by David Nesaraj on November 14, 2016
Isn’t it great to have a fellowship with a person – Jesus Christ, believing in Him? And no longer be under the idea of “karma” – do good-get good; do bad-get bad? NO, NO, NO. We are under GRACE totally, to know that our acceptance by God is NOT based on our performance but by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ.
As Indwin had shared the portion where Jesus talks to Jairus “Do not be afraid. Only believe” – every time I come across this passage, I pause to consider what Jesus said: “Only believe!” – Really? Yes.
And that’s our standing too, now. And because we have believed in Him (Jesus), we are justified freely by His grace, having no condemnation. And we have the identity as sons and daughters of the Most High God, sealed by the Holy Spirit who is poured out on us – the Spirit of grace; and in our times of need, with great boldness we approach the throne of grace, calling out “Abba, Father” – Daddy!
In the Scripture we just meditated on bearing fruit to His name through His Spirit -Gal. 5: 22, 23, a striking sentence is follows- “…Against such there is no law.”
In the past weeks, we have seen how God has delivered us out of law (of performances) and into the perfect law of liberty (freedom) in Christ, receiving (though unmerited) “gifts” as befits children of God.
Today, I want to talk about Sarah-yes, that woman of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11:11 “She judged Him faithful who promised.” And Peter, the disciple whom Jesus restored. Were they perfect people? Of course not! Did God justify them and restored their gifts? Absolutely. On what account? On account of their faith in Jesus.
Jesus? Yes, it was Jesus who talked to Sarah on that day, when three men visited Abraham. It is found in Gen. 18. While Jesus was talking to Abraham, saying Sarah shall have a son, she looked at the situation and laughed within herself saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” (Gen. 18:12).
To Sarah’s consternation Jesus pointedly asks, “Why did Sarah laugh?” I can see the sense of fear spreading across Sarah’s face as she quickly denies laughing. I can also see Jesus looking at her, in a reassuring way with a twinkle in His eye, as He says “But you did laugh.”
What a picture of grace! There is an apparent disbelief on Sarah’s part, and she compounds it by lying through her teeth. But you know what? God calls her a woman of faith as in Heb. 11:11 “By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised” That is an astounding statement.
But what about her apparent disbelief and lie? See, you may disbelieve by what you see OUTSIDE, but hold on to Christ INSIDE; the physical principles may fail, but the promises of that One Person cannot fail. And Sarah judged Him faithful… and that is faith for you. (see also 1 Peter 3:6).
Another example is Peter – the impulsive, first-out-of-flight type of person who boasted that even if others fail, “I will never…” on that night of Passover in Jerusalem. Jesus looks at him, tells plainly that he is gonna deny Him – THRICE, before dawn (before the rooster crows).
Jesus met this same Peter a third time after resurrection (written in John 21), and after a breakfast by the sea, calls Peter aside and asks him “Simon, son of Jonah, do you (agape) love me?” The usually self-confident Peter had had a change INSIDE – instead of an “I” he starts the sentence with “You”: “You know Lord, that I (phileo) love you”. What?
Yes, in the Greek, the word Peter used was for a “friendly” (phileo) love, while the question of Jesus was for a sacrificial, unconditional “agape” love. But you know what?
Jesus came down to Peter’s level, and the third time asks him “Simon, son of Jonah, do you (phileo) love Me?” And a troubled Peter answers, “You know all things, Lord. You know that I (phileo) love You.” (John 21:17)
What a change in Peter! Admitting, by his own mouth, that his love for Jesus may NOT be perfect!
But the good news is that Jesus accepts you, even though you are less than perfect. And Jesus restored Peter’s ministerial calling that day! – “Feed My lambs – Tend My sheep – Feed My sheep”
What? Is He nuts? Peter just a few days earlier denied Him – not once, not twice, but thrice.
Today, you must know that Jesus loves you, and accepts you, even though you are less than perfect. Sarah and Peter are just 2 examples. But in reality nobody is perfect; “none righteous – no, not one.” We really love Him, because He first loved us. His love is perfect.
But God demonstrated His love through One Perfect Man – Jesus Christ, who shed his blood on the cross, to forgive all our sins, and He paid the price of peace – our reconciliation with God who has become our Father. We who believe in Christ Jesus, are born-again, begotten of the Father (according to 1 Peter 1:3) and His seed remains in us, and we can experience a fruit-bearing life here on earth. Amen.