To meet the President of the United States or the Queen of England, or any head of state, we probably have to have “˜connections’ and certainly we would need to be “˜cleared’ by the right people. We cannot walk up and introduce ourselves – and this holds true in our approach to God. We need to have a “˜connection’ and we need to be “˜cleared’. What a blessing of God’s grace – anyone can have the clearance needed to approach God and that is through Jesus Christ. God’s grace has made the “˜connection’ we need to be in His presence. God’s grace has given the protocol in approaching Him. The most amazing thing…it is God’s grace that first initiates the process for us to meet Him through His Son – this is God’s grace in action. God has validated us; He has made it possible for us to know Him personally. God’s grace has been extended to anyone, today or in the past. One person is Abraham in the Old Testament.
(NASB) Romans 4:16
“For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that
the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,”
God has guaranteed all believers in Christ a promise which comes by faith. It is in accord with the grace of God. It is God’s grace that makes it possible to be justified in His sight.
(NASB) Romans 4:18-19
“In hope against hope he (Abraham) believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “˜SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.’
19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;”
Abraham’s hope was faith in God and His promise to produce an heir. Abraham’s faith did not waver, he was fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He had promised…despite the circumstances of both Abraham and Sarah being unable to conceive.
(NIV) Romans 4:21-22
“and being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
22 This is why “˜it was credited to him as righteousness.'”
Abraham’s faith was in God, he was fully persuaded of God’s power in his life to produce His promised heir for Abraham through Sarah.
God’s grace was at work in the lives of Abraham and Sarah. God’s grace is also at work in the lives of followers of Christ today. We have been given the “˜clearance’ to approach God through the Lord Jesus Christ. That is God’s grace!
We also are to be fully persuaded that God’s power will do all that He has promised in our lives. Has He promised us an easy life? Don’t think so, but He has promised that He is with us in the middle of the hard times as well as the easy times of our lives.
God’s grace points us to His power to fulfill His promises to us.
