30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 15 11-32 To seek and the save the lost - The prodigal son 21 Greatness of God’s grace
📖 Luke 15:11-32
03Mar2020 - *Greatness of God’s grace* - _Luke 15:11-32_ - Bible reading: _Ephesians 2:1, 4-7_
_Luke 15:22-24 “But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. (23) And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; (24) for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry._
The son spoke out the words of confession and repentance. It is required of us to speak out loud the words of repentance and seeking forgiveness, for we declare to the powers of darkness that we are no more under their authority but that we have now come under the authority of God. The son came to the place of humility when he confessed and sought his father’s forgiveness. God requires humility from us.
This is the place of His grace that we must come to. One of the stanzas of the great hymn, Rock of Ages cleft for me, goes like this
```Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross, I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Saviour, or I die.```
This was the lesson that the Pharisees found very difficult to accept. They sought to come to God on their merit.
By the deeds of the law no flesh can be justified before God. _Romans 3:20. Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God._
So, all the world stands before God in need of His grace. The Lord longed for these religious leaders to understand and receive His grace but they would not. There are many today, who are still resisting God’s grace but seek to establish their righteousness before God. _Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, (22) even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;_
The law made all of us to be guilty before God but where sin abounded, God’s grace abounded even more. _Romans 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, (21) so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord._
Does this mean that we can continue in sin because of God’s grace? _Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (2) Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?_
When we come to God through His grace, look at what He does for us. He restores us to Him from one level to the next. _Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, (5)
even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (6) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (7)
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus._
*Thought to ponder*
```Should we not always remain at the place of His grace?```