By Mark Finley, On Solid Ground 2003, RHPA

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgives you. Ephesians 4:32.

Jacquie sat on one side of the room, the board members on the other. The chasm between them seemed almost impossible to span.

Jacquie had grown up in her hometown church, but the ties were severed when she left her first husband and married another man. Now, 20 years later, she desired rebaptism. She sobbed out her repentance and asked for forgiveness.

Silence followed. The board knew her situation well, the pain it had brought the congregation. Could they bridge the chasm?

I knew I had to speak. I spoke kindly but directly. “She has suffered enough. Let’s not give her any more pain. Paul’s counsel is for us to be kind to one another, ‘tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you’ (Ephesians 4:32, KJV). If God, in all of His perfection, accepts and forgives us, we can forgive Jacquie.”

With quivering lips, her voice cracking, she responded. “I know I have done wrong,” she said. “For years I have felt guilty. At times the guilt has almost driven me crazy. Please accept me.”

I noticed a tear in the first elder’s eye. Then I realized that most of the church board were crying. Soon a chorus of voices responded in unison, “Of course—of course we will accept you.” Warmth, love, and acceptance filled the room. Board members reassured Jacquie of their love. Some hugged her. Others squeezed her hand in the warmth of Christian fellowship.

I stood back, recognizing again that our church was never more the church than at that moment. Here was the love of God in action. Here was Calvary demonstrated in the family of God.

As He hung dying on the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Forgiveness is an attitude of mercy toward those who have wronged us. It releases others from our condemnation because Christ has released us from His condemnation. It treats others as they do not deserve, because Christ treats us as we do not deserve. The essence of Christianity is forgiving like Christ forgives, accepting like Christ accepted, and loving like Christ loved.

By Roberto Badenas. Director of Education, Euro-Africa Division

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds” (Titus 2:11-14, NRSV).

This short hymn to the grace of God may be one of the most beautiful summaries of the gospel in the New Testament. In a context that emphasizes the practical aspects of the Christian life, this text presents a theological foundation on which the transforming power of God’s grace is revealed in Christ.

Grace as Undeserved Favor
When we humans depart from God, we depart from the source of life. But we remain under the power and influence of all the other laws of the universe. The laws acting on our moral and spiritual fall can be compared with the law of gravity. Unless there is force to prevent it, whatever is exposed to the force of gravity falls all the way down.

Similarly, only the power of grace can counteract the downward pull of a moral fall. Sin, like gravity, pulls us down; grace lifts us up.

After giving a list of instructions for different people in the church, Paul recalls that the theological basis for godly living is “the grace of God.” Nothing more, nothing less. The entire plan of redemption is rooted in God’s grace.

In our text the adjective soterios, found only here in the New Testament, defines grace as “saving.” The goal of grace is to bring salvation, to restore fallen humanity to a new life of never-ending communion and friendship with God.

God’s grace, like the heavens, embraces the wide world, providing a free offer of salvation for all humanity. Although God’s grace has been manifested in all His actions, grace appeared personified in the revelation of Jesus Christ (John 1:17). If God is the source of grace, and salvation is its goal, Christ is the greatest agent of God’s grace.

In the four Gospels, Jesus never used the word “grace.” But He always spoke and acted with grace. His person, His whole life, was grace in action. From the first two disciples whom Jesus met in the Jordan valley at the beginning of His ministry, until the thief who died beside Him on Calvary, Jesus spent His life revealing God’s grace to those around him. The leper, the adulterous woman, Matthew, Zacchaeus–all were accepted without condition and transformed by His grace.

John and Andrew, the Samaritan woman, and many others all became successful missionaries, sharing the gospel with their relatives, neighbors, and friends (John 1:35-42). Even the repentant criminal hanging on the cross, surprised by grace, became a channel of grace for his colleague (Luke 23:39-43).

Transformed Through Grace
The grace of God is often presented as an amazing divine disposition favorable toward humankind. Titus 2:11-14 describes grace as the action of a committed teacher.

I have worked in education in Europe for about 40 years, and I have often desired to transform the circumstances or the lives of my students. Like many educators, I have visited the Italian town of Collodi in beautiful Tuscany. In this town visitors take photographs of a monument to a toy, the famous Pinocchio. Created by Carlo Collodi (pseudonym of Carlo Lorenzini, 1826-1890), it is actually a parable for adults about the ultimate goal of education.

The tale speaks of a craftsman who made a fine puppet boy out of wood, which he called Pinocchio. He dreamed that the toy might one day become a real boy. In this story the dream comes true.

Although this is fiction, the best educators dream of being miracle workers. Remember the story of Anne Sullivan, about whom the movie The Miracle Worker was made? This famous story tells the remarkable experience of a young teacher who helped a wild deaf and blind child named Helen Keller become a highly educated thinker, a role model for millions. What an amazing miracle!

Our text says that grace teaches us how to live. The theology of grace is a theology of change. But not in a magical way, independent of ourselves. The verb paideuo used here means “to train, to instruct, to educate.” If the law had a pedagogical function of leading us to Christ (Gal. 3:24), grace goes much further, producing a new creation, transforming us on the inside by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2).

