Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Restoring Grace" – Thursdayday, 16 October 2014 - Scripture: Romans 3:21-31

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - “Restoring Grace" – Thursdayday, 16 October 2014 - Scripture: Romans 3: God Has Set Things Right
21-24 But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
25-26 God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
27-28 So where does that leave our proud Jewish insider claims and counterclaims? Canceled? Yes, canceled. What we’ve learned is this: God does not respond to what we do; we respond to what God does. We’ve finally figured it out. Our lives get in step with God and all others by letting him set the pace, not by proudly or anxiously trying to run the parade.
29-30 And where does that leave our proud Jewish claim of having a corner on God? Also canceled. God is the God of outsider non-Jews as well as insider Jews. How could it be otherwise since there is only one God? God sets right all who welcome his action and enter into it, both those who follow our religious system and those who have never heard of our religion.
31 But by shifting our focus from what we do to what God does, don’t we cancel out all our careful keeping of the rules and ways God commanded? Not at all. What happens, in fact, is that by putting that entire way of life in its proper place, we confirm it.
"Restoring Grace" by Matthew Thomas
If you have ever been caught red handed–hands in the cookie jar with chocolate chips smeared on your face–then you understand what it means to be without defense and rightfully accused. That is what we call the human condition. We are sinners by nature, and we know it.
However, by the grace provided through the work of Jesus Christ, God forgives our sin, removes our shame, and restores us to our originally intended state.
Grace means receiving that which is undeserved. What Jesus Christ did for us is so thoroughly undeserved that any attempt to earn His love and grace results in an embarrassing spectacle. We must simply acknowledge what Romans 3, verses 23 and 24 so clearly state–that we are miserably in need, and that Jesus Christ wonderfully supplies what is lacking and fixes what is broken.
The grace that justifies us also restores us to what God intended us to be–free from sin and living as His children. Money cannot buy that. Fame cannot achieve that. Smothering ourselves in flattering relationships cannot create that. Grace alone restores us.

Hymn for Today:

"Grace Greater Than OUr Sin" by Julia H. Johnston
1. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, 
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! 
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured, 
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. 
Refrain: Grace, grace, God's grace, 
grace that will pardon and cleanse within; 
grace, grace, God's grace, 
grace that is greater than all our sin! 
2. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, 
threaten the soul with infinite loss; 
grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, 
points to the refuge, the mighty cross. 
Refrain: Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin! 
3. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. 
What can avail to wash it away? 
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, 
brighter than snow you may be today. 
Refrain: Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin! 
4. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, 
freely bestowed on all who believe! 
You that are longing to see his face, 
will you this moment his grace receive? 
Refrain: Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!
Thought for Today:

““Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends."(Acts 20:32).
Prayer Needs:
That many young people in Mexico will be called into full-time Christian ministry.
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