THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION [Part 2].
SONG
Give me Thy grace to follow
Abundant grace to follow
I need Thy grace to follow
Thy grace is enough for me
TEXT
"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." (Matthew 18 verses 12 to 13).
The soul of a man is very important to God, our Creator. Therefore, our Father tirelessly searches for His lost children, yearning to guide them back into the fold.
God's grace seeks after the souls of men when they stray. He seeks for His missing children, like the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek after the strayed one, to the end that He brings them back home and that He may fulfill the purposes for which they were created.
Just as the father of the prodigal son longed for him and eventually welcomed him home, so our Heavenly Father waits with eagerness to welcome and embrace the repentant soul.
The Bible says, in the book of Luke 15 verse 7 that there is rejoicing in Heaven over one soul that repents.
"I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
The grace of God reached Apostle Paul with a purpose, as shown in the following verses of Scripture.
"But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee," (Acts 26 verses 16 to 17)
Apostle Paul was evidently a persecutor of the body of Christ. He had consented to the killing of Deacon Stephen. As he was on a mission to wreck more havoc on the Church, the grace of God found and set him apart for a purpose. God's singular purpose was to take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul never knew that purpose, neither did he pray for it, but Grace found him and positioned him on course.
The Bible doesn't say that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to some certain people, but rather it says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." (Titus 2 verse 11).
"To all men" embraces everybody, including you and I; and even that unbeliever whom you consider to be too sinful to receive pardon, let alone to be saved.
In 1 John 2 verse 2 , the Bible says that the Lord Jesus "is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
Christ is our Mercy Seat, where God meets us in mercy and forgiveness; and through whom in these latter days speaks to us (Hebrews 1 verses 1 verses 2). Indeed, Christ's offering is for all. He tasted "death for every man" (Hebrews 2 verse 9).
This grace has been made available to you, my beloved brethren. Don't lose sight of this rare privilege. Let us come unto Him just as we are. He is able to save us “to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25)
PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your grace that has been made available to me, in Jesus name.