Holiness by Grace
Dr. Bryan Chappell
[“The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you'” Jer. 31:3.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:1-3.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him … We love Him because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19.]
Full and consistent apprehension of why we love God is the most effective piece of armor in the Christian arsenal, because the Devil always begins his attack with an alienation of our affections. Thus, our most powerful spiritual weapon is consistent adulation of the mercy of God revealed in Christ.
We ‘preach the Gospel to our own hearts,’ telling others and ourselves of God’s eternal love, of Christ’s humble birth, sinless life, selfless sacrifice, victorious resurrection, and coming glory. We provide the power of the Gospel to other believers by reminding them of the manifold ways in which an infinitely loving Father has made the wonders of heaven the certain inheritance of children as wayward as we.
As the Spirit uses the revelation of God’s grace to change hearts, then affections change, lives change and disciplines are willingly and lovingly exercised.
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This excerpt is from Holiness by Grace by Dr. Bryan Chappell. Selected by Gracedagain, a weekly e-mail compiled by Tom Wood of Church Multiplication Ministries. C.M.M. is a non-profit, whose mission is to equip pastors, leaders and emerging leaders in developing healthy, vibrant, reproducing and grace centered churches. We focus on ministry coaching, church planting, strategic planning and implementation. Tom@cmmnet.org
http://www.gracedagain.com
For further study on this theme, see Grace Note: Renewing Your Affections.
[Bracketed Scripture quotes added–NJKV.]
Grace Notes, January 13, 2005. The purpose of Grace Notes is to highlight the dynamics of abundant living as summarized in Galatians 2:20. Back issues are available at the Web site. Please pray for God’s blessing on these articles. Your comments are welcome.
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