Grace that is Eternal

Grace that is Eternal
Words of Faith 7-5-2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2023
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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2 Timothy 1
[9b] This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, [10] but it has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. [11] And of this gospel, I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. [12] That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

Some may think that grace was a new idea that started in the time of Paul. Far from it.
Grace did not begin with the Apostle Paul or even at the cross of Jesus. It did not originate at the birth of Jesus or even in the prophetic revelations that pointed to the birth of Jesus. Grace did not start at the time of the Exodus or even the salvation of Jacob's family through Joseph in Egypt. The grace we see in Christ Jesus did not start even at the time of Abraham or go back to Noah. The grace that Paul preached goes back even before the garden and Creation.
Grace given to us by Christ Jesus goes back to before the beginning of time. That is to say, in the mind of God, before He even uttered the words: "Let there be..." grace was in there waiting for us. Grace is eternal, before or outside of time. That means that even Creation itself was an act of grace! Wow.
The message of Paul is that grace from before time began has now been revealed through the appearance of Christ Jesus, our Savior. Such grace is so powerful as to destroy death and bring life that is immortal. Wow again!
This Gospel was entrusted to Paul as an evangelist, missionary, and teacher. It is because of the power of this Gospel that Paul suffered. The truth is that the world hates news that is so very good! The darkness hates light that is so brilliant.
For this reason, Paul was not ashamed of anything! He was not ashamed to be suffering. This was not defeat; this was proof of the Gospel's positive power. Why else would the darkness try so hard to snuff out the light?
And Paul was convinced that even in what appeared to be dark times, the Lord could guard this precious Gospel entrusted to him. Paul knew that he might die soon, but the brilliant light of the Gospel and the amazing power of grace would remain.
We sometimes say that grace is amazing. But grace is also eternal. It was in the heart and eye of God before everything, and its power will be made known beyond everything.

Father God, expand my vision. Help me to see the expansive image of Your grace, mercy, and love. Help me to recognize the power of Your light in the darkness. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2023
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2023 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.