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 The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber. <Previous Message · Archives · Archive edition Thursday, March 17, 2011  First Crocus blooms for 2011 (Photo by Doris High) "Grace - A License For Immorality?" "For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord" (Jude 1:4). I carry a couple of licenses with me in my wallet. My driver's license, which I occasionally have to show for identity purposes (including police officers, which thankfully has not happened in a long time). I also carry my ministry ordination license which I rarely need to show. In addition I have a marriage license, way too big for my wallet, from 1976 filed away in our important papers. But one license neither you nor I have either literally or spiritually is a license for immorality! Jude is warning about two grievous errors these unnamed godless men taught and promoted; errors persisting even to this day. 1) They change the grace of our God into a license for immorality 2) They deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord This is the reason Jude urged his readers "to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints" (Jude 1:3). Today let us consider the first error. When I study a text I find it helpful to examine various versions in regard to slight wording differences and shades of meaning. Here are some of the ways this phrase is translated:
Instead of self-restraint they live lascivious lives. (Does that not sound like about 95% of the plots from movies produced in Hollywood so much so that sinful behavior becomes the "norm" or acceptable rather than the unacceptable.) It is said that from the very times of the apostles there have been antinomians who have held that what was sin to others might be permitted to the sanctified. They asserted that the Spirit was not defiled by the sins of the body. Here's the Weber paraphrase which I feel captures the sense of the passage, "who use the grace of God as an excuse for immorality and disobedience." Thank God for grace! It's the sole basis of our salvation. It's been defined as God's unmerited favor or to use the familiar acrostic "God's Riches At Christ's Expense". We are not saved by our works. But following the great passage on grace in Ephesians 2:8-9 (a portion memorized by many) Paul writes, "For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10). Grace must not be used as an excuse. Genuine Biblical grace is transforming (life-changing). A great passage in this regard is from Titus 2:11,12. "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." But sadly there is a perversion of grace that either implicitly or in some cases explicitly teaches that because of grace we can live however we choose; a license for immorality. Jude strongly denounces this viewpoint. Today we urge our readers to experience genuine grace that transforms and "teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live a self-controlled, upright and godly life in this present life!" Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber  Daily prayer: Father, because of Your extravagant grace we are able to say no to ungodliness and yes to righteousness; no to lasciviousness and yes to self-control; no to the lust of the flesh and yes to the Spirit. We want to be quick to obey the Scriptures and discerning when anyone adds to or takes away from Your absolute truths that are to be followed in every generation. We want to align our desires with Yours, rather than trying to align Your truths with our desires, for that would lead to error and serve our old sin nature, rather than our new spiritual nature. Transform us day by day to be more like You we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.The most helpful book I have ever read on today's topic is "Transforming Grace" by Jerry Bridges. While properly emphasizing God's grace Bridges' also expresses the need to live holy and obedient lives. "Our love for God, expressed through obedience to Him, is to be a response to His love, not a means of trying to earn it."  Transforming Grace By Jerry Bridges / NAV PressFunny how the riches of God's grace seem to run out the moment we're saved! From then on, we tend to base our relationship with him on our accomplishments rather than on his unconditional acceptance. In "Transforming Grace" Bridges addresses the "performance treadmill" and what can happen when we forget how generous God's grace is. Come back to the love that's waiting for you, and learn to trust His grace every day. Ordering information Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Child, You're Forgiven" Video Gaither Vocal Band "Amazing Love" Video Chris Tomlin I'm forgiven, because You were forsaken. I'm accepted, You were condemned. I'm alive and well. Your Spirit is within me Because You died and rose again. "Grace Greater Than All Our Sin" Video (This video takes a few seconds to start) This is one of our favorite hymns from our Bible College chapel days. In fact I still recall the hymn number (200) even though we haven't used that hymnal regularly in over twenty years! Like many of you we continue to pray for the people in Japan. Here's a prayer written by John Piper. Finally today:  I had a surprise guest in the barn the other day. I had left the doors open and a mourning dove discovered a small container of dog feed. Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne. |
 "We want to encourage you daily in your walk with Christ!" Personal Ministry Update (Revised 12/31/10)  Each weekday morning Brooksyne and I prepare these messages and distribute them at no cost to you and many others all over the world. Would you please consider a financial offering to support us in this daily encouragement ministry? Donations are tax deductible and will be receipted directly by my chaplaincy endorsing ministry. Thanks!See here for details. 2011 financial offerings to Daily Encouragement Net as of 3/16/11: $2,220.00 SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION  Were you forwarded this edition of Daily Encouragement Net? If you desire you can receive your own free! To receive these "Daily Encouragement" devotionals each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe. This newsletter is never sent by us unsolicited. It was sent to you because you either signed up to receive it OR a friend forwarded it to you. You can also subscribe to the rss feed or as an email subscription through feedburner.Cancel: We respect and value your time and privacy. If you no longer desire to receive these messages you can remove your address from the list by merely using the link automatically inserted by the mailing list software at the very bottom of each email message. (To change addresses cancel your old address and then join again using your new address.) Weekly Version: The weekly version is intended for those who may not check their email regularly or who may desire less frequent mailings. It is Friday's message with a link to previous messages. To receive the free weekly version, send a blank email to this address. Daily Encouragement on Facebook and Twitter:  The daily message and prayer on Facebook. The daily message and prayer on Twitter.Reader Survey: Please take a few minutes to assist us in improving our ministry effectiveness by filling out this online reader survey. To take the survey click here. Please feel free to pass these messages on! "A Daily Prayer" - A blog simply posting the daily prayer. We keep this up each day since it's merely the prayer from the Daily Encouragement Net message! "A Little Foolishness" - Humor/satire blog (a great outlet for non-serious writing but at times with a subtle message!) Last updated with the story of Mildred Swanson, who joyfully discovers her "spiritual gift" is sending forwarded emails! (Note: This material is satire!) "Clear Minded" - Longer, periodic articles on specific issues impacting the faithful believer and church. (Actually this is my intent but I haven't done much with it!) "Hymns of Hope" - Brooksyne along with two friends made a CD using classic hymns. Brooksyne tells the background story of the 11 hymns. All of these songs are also available for download on the site.  Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com. Any orders placed to Christian Book Distributers using this link or any specific product link to a recommended resource in a daily encouragement message will help our Daily Encouragement ministry through a small commission on the sale. Thank you for using these links when purchasing online through CBD!Personal Mission Statement "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."  How to become a child of God Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. © Copyright 2011 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net Stephen & Brooksyne Weber 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 Contact us  Endorsed chaplain "Living securely today anchored in God's solid foundation" www.dailyencouragement.net |
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