Ephesians 2:5b-9
…it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift from God - not by works, so that no one can boast.
Reinhard Bonnke, in his book, Faith; The Link With God’s Power, writes, “… the Greek word used for faith in Christ means moving close to him in trustful love. It is an embrace…He is the divine Lover, and we are those he came to love.” and he is the Lord God “whom everyone could fling his or her arms around.”
Is there now, or has there ever been another god who chose/chooses to be so intimate with mankind?
“It is by grace that you have been saved.”
God’s
Riches
At
Christ’s
Expense.
Both grace and faith are gifts from God. Neither of them can be mustered up from within ourselves. He gives us grace and he also gives us faith to believe in that grace.
And what is faith?
Is is closing our eyes in the presence of danger and hoping it goes away?
Is it shrinking inside of ourselves and waiting to see if God will be faithful?
NO! It’s an embrace! Faith is moving into Christ’s embrace; letting him be my shield against danger, understanding the unique relationship I have with him that leads to the understanding that in every circumstance I am safe in the arms of my savior.
Outside sources cannot harm the inner me. I am given the faith to understand this. And it is a gift from God, so that I cannot boast.
How crazy is that??
No matter what happens to the tent I live in, I am safe in the embrace of my Savior, who gave his life for me just so that I could spend eternity wrapped in his arms!
