THE LORD’S BRANCH CHRISTIAN CENTRE
THE BRANCH’S WAY-Isaiah 4:2 (A WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE)
TOPIC: HIS FULLNESS
Text: John 1:16
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
The Easy to Read Version puts it this way- “Yes, the Word was full of grace and truth, and from him we all received one blessing after another.”
In Christ Jesus is the abundance of grace out of this abundance we have all received grace over grace (unending grace that is God's undeserved favour and love). John made it explicitly clear that it is only in Christ that God's grace and truth are available to the fullest. Jesus Christ is the only one that holds all the promises, principles and purposes of God. In Him alone all is made open, nothing is veiled again.
Paul said in Ephesians 2: 8 "For by grace (underserved favour) are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: in verse 9 it says 'Not of works, lest any man should boast'. Salvation is the act of being delivered (redeemed or rescued) from the torment of sin which is death. Salvation does not come by good behaviour or good intention or by moral living though all these are good but they do not earn us salvation. Just one sin will make a mess of all our righteousnes. God said "The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth"(Ezekiel 33: 12). Sin separates us from God, it stands as a barrier between God and man. Sin destined every man or woman to eternal damnatiion
It is the grace (unmerited favour, love, kindness, help and spiritual enablement) of God that bestows salvation on us. Grace can not be earned, it is a gift from God to those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. It is the grace that delivered us from the punishment we all deserved. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"(Romans 3: 23-24).
All what man needs for salvation in his entire life is in the Hand of Jesus Christ as provided by God the Father. All the riches of God the Father which are endless are ALL in Christ to overflow. Jesus Christ is therefore, the expression of God's fullness. As believers, we must be conscious of who Jesus truly is. He is not just equal to God (Philippians 2: 6) but He is God ( John 10: 30, 38; 12: 45). Jesus came to reveal who God is to us (John 1: 18; 14: 9). Jesus came from heaven and not from the dust (1 Corinthians 15: 47). He has the authority to judge the world (Romans 2: 16; 2 Corinthians 15: 10; 2 Timothy 4: 1). Jesus is the Lord of All (Romans 9: 5). He is therefore, supreme over all creation including the spirit world.
As believers, for our faith to hold we must believe that Jesus is God. Act 17: 28a says "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being". Believers should look unto Jesus the writer of our salvation story from the beginning to the end (Hebrew 12: 2a). Jesus chose us in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1: 4- 6).
What are the benefits of God's grace to believers?
Grace is a lifter. Joseph was moved from prison to palace by the grace of God (Genesis 41: 41- 44).
Grace delivers. Noah found grace with God and he was delivered with his family (Genesis 6: 8 & 7: 1).
Grace destroys poverty- 'For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich' (2 Corinthians 8: 9).
By grace we are saved (Ephesians 2: 8- 9, Titus 2: 11).
We are justified by grace (Romans 3: 24, Titus 3: 7) - As far as God is concerned you and I are no more guilty of our sins. No more condemnation to us in Christ Jesus
We reign in life through grace. Not by human efforts or riches ( Romans 5: 17).
Grace makes great. Paul said "I am what I am by grace" (1 Corinthians 15: 10a).
It brings peace (2 Peter 1: 2).
Finisher's strength- ( Zachariah 4: 6-7). To finish what has been started.
Grace suspends laws- Jesus ascended into heaven suspending the law of gravity.
Spiritual growth (2 Peter 3: 18).
It empowers (2 Corinthians 8: 7). Grace puts us in charge to dominate.
It brings favour.
It brings pleasure.
It gives joy unlimited.
We escape accidents that should have killed us by His grace.
Grace brings divine revelation, knowledge, and wisdom ( Ephesians 3: 8- 10).
To tap out of Christ fullness we must be:
i. Born again.
ii. Holy Spirit filled.
iii. Walk in the rightreouness of God.
iv. Follow Jesus as a model of living - 1 Peter 2:2.
v. Think as He thinks- Philippians 2: 5- 11).
Prayers:
Lord Jesus, multiply Your grace in my life in Jesus name.
Anything I would do that will remove me from the book of grace be perished in Jesus name.
Power wasting my efforts in life be destroyed in Jesus name.
The Blood Christ shed on the Cross will not be a waste in my life in Jesus name.
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