Living by Grace (1)

Romans 1:16-17 tells us the Good News of Christ is that the POWER of God unto SALVATION is freely available for all who believe, for the righteousness of God is revealed (1) from (saving) faith to (2) (living) faith; as it is written, “(1) The righteous (by faith) shall (2) live by faith.” First (1) through saving (justifying) faith, we received the IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ, then (2) through living faith we continually receive His IMPARTED RIGHTEOUSNESS (His Spirit of life and grace). Both saving and living faith involve (1) submission to Christ's Lordship and (2) dependence on (trust in) His saving power. To be saved by grace we must receive Christ as (1) our Lord and (2) our Saviour, realising that we cannot save ourselves. Likewise, to live by grace, we have to (1) SUBMIT to Jesus' leadership, and (2) TRUST (depend upon) His Spirit to fill us and empower us to live our life, which requires that we BELIEVE the Good News that His grace is freely available to us, flowing out from our spirit (John 7:37-39). In this way, by FAITH we SURRENDER to God's RIVER in us, allowing Him to fill us and carry us along in our life, realising that without Him we can do nothing. The Spirit of God within and flowing out from our spirit is also like the WIND (invisible and powerful), but also personal, for He blows where He wishes (John 3:8). We cannot control where the wind of the Spirit blows (goes) and where He will take us. We must open the sail of our soul to Him, so that He can fill us with His grace, which will then carry us along through life. For God's grace to flow in and through us, we must be 'under grace' (under the authority and power of His grace), submitting to His authority and depending upon His power. In this way, we surrender control to Him, knowing that we can make no progress (achieve nothing of worth) in our own strength.