Saturday, March 3, 2012

3/4/12- God bridges the gap

12- 3/4- 2nd Sunday in Lent- WLC 32

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 2:5)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezek. 36:27)

Thoughts: God reaches out to us to make a relationship (that is what a covenant is about) even when we messed up the first relationship (breaking the first covenant-- Hos. 6:7).  The covenant of grace is gracious in 1) its offer of life and salvation to those who have rebelled against God and do not deserve it; 2) It’s condition of only requiring faith and no legal hoops to jump through; 3) It’s promise of the Holy Spirit to quicken in us the faith that is required of us.  In and of itself it is gracious- for we humans messed up and God still reaches out toward us to make a relationship (a covenant is a bond in grace sovereignly administered).  God reaches across the gulf that we formed by our sin and makes a bridge- (through the cross) that we might relate to Him.  We made the gap, He bridges it.  We left Him, but He came after us.  When you feel you have left God- remember He is still pursuing you.  On March fourth- we should "march forth" and seek to tell people of God's gracious love. 

Prayer: Your grace reaching out to me, O Lord, makes me grateful.  Help me to treasure my relationship with you-- loving you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Millau bridge in France- longest bridge in the world. 

Q. 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
A. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provides and offers to sinners a mediator, and life and salvation by him; and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in him, promises and gives his Holy Spirit to all his elect, to work in them that faith, with all other saving graces; and to enable them unto all holy obedience, as the evidence of the truth of their faith and thankfulness to God, and as the way which he hath appointed them to salvation.

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