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click on the dove to watch the history of calvary chapel
"but i fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."
second corinthians xi. 3
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nothing has been physically or geographically established in bergen, norway on a long-term basis. There is no actual location for calvary chapel norway in bergen. Pray for an open door.
Questions, comments, prayer requests?
epost... theserpentandthepole@gmail.com
according to Scripture, from genesis to revelation, and the God of abraham, isaac, and jacob... WE ARE PRO-ISRAEL
THE MUCH MORE GRACE OF GOD
Romans 5:15, 17, and 20 speak of the "much more" grace of God. God's grace is "much more" than forgiveness alone. It provides "much more" than new birth and justification. God's grace is so rich and abundant that it is "much more" than we have yet experienced and "much more" than we will ever need for fullness of life and service in Christ.
Grace for Daily Victory
Romans 5:17 begins with a reference to the spiritual deadness that plagues everyone who is born into Adam's fallen race: "For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one." Then, this majestic verse holds forth God's resources for becoming a person learning to live as a Christ-like spiritual overcomer: "much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ." Every believer in Jesus has received "the gift of righteousness," which grants us an acceptance in the family of a holy God. Yet, not every believer lives victoriously. In order to increasingly "reign in life," a Christian must be drawing by faith upon the "abundance of grace" that is available daily in the Lord. This abundant grace is "much more" than sufficient to bring us victory in our Christian lives.
Grace for Changing Lives
1 Timothy 1:12-14 indicates that the "much more" grace of God is also available to change lives. Therein, Paul confesses that he "was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man." Yet, he says the Lord put him "into the ministry." Verse 14 explains the resource that the Lord used to accomplish this transformation. "And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant." God's grace is "much more" than sufficient to transform insolent blasphemers into fruitful apostles.
Grace for Drawing Lives
2 Corinthians 9:14 tells of one group of Christians who are praying with yearning regarding another group of believers. "And by their prayer for you, who long for you." This verse closes by revealing what it was that created this spiritual longing in one group toward the other group. "Because of the exceeding grace of God in you." When the grace of God is abundantly present in the life of any believer, others can be drawn by that grace, yearning to pray for them, to be with them, to learn from them, to be impacted by that same grace of God. Even as I write this teaching article, my heart is stirred concerning various servants of the Lord world-wide whose lives are filled with the glorious grace of God. I too pray for them with longing, desiring to be with them, wanting to fellowship with them in that "much more" grace of God. God is able to make His grace abundant in our lives, that others will be drawn to us to be impacted by that same grace.
Dimensions of God's Grace
Ephesians 2:7 speaks of "the exceeding riches of His grace." God's grace is rich beyond measure. Ephesians 3:8 refers to "the unfathomable riches of Christ." God's grace is like an infinite ocean, whose bottom can never be reached. 1 Peter 4:10 alludes to "the manifold grace of God." God's grace is like a many-faceted diamond, each facet sparkling forth another brilliant aspect of God's marvelous grace. The grace of God is so "much more" than we have ever experienced or have ever thought it to be.
Warnings Concerning Grace
The grace of God is so vast and so vital. We must not relate to it wrongly. Jude wrote of some who were dealing inappropriately with God's grace: "ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness." Grace is not a license for sinning. Romans 5:20 and 6:1-2 speaks in similar terms: "Where sin abounded, grace abounded much more . . . What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!"
2 Corinthians 6:1 tells of another improper relating to the grace of God: "We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain." Since we work with God in ministry (not just for God), we need His grace as our resource for service. If we acknowledge God's grace, but accept it for other than or less than it is intended to provide, we are receiving it (at least partially) in vain. Grace is not only intended for our cleansing and new birth, it is also intended for our equipping and spiritual growth. The "much more" grace of God is BOTH His remedy to forgive sins AND His resource to transform the sinner.
Conclusion
How do we live by the "much more" grace of God? It involves humility and faith. "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). God's grace does not flow into proud, self-sufficient hearts. "Through (Jesus) also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:2). Day by day, in any and every issue we might face, faith in Jesus Christ accesses grace for that need or opportunity. Consequently, we will want to earnestly and consistently heed the invitation of Hebrews 4:16: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." At that throne, we will find "much more" grace than we have ever imagined or will ever need.
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