Why don’t more people see the Grace Message?

"The Foundation of Grace" 

   Transcribed excerpt from a grace message by Pastor Rick Jordan on February 12, 2012

Because it’s easier to walk by works, than it is by faith.  It’s easier to let the preacher tell me how to live my life than it is to let the Word of God tell me how to live my life.  It’s easier.  You’re not as accountable, are you, when you can go put it over on somebody else.  Jesus Christ says, Put it all on me.   I took it all  and set it right for you and all you have to do is trust me and I’ll take care of all of it.

Do you know why folks balk at some of this?  Cuz it’s so much easier to say, “The devil made me do it.” “He made me do it!”  “He messed up!”  “It was his fault!”  “Well, the preacher told us...!”  Rather than sitting back and saying, “You know what? The Word of God said that and I believe that.”

1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

When you believe the word of God, it will work in you.  Paul said preach no other doctrine.  Preach the sound doctrine.  Get it in your understanding, believe it and let it work in you and you’ll never leave the foundation.

However, a believer that does choose to leave the foundation is scarred with a seared conscience

1 Timothy 4:1-2Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Ephesians 4: 17-20This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  Who being past feeling [there is no feeling in a scar] have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ;

It only takes a moment to ‘scar’ it, it takes a lifetime to 'unscar' it. Paul says, if you believe the word, you’ll never be in that situation.   It is when you stop believing that you get in trouble.  That’s what happened in Ephesus.  Read chapter 4, verse 17 through about 25.  You’ll be able to see it.

Folks, you don’t want to leave the foundation of grace.  How do you do keep from doing that?  You have a walk of faith:  believing in the word of God and allowing His life to run and rule and reign in yours. 

Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Live looking for that future out there in the heavenlies; looking for that hope…looking for it!  Because, if you’re looking up, you’re not looking where?  Down here.

Colossians 3:1-2If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the day.  We thank you for your word. 

Above all, Lord, we thank you for the foundations of grace.  For the ability to by faith have access to you with confidence, with boldness, and with surety; that we can access your grace and we can get to the point that we can allow your life to live out through our life; and, we get to that point by walking by faith, setting side our old man and putting on that new man and just relaxing in who we are in your Son and enjoying that; and enjoying one another because that is where we are all at, in Christ.

 In your name we pray, amen.