Eleventh Avenue Church
The following is reprinted with permission of The Timely Messenger

CONTINUING IN THE GRACE OF GOD



by Charles Wages

"That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." - (Col. 4:12)

Man never finishes anything! Only God can bring something or someone to completeness or a "full end". That fact certainly leaves "man" out of creation and the "new" creation. In other words, "man" had nothing to do with the creation of the heavens and earth (Gen. 1:1) , or with salvation (the "new creation")(2 Cor. 5:17)

Because of the "riches of his grace", we have been forgiven. We have been completely forgiven of all our sins. Colossians 2:13 reads, "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses."

Previous to being redeemed or "forgiven all sins" we were considered "dead" according to God's laws and standards. However, God has "quickened" (made alive) us together with Christ.

He has "fulfilled" the law (Rom. 8:2). Romans 10:4 tells us that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth". This means that our Lord has fulfilled every demand of the old law (Old Testament). The believing sinner has been declared righteous through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ (Rom.3:24).

What God begins He is able to finish! In the very beginning God intended for His creation to be perfect and that is exactly what it was. The garden of Eden was a perfect place. There were no sins, no struggles, no suffering. A perfect environment for perfect people. Did the entrance of sin through the Devil abrogate, destroy, and deter God's ultimate plan for His original creation? The answer is no. In His own time we will see His plan completed. In 2 Peter 3:13, we read, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Just like the first perfect "man", Adam, became imperfect through sin, the whole of God's creation has felt the detrimental effect. Yet, God's great plan was to bring the perfect "man", Christ, into the world to make "new" all who would believe in Him. This perfect man, the man Christ Jesus, by His perfect sacrifice for sin makes all who believe in Him to be "new creations". (2 Cor. 5:17-19)

From the human standpoint, it appears as if God's great plan for humankind and His physical creation has been dealt a death blow. Man surmises "God started something He can't finish!" What about the salvation He freely bestows upon all who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? Remember, God never begins anything He can't bring to completion, fulfillment, fruition, or "end". Please read Col. 2:10 and then Phil. 1:6, "And ye are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power". - "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ"

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, inherited a perfect or complete environment unspoiled by sin and degradation. Their failure, in yielding to Satan's temptation, did not mean God's great plan failed. God sees the end from the beginning and the ultimate or completion of His plan and purpose (Rom. 8:28).

Difficult for our finite minds to comprehend? Yes, but not difficult for God. In fact, if we believe God's Word, it becomes understandable. However, we may never fully understand while on earth, but we can believe it! A conscientious, careful reading of Romans 8:28-39 will do wonders in opening the eyes of our understanding and allow us to praise Him who loved us and gave Himself for us.

What privilege, what hope, what encouragement to know we have been saved to serve the Awesome, Almighty God. He is able and will finish all that He begins! We can say what the apostle Paul said of his trust in God.

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I an not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

March 2001 Edition Contents
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