, of where our faith needs to be renewed.
If we know we have peace and how we want our faith to be renewed, we no longer need to travail after the tradition of Grace, that is unmerited. Peace and renewal merit greater Grace, from God. Meriting greater Grace, brings inspiration. Pursuing inspiration, brings greater foundation. From there, we are able to win to Christ all the more - in great part because we no longer preach a message that is largely empty; empty as beginning faith without maturity is.
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
So there is a very simple fact that needs to be addressed: there is a gospel, that progresses beyond "saved by Grace". Being saved by Grace is still foundational, but it is not exclusive. In other words, there is a time for being saved by Grace, but there is also a time for dying to yourself, that God's gospel take on a greater place. That place is in the heart. The maturity of dealing with Grace, is what grows. "Why do you deal with Grace?" you ask? It comes down to what Jesus said "unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it cannot produce more grain" (gospels, from memory). You may develop faith, at some point, but unless you surrender, as you did when you first fell in love, then your faith will remain dangerously close to being futile.
Why do we entertain faith if it is futile? There are a lot of ways to reminisce over the ways in which Grace remains foundational; I'm not saying that if you play your cards right you will never have to return to your foundation again. What I am saying is, that there is a dynamic, that grows out of our relationship with God, which moves beyond dealing with Grace. What is that dynamic? The dynamic is the relationship between "inspiration and peace", specifically 'inspiration to work', 'peace' that surpasses understanding. What does this mean? It means you get going and you don't look back! You are always pleased to return to the foundation of Grace, but you don't stay there.
What sort of works, should be inspired? That is down to the Holy Spirit; if you get on the ground level, with the Spirit of Truth, you know well, what will please God and what will not. It's about taking on things that advance the Kingdom of God, preaching, witnessing, sharing. There is power in this, because you do not work in vain, but when the Holy Spirit has lead you in what you should do, He comes alongside you and helps you with the work. That's one of the ways you can determine if you have moved on to a mature faith - if the Holy Spirit is with you in your work. The difference between this and the world, is that the World labours in vain, with no love for the work or the One that gives it to them: God.
And what is peace beyond understanding? Peace beyond understanding (as mentioned in the letters, from memory) is an acceptance of the heart, that God's Judgment is final, that God's power is righteous, that God rebukes the Devil. It is a resting, in the Spirit of God. This peace that surpasses all understanding, is able to make our beginning faith compatible, with our later more mature faith. The two are able to coexist. We should be feeding off each other, as our faith feeds off our faith. If we allow this or do this, our faith will grow. The peace that surpasses all understanding, is there that we should grow. In this God is manifest in Us, since He adds His Spirit to our efforts. If God does this, we know we are inspired of God and at peace with being One with God. There is no point in doing the works of God if you do not have peace with God (for which the foundation of Grace is important), but the greatness of our peace, should be awakening us to the remembrance and instruction of the Holy Spirit that makes our peace with God worthwhile (that is, through works). There is no point in returning to our foundation in Grace, without some sense, of where our faith needs to be renewed.
If we know we have peace and how we want our faith to be renewed, we no longer need to travail after the tradition of Grace, that is unmerited. Peace and renewal merit greater Grace, from God. Meriting greater Grace, brings inspiration. Pursuing inspiration, brings greater foundation. From there, we are able to win to Christ all the more - in great part because we no longer preach a message that is largely empty; empty as beginning faith without maturity is.
I hope this has been of some encouragement.
God bless.
