Subject: What "norms" can we disregard? |
Bible Note: CDBJ: Indeed for some who have strayed to the degree that they see the grace of God as needing a boost from them, grace is no more grace. Would that we all who profess Christ could have the mind of the apostle Paul when it comes to grace: Three times he besought the Lord that his thorn in the flesh depart from him. And the Lord answered him: "My grace is sufficient for thee." Paul's response was one of total acceptance, for he said, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." The clear teaching is that the grace of God through Christ is sufficient, and being sufficient, it needs our total acceptance but it needs no boosts from us: there is nothing that we can add to God's grace and he who thinks otherwise is a sad and foolish man. --Hank |