January 2002  

Dear Christian Believers, God bless you abundantly in Christ Jesus.

Wayne Clapp and I are reading a book written by Charles Swindoll titled, "The Grace Awakening." Charlie Quillen had shared some detail Out of this book during a teaching he did in Rockford, Illinois last November. Wayne and I enjoyed Charlie's teaching and decided to read Swindoll's book for ourselves.

Charles Swindoll exhorts the Church to awaken to God's grace so that it doesn't restrain or limit the dynamics of Christian living. I believe the exhortation of his book is very timely, in that there has been a rise of legalism among many groups over these past years and the "grace of God" has been forgotten, not understood, or pushed aside purposefully to control and run the lives of others.

The word "awake," means ... "to become conscious or aware of something, to make active again." Unless the Christian believer awakens to grace living - the "new" creature or creation in Christ of II Corinthians 5:17 sleeps or remains subdued.

Ezra 9:8(a)
"And now for a little space grace hath been shewd from the Lord our God..."

Our "little space of grace" that we've been given is the administration of grace, "The Age of Grace." God has given us time and space, (room) to grow, a time to develop and manifest the Christ in us so all things might become new. When Martin Luther awakened to grace ... the "Reformation was on". The "grace" of God has been given to us to use, NOT abuse. God's grace is fertile ground to grow in, to be productive for God and ourselves, to manifest fruit that remains, and thus glorify our heavenly Father.

Legalists or "grace killers," as Swindoll refers to them, deny the greatness of God's grace. Legalism binds the believer's freedom and liberty in Christ, and it short-circuits God working within him to do of His good will and pleasure. "Grace" is "unmerited (unearned) divine favor; it is to extend favor or kindness to one who does not deceive it and could not earn it."

Another problem that surfaces is, the "given to license," boys, those who accept "grace" and it's liberty, but not it's responsibility. They say, "I'm saved by grace so I can do whatever I want," using it for an occasion to the flesh.

Galatians 5:13
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another,
Through God's grace we have freedom and liberty in Christ to grow in him, and to love and serve one another. It's not an excuse to just do as you please, being self-serving. In our country we have freedom and liberty too, but with it comes responsibility. It's the same thing with God's grace. Grace allows us to make mistakes as we endeavor to grow up in Christ. The legalist and the given to license boys are both wrong and are the enemies of grace. Let us not be fooled by either system, but rather use our "space of grace" to grow up in Christ and be no more children tossed to and fro by the systems of the world that are of no profit to God or us. 2002 has begun and God has given us everything we need, to live, to give and to enjoy. So live, give, and enjoy this New Year, abounding in God's grace.

Abounding in God's grace with you,

John