Hebrews 12:4-14 says God corrects His children. And our Father's correction brings us to
"become partakers of His holiness" in His love's
"peaceable fruit of righteousness", I understand this scripture to mean.
And grace, ones say, is God's favor. Well, Hebrews 12:4-14 clearly says it is in our favor how
our Father corrects us because He loves us.
"But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." (Hebrews 12:8)
God favors how Jesus is > Romans 8:29 and how Jesus has loved us > Ephesians 5:2, and His grace acting in our character changes us to become like Jesus, and to love like Jesus >
"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)
And God in us favors us, by ruling us in His own peace >
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." (Colossians 3:15)
This is included, then, in our basic Christian calling >
"to which also you were called in one body", our Apostle Paul does say. So >
@Huygir > has Mike been making sure you know this is included in all which God's grace does in us?
And God is almighty; so His grace is almighty to get His results. We have in Philippians 4:6-7 how
"the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Does Mike make it clear how God's peace guards our hearts and minds? God is almighty; so His peace is almighty to be able to guard our hearts and minds against bitterness, frustration, anxiety and fear, lusts, confusion, hurts from our past, unforgiveness, and arguing and complaining stuff in us.
But, of course, this comes with doing what God's word says to do >
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard you hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
This is what God's grace has us doing. We need to obey God's grace in us . . . submit to God in us, I mean >
"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)
So, we do not need to merely obey what we can think God means by His word; but we need to personally submit to how God in us is working our willing and our doing
"for His good pleasure."
I can find this in the Bible > this is basic Bible. So, does he make this clear?
There are things to do, then, in order to have the benefits of God's grace, but His grace in us has us doing these things. In case we desire to be "children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation" > here is what God says to do >
"Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain." (Philippians 2:14-16)
Right "in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation", we can "become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault". So, this is a basic of God's word, what God's grace almighty in us succeeds in doing, I would say.
So, has Mike been helping you know this and grow in this?
God bless you, howsoever He pleases and is able in His own grace.
