Contending for the Faith
Bob Hoekstra. "The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ," Day By Day By Grace. Blue Letter Bible. 19 Mar 2004. 21 Nov 2011.
The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
God wants us to know His grace. He wants us to learn about it, and then experience it at work in our lives. Grace has rightly been described as "unmerited favour." The acronym, "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" catches more of its majesty. Grace is God freely providing for us (as we trust in the work of His Son) all that we will ever need, all that we will ever yearn for, all that He has commanded us to walk in and become—realities that we could never produce on our own, could never earn, and could never deserve. Grace offers what every human desperately needs, but what God alone can provide.
This grace is found only in a person, the Lord Jesus. It is the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." Thus, it is accessible only through an ongoing personal relationship with Him.
Grace was made available to us by Jesus' willingness to take our spiritual bankruptcy upon Himself that we might partake of His spiritual richness. Before coming to earth below, Jesus enjoyed heavenly riches above ("that though He was rich"). He knew the infinitely rich fellowship of the Father and the Spirit. He received the rich worship of angelic beings. He enjoyed the limitless rights and privileges of deity.
Then, for our benefit, Jesus voluntarily became poor ("for your sakes He became poor"). He humbled Himself to walk as a man among sinful humanity. He who was adored above became despised below. He who shined forth in glorious divinity in heaven was clothed in humble humanity on earth. He who created all things was slain by those He created. He who existed in eternity past died in time. He who was holy took our sin upon Himself.
Through these workings of His grace, all who believed in Him would become spiritually rich ("that you through His poverty might become rich"). Now, we whose "righteousnesses were as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) have become "the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). We "who once were not a people…are now the people of God" (1 Peter 2:10). Now, we have been "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14–16
Special Notices
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Read our Alerts page for special interest items...
Alerts, Notices and 'In the Media'...
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The Judgment was Set, and the Books were Opened
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The UK Assemblies of God: A Different Movement with the Same Name
- Brian Houston associating with Robert Schuller
- Purpose Driven Issues
- Islam
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The Judgment was Set, and the Books were Opened
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Contending Earnestly for The Faith :: CETF 58 – December 2011 – Out Soon
See the Mail List page for more information.
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Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu's Christmas Greetings 2011
The Prime Minister extends his warmest wishes to all "Christian" friends of Israel around the world, in this brief video message: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRm0NV88bbA.
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by Frank Turvey & B. Michael Bigg :: CWM Fellowship and Chrislam PDF
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by Philip Powell :: AoG and Elim - Living In a Fool's Paradise PDF
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by Philip Powell :: Assemblies of God - UK - A Different Movement with the Same Name PDF
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by Philip Powell :: Cessationism v Biblicism - Part9 PDF
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by Richard Bennett :: John Paul II: Blessed in the Sight of God? PDF
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| 9:30a.m. There will be evangelistic opportunities in our services. So please use every opportunity to bring friends—saved and unsaved—on all occasions. Let’s seek to make CWMF a Soul-Winning Centre – “He who continually goes forth weeping, Bearing seed for sowing, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, Bringing his sheaves with him”(Psalm 126:6). | |
| There will not be a fellowship lunch this month. Tea & coffee will be provided as usual – come and enjoy this time of fellowship. | |
| Sunday School, Ladies Bible Study and Home Groups will commence in February 2012. | |
| CWMF AGM will be held in February 2012 |
Did You Know
- Sunday School – in recess until February 2012.
- Ladies’ Bible Study – in recess until February 2012.
- Management Meeting – on Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm on 13 December 2011 at the home of Philip and Kath Powell.
- Home Group – in recess until February 2012.
- CWMF Prayer Meeting – Friday evenings on 6 and 20 January – at 7pm evangelism and at 8pm – CWM Fellowship prayer. All are welcome.
- CWMF Prayer Meeting – Wednesday mornings - in recess until February 2012.
- Ephesians 1:3-6 (NKJV) “Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
- A Prayer: “Dear Lord, I thank You and praise You for Your great grace toward me. May I increasingly know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ through a growing relationship with Him. May I become an instrument of Your grace in the lives of others, all for Your glory and honour, in Jesus' name, Amen.”