Decaying Grace?

Here’s a question from a recent message.....

Hey Pastor Ben, just a question...not last week, but Sunday before, my sister heard you say, "decaying Grace".  Raised in the "Grace filled" Lutheran church, we are sooooooo sensitive about our "gift"...our precious "hope" and "grace" that we have been promised by scripture.  Without this "grace" we would not have a chance!!!  

My response

GREAT question.....she was listening!!  :)  

Here’s a quote from John Owen, the Puritan pastor.... “Christ is the head from whence the new man must have influences of life and strength, or it will decay every day.”  

Then John Piper..... “Oh, that our people would feel the urgency of daily supplies of grace because ‘grace decays.’  Do they know this?  Is it a category in their mind – that grace decays?  How many try to live their lives on automatic pilot with no sense of urgency that means of grace are given so that the riches of Christ may daily be obtained with fresh supplies of grace.”  

The concept here is like that of manna......it’s a daily gathering and feasting that nourishes for today..........and yesterday’s gathering spoils and just won’t do.  Christ is a daily meal and those who are His will enjoy Him daily.

• John 6:54 – whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life.  (present tense verbs)
• John 8 – true disciples abide in His word
• John 15 – abiding in the true vine  

This isn’t to be confused with a possibility that we’re in and out of salvation today or tomorrow like an he loves me.....he loves me not flower. ......eternal life is a FREE gift and thankfully His saving grace does not decay or fade.......but many leaning on quippy sayings like “once saved, always saved” don’t see that salvation is better viewed as we are BEING saved.  Those who are truly His are feeding, drinking, abiding, dwelling, believing, gnawing, raging, reveling, worshipping........it’s just who we are........and that feeding, drinking, abiding