The True Path: Embracing Grace with Repentance (06/19/'24) -Message

The True Path: Embracing Grace with Repentance Psalm 51:10-11 says: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. This passage reflects King David's deep repentance and his plea for God's mercy and grace to renew his heart and spirit. It highlights the importance of a contrite heart and the transformative power of God's mercy. In the New Testament, the combination of mercy and grace through Jesus Christ is also prominent. Ephesians 2:8-9 states: For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. While God's grace is freely given, it does not negate the call to live a life of repentance and transformation. Romans 6:1-2 warns against abusing grace: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Here is a warning to today's Christians who seek only God's mercy and grace without enduring the suffering of Christ's cross: A Warning to Today's Christians Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, We live in a time where the message of grace and mercy is often emphasized, and rightly so, for these are precious gifts from our Lord. However, we must heed the full counsel of God and not be deceived into thinking that grace is a license to sin. The grace we receive through Jesus Christ calls us to a life of holiness and transformation, not complacency and continued sin. Psalm 51:10-11 reminds us of the importance of repentance and the renewing of our hearts. King David's plea for a clean heart and a right spirit echoes the need for genuine repentance and a transformed life. The grace of God through Jesus Christ is indeed abundant, but it calls us to a higher standard. Paul, in Romans 6:1-2, clearly warns us against continuing in sin under the pretense that grace will cover all. We cannot seek God's mercy and grace while ignoring the call to take up our cross and follow Christ. The suffering of Christ's cross is not merely a historical event but a call to daily discipleship and dying to self. To seek grace without repentance, to desire mercy without a contrite heart, is to misunderstand the very nature of God's gift. True grace transforms us, leading us away from sin and into the light of Christ. It empowers us to endure suffering for His sake, knowing that our present trials are nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us. Let us, therefore, seek a clean heart and a right spirit, embracing the full journey of faith that includes both the joy of salvation and the fellowship of sharing in Christ's sufferings. God's grace is not a blanket to cover our sins but a transformative power to overcome them. Stand firm in faith, repent daily, and let the Holy Spirit renew you continually. This is the true path of a disciple of Christ, where grace and holiness walk hand in hand. In Christ's love and truth, Pastor Steven G. Lee (June 19, 2024)