Grace upon Grace for Progress
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power. (Eph 3:6-7)
When you think about the great events in Jesus’ life – the 40-day fast, turning water into wine, feeding the 5000, the triumphal entry, and more - the indelibly most exciting progressive event was the resurrection. From this point, the good news of salvation would be unleashed to all without discrimination. Paul had an illustrious career as a Pharisee, but his definitive spiritual and professional progress was as a messenger and servant of the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially to the Gentiles. In today’s key reading, we find clearly that both Paul and the Gentiles were created to serve God – the real progress – by grace.
Reminding ourselves of our season’s theme, God’s new method for growth – His new provision, not through the Law or a new Law, but through Jesus Christ – God’s new method is grace. John introduced Jesus Christ as the preexistent Word of God who became flesh and dwelt among us, and ‘from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace’ (John 1:16). The Greek word Charis that is translated as grace has many meanings, one of them being favour – underserved for men! Grace is God’s new method for the believers’ growth both vertically toward God and horizontally in matters of earthly life; growth in salvation has no other method except grace, but grace goes wider and touches our careers, businesses, and family life that we may have dominion as true citizens of the Kingdom of God that is alive here. Paul celebrates the grace of God by which he was converted and deployed as a gospel minister, and by which the Gentiles are now welcome as joint heirs and partakers of God’s promises.
It is through Jesus Christ that we received God’s abundant grace with the double edge of salvation and Kingdom dominion. Charles Wesley meditates deeply and calls it ‘mercy, immense and free’ in his great hymn And can it be? John Newton’s testimony about it has remained with us in his great legacy, the hymn Amazing Grace; and Hillsong’s Joel Houston calls it Grace On Repeat. Behind these and more poems and songs are touching experiences of the superabundant grace that has been displayed by God toward mankind, through Jesus Christ.
There is abundance of grace for progress this year; we’ve called it Grace upon Grace for Progress. God has made this provision for growth vertically in your relationship with and service to God, and horizontally in your prospering with people and material blessings. Commit yourself and your plans to God with active faith; position yourself, tune your heart, open your hands that you may receive all that God has in store for you. And give thanks to God and be a blessing to His people. God bless you all.