This transforming task of grace produces a decisive break with the past. Grace makes a converted life a liberated life. Grace not only teaches us to renounce the evil; it gives us the power to live victoriously.

Three adverbs describe the positive transforming action of grace in three dimensions of our existence: (1) sophronos (soberly)–grace working inwardly, toward a right relationship with one self; (2) dikaios (righteously)–grace working outwardly, toward a right relationship with others; and (3) eusebos (godly)–grace working upwardly, toward a right relationship with God.

These three changes produced by grace include the three most highly prized virtues in Greek education (self-control, justice, and piety). The gospel fulfills the highest aspirations of the best ethics of this world. But contrary to worldly philosophies, which look for power within oneself, the ethics of the gospel looks for power from God.

Looking to the Future
The third action of grace consists of uplifting our hearts for a glorious future.

“The blessed hope and glorious appearing” (NKJV wording) in our text are two subjects under a single article because they refer to the same event viewed from two sides. For believers the second coming of Christ is the consummation of our hope (1 Tim. 1:1). For Christ Himself this awaited appearing marks the culmination of His salvation mission.

The transforming action of grace is encompassed here as a process from grace to glory, from redemption to sanctification, from the past (verse 12) to the future (verse 13). The phrase “who gave himself for us” alludes to Christ’s sacrifice and ministry (Heb. 9:11-14), expressing both representation and solidarity.

From Christ’s ministry on our behalf three main actions are mentioned: to “redeem” us from all evil, to “purify” us from sin, and to qualify and motivate us for good works. The results of humanity’s covenant with God, from the Exodus to the end of times, are always the same: redemption, purification, and constitution of a new partnership with God (Eze. 37:23).

The words “to redeem us from all iniquity” make explicit that the effect of grace is not merely deliverance from the penalty of sin, but also from its power and consequences.

To “purify,” indicates that the goal of grace is spiritual restoration of the believers to God’s likeness, to His friendship, and to His service. God liberates His people so He can be their God (Ex. 6:6). Saving, justifying grace leads to sanctifying grace. The grace of God is the ground of all sanctification. True conversion includes discipleship.

The expected result is a “chosen, special, dedicated people” (periousios), “zealous of good works” (KJV). The remnant people of God are a committed people who combine watching and doing. The blessed hope makes them watch as they work until the Lord comes.

In fact, it is divine grace expressed in the quality of all our human relationships that will be the most effective witness of the church to the character of God’s saving purpose. Dispensing grace was the central mission of Jesus. Dispensing grace is the central mission of the church. Theology and ethics belong together. A correct understanding of God’s will produces a coherent obedience to His commandments. There is an inseparable connection between conviction and conduct, between faith and facts, between belief and behavior.

The results of the Fall–sin, guilt, condemnation, fear, anger, and a multitude of negative, self-centered emotions–destroy the beauty we were created to exhibit. But the transforming power of God’s grace makes of us finally the wonderful people God created us to be. Through Christ, transformed by His grace, our future is bright.

Source:  adventistreview.org

By Mark Finley, On Solid Ground 2003, RHPA

To him the door keeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3.

Peter Marshall, born in Scotland, was one of America’s well-known ministers. He allowed God’s voice to guide him throughout his life. One night in his childhood he decided to take a shortcut across the moors on his way home. The area was noted for limestone quarries. He was familiar with the terrain and felt he could safely navigate his way.

Though the night was starless and inky-black, he set out through the rock and heather. He could sometimes hear the far-off bleating of a sheep and the wind rustling through the heather. Occasionally a moor fowl fluttered up noisily. Otherwise, he was very much alone in the night.

Suddenly he heard a voice call out with great urgency: “Peter!”

Halting, he called back into the dark, “Yes, who is it? What do you want?”

There was no response, just a bit of wind over the deserted moorland. He concluded he’d been mistaken and walked on a few more steps. “Peter!” he heard again, this time with an even greater urgency. “Peter!”

He stopped in his tracks, squinted into the blackness of the night. Who was there? He leaned forward, stumbled, and fell to his knees. Reaching out a hand to the ground before him, Peter felt nothing but thin air. A quarry! Sure enough, as he carefully felt around in a semicircle, he discovered that he was on the brink of a limestone pit. One more step and he would have plummeted to his death. One more step—if he hadn’t heeded God’s voice, his life would have ended. Out there on the desolate moor Someone knew him, and Someone cared.

God knows our name. We are not some cosmic blur in the universe. God fashioned us. God made us. God created us. We are His. He cares. He loves. He knows us personally. We matter to Him. At times we may feel alone, but He is always there, calling our name, calling us into the security of His arms. Calling us home.

Ellen White writes, “Jesus knows us individually, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities. He knows us all by name. He knows the very house in which we live, the name of each occupant. He has at times given direction to His servants to go to a certain street in a certain city, to such a house, to find one of His sheep” (The Desire of Ages, p. 479).

Jesus loves us that much. What troubles us troubles Him. What bothers us bothers Him. What hurts us hurts Him. We are His children. His interests are linked with ours. Nothing that in any way concerns us escapes His notice. Let your heart rejoice in His personal, intimate, loving concern today.