Live In Grace

“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” (Heb 12:28 AV)

 

In the whole context of this book, the above verse might qualify as the concluding verse of application.  The entire theme of the book is the superiority of the new covenant and testament over the old.  That is, grace by Christ Jesus is better than the old testament law and the sacrificial system.  The kingdom of which the writer speaks is the kingdom of eternal life for the saint, and the kingdom of the Messiah promised to Abraham, Isaac, and David.  This kingdom of eternal life cannot be moved.  We are eternally secure in the grace of Jesus Christ by His blood sacrifice on Calvary.  If that is the case, and it is, then we must continue in that same grace.  The word for ‘have’ means to hold on to.  This grace we are to have is to ourselves.  This grace is not the grace we should show toward others.  Although we should, this is not what the Apostle means.  This would make perfect sense to the Jew who was used to living under the law.  It would figure to him that although Christ can save by grace, it would be our works that keep that salvation.  This was the trouble stirred up in Galatia.  Certain Jews wanted to add some of the Jewish traditions to grace.  Not so.  We are saved by grace and we are kept by grace.  There is another application here.  That is, grace goes beyond the mere security of the eternal soul.  This grace that saved us and keeps us should also be the same grace that guides us, comforts us and matures us.  Let us hold that same grace day to day for every need we have.

What is also suggested is without grace as our foundation, we cannot serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  One would think just the opposite.  If we had to prove our adoration to God by keeping His commandments, wouldn’t that be with reverence and godly fear?  If we thought God was judgmental and vindictive above all else and we feared justice, wouldn’t we then serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear?  Yet, the writer implies this would not be the case.  Without the grace of God, our service becomes misguided.  Don’t get me wrong.  We should be concerned with the correction and justice of God.  If not, unbridled liberty and revelry would ensue.  There should be a fear that keeps us from straying from the right ways of God.  However, perfect love casteth out fear.  If we truly understood grace, then our motives would be different.  We would serve him from a deep and profound respect and adoration.  Our appreciation for and understanding of His great grace would be the reason we walk in obedience rather than the fear of a spanking.

Observe one word above all others.  Acceptably.  To neglect the doctrine of grace in our walk with God means we are unacceptably serving Him.  If we cower if fear thinking God’s grace only goes so far as the forgiveness of our sin debt for the purposes of eternal life, then we are not serving God acceptably.  It doesn’t matter how much we do for God.  If we behave like most pagan religions that serve their god in terror, then we are serving God unacceptably.  The grace of God must be held on to.  The grace of God must be the primary motivation for our service.  The grace of God must be deep in our minds and hearts and then we can serve Him from a heart of gratitude and humility.  Otherwise, all our labors, although beneficial and appreciated, will not be acceptable in the sight of God.  God’s grace is something we have a hard time understanding.  It must simply be trusted.