One thing that is becoming more apparent to me in this rapid read through the New Testament is the breadth of perspective the Bible contains.  When you hunt through the Scriptures for specific passages to support your theological or philosophical position, it’s easy to come away with some pretty exaggerated extremes.  But when you read through the Bible at a lightning fast pace, you begin to appreciate the depth of the wisdom of God instead of skimming the surface of selected texts, or exaggerated viewpoints.

For example, if you only study certain parts of the New Testament, you could find ample support for the position that since we are saved through grace alone, our own works mean nothing.  And that’s true in the context of our salvation and right standing before God.

However, if you only study other parts of the Bible, you could come to the conclusion that if there are no works to accompany our profession of salvation, we aren’t truly saved.  And that’s true too-in the context of our response to the grace of Jesus.

I guess what I’m trying to say is-when you really read the Bible, and consider some of the theological extremes that divide people in the body of Christ, you discover that they’re both in the Bible.

The sovereignty of God…
and the free will of man.
They’re both in the Bible.

God’s promise to prosper and bless His children…
and the certainty of hardship and suffering in the life of a believer.
They’re both in the Bible.

The mandate to preach the Gospel…
and the responsibility to care for the poor.
They’re both in the Bible.

The body of Christ would be so much more united and the people of God would be so much better equipped for life if we’d read the whole Word of God with humble hearts and open minds.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him…
-Colossians 2:6

To appreciate Paul’s point here, we have to clarify something first:

How did you initially receive Christ Jesus as Lord?
By working hard? By doing good? Getting it right? Hitting your mark?

Of course not. You didn’t achieve Him as Lord.
You received Him as Lord.
By grace.

Paul says:
The same way you received Him initially-by grace-
is the way you’re supposed to live continually from day to day.

Many people freely receive the forgiveness of Jesus at the point of salvation, then spend the rest of their lives trying to pay God back.
Like: “Thanks for the jumpstart of grace, God. I’ve got it from here.”

Stop trying to achieve His love, blessings, and favor through ridiculous, frantic, fleshly, performance based self-righteous rigmarole.

Continue to live in Him the same way you started your life in Christ.
Receive it. By grace.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
-Luke 12:48b

This has always been one of the most haunting verses in the Bible to me.
If I’m reading it right, it means that God expects a lot of me because He’s been very good to me.

I understand that He doesn’t expect me to do anything on my own, and that He’ll never make a demand on my life without giving the corresponding supply.  It’s not like God wants me to pay Him back, or help Him out.  Jesus paid it all, and He doesn’t need my assistance.

Still though, it’s a reality that’s always blaring in my spirit:
I’ve been given so much.  Am I living up to it?

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