Grace From Calvary -
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
If
you want to enjoy a real spiritual feast, take a concordance to the
Bible and look up the word “grace.” First notice how often this word is
found in the four Gospels: only four times and only once in a doctrinal
sense. Then notice how often it is used in Paul’s epistles (less than
half the size of the four Gospels). Here it is found well over one
hundred times and practically always in a doctrinal sense, about the
love and mercy of God toward sinners and toward His own. Think of it:
only once is grace referred to doctrinally in the four Gospels, yet in
Paul’s epistles, less than half as large in volume, it is used more than
one hundred times.
This
is because St. Paul was God’s chosen apostle to make known His grace to
sinners. In Acts 20:24 he speaks of “the ministry which I have received
of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
But
on what basis could God, through Paul, proclaim salvation by free grace
to sinners? Ah, now take your Bible and begin looking up those passages
which refer to the cross, the death and the blood of Christ, again
noticing that while Paul does not actually relate the story of Christ’s
death, he has more, far more, to say about that death, and what it
accomplished, than any other Bible writer. It would thrill the heart of
any sincere Christian to go through the Epistles of Paul and see how
much good news Paul proclaims on the basis of the death of Christ. This
is why his message is called “the preaching of the cross” — God’s good
news about what Calvary has accomplished for us (1 Cor. 1:17-23).
In
Paul’s epistles we learn that through Christ’s death for us at Calvary
believers are “justified,” “accepted” by God, and pronounced “complete
in Christ.” By His death they are reconciled to God in one body, given a
position at God’s right hand in the highest heavens and assured “the
exceeding riches of His grace” in “the ages to come” — this and more!
Riches of grace flowing from Calvary; this is the very essence of the
glorious message which Paul was raised up to proclaim. Read his epistles
and see.
Les Feldick Ministries
30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.
Kinta, OK 74552
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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