Christian Message Boards: GRACE ABOUNDING

This is topic GRACE ABOUNDING in forum Bible Topics & Study at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by WildB (Member # 2917) on :

by Cornelius R. Stam

In a letter to his spiritual son, Timothy, Paul wrote, some 1900 years ago, about his conversion:

"[I] was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANT..." (I Tim. 1:13,14).

And he follows this with the now-famous declaration:

"THIS IS A FAITHFUL SAYING, AND WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION, THAT CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS, OF WHOM I AM CHIEF" (Ver 15).

Upon reading this statement by Paul, those who know their Bibles will immediately recall the words of Rom. 5:20,21:

"...the law entered, that the offence might abound, BUT WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND; THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED... SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN..."

These two passages from the pen of Paul have a closer connection than may appear on the surface. The Apostle Paul, once Saul of Tarsus, had led his nation and the world in rebellion against Christ. "As for Saul," we read in Acts 8:3, "he made havoc of the church," and he himself testified to the Galatians: "Ye have heard... how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and laid it waste" (Gal. 1:13).

Yet God, in infinite mercy, had saved Saul, not only for Saul's own sake, but to make him the living demonstration of His grace. Thus in writing to Timothy, the Apostle goes on to explain:

"Howbeit, FOR THIS CAUSE I OBTAINED MERCY, THAT IN ME FIRST JESUS CHRIST MIGHT SHOW FORTH ALL LONGSUFFER1NG, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD HEREAFTER BELIEVE ON HIM TO LIFE EVERLASTING" (I Tim. 1:16).

Let us, then, take our places with Saul, the sinner, and find salvation by grace through Christ, the Savior. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

Posted by Eden (Member # 5728) on :

dear brother WildB, I appreciate and have appreciated your postings of brother Cornelius R. Stam's contributions to Christianity, and I am thankful that you ARE posting them.

But what has the Bible taught YOU, WildB, that you would like to share with us in your own words?

love,
brother Eden von B. oder Z.

Posted by WildB (Member # 2917) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Eden:

But what has the Bible taught YOU, WildB, that you would like to share with us in your own words?

love,
brother Eden von B. oder Z.

That I must decrease and He must increase.

Posted by Eden (Member # 5728) on :

Originally posted by Eden to WildB:

quote:
But what has the Bible taught YOU, WildB, that you would like to share with us in your own words?

And WildB answered

quote:
That I must decrease and He must increase.

Okay, let's say that someone is sitting in the pews of this bbs, listening to that statement. What does it mean for you to "decrease", WildB, so that "He may increase"?

Like, in what are you decreasing exactly?

love, Eden