How Do You Respond: Grace or Judgement?

1 Corinthians 1:4-9

(Use the link below to read the verses.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%201%3A4-9&version=NIV;ESV

 

How do you respond when… someone cuts you off in traffic and then puts on their breaks? When you feel like someone has slighted you? When your boss makes a derogatory remark about you? When your spouse doesn’t meet your expectations? Do you respond with grace… or with judgement?

 

During the first century, the Jews were steeped in the law. Grace was a foreign concept to them. As a result, Jesus had numerous confrontations with the religious leaders; Paul was beaten and persecuted multiple times; and the early church struggled with the issue of requiring circumcision.

 

There is something deep within the human heart that doesn’t want to forgive; doesn’t

want to show grace; but instead wants to judge and condemn.

 

It’s somewhat surprising that Paul writes in his letter to the believers at Corinth that he gives thanks for the grace shown to them; because they show so little grace to others. The Corinthian church struggled with divisions, immorality, discrimination against the poor and many other serious issues.

 

There’s a need for introspection. The Corinthian church needed it, and we need it.

 

How did you answer the questions in the first paragraph? If you are honest, you could probably add some of your own more pointedly personal questions. But, no matter how deeply imbedded our struggles, God’s grace and His faithfulness will win the day.

 

⁴ I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge… ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.      ESV

 

So the choice is yours. How will you respond to God’s grace and faithfulness? Will you show grace, or will you show judgement to others? God gave His grace to us so that we might share it, not keep it for ourselves.

 

 

 

Romans 8:1-17

Many years ago, I was a cheerleader.  I know, that is difficult to grasp and perhaps even a bit scary to envision, but true none-the-less.  It is the Cheerleaders duty to keep everyone involved in the game; cheering with enthusiasm and confidence they have the winning team.  There is one particular cheer they always learn to sing loudly; spelling out the word, V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.

That is what Romans 8 is all about for me, VICTORY.  Because God sent his Son to save us, we have victory over the grave.  Because at baptism we are filled with the Holy Spirit we have victory over shame, there is no condemnation.  The Holy Spirit is the power behind the rebirth of every Christian.  The Holy Spirit can be our constant companion and we can turn to him for help in every situation.  The Holy Spirit want to be our loudest cheerleader.

"For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God."

(Romans 8:14)

There is no condemnation

There is no shame

For us there is salvation

The Gospel does proclaim


Holy Spirit is our power

He works to set us free

He is our shining tower

So we have the victory

Read the Romans 8:1-17 text at Biblegateway.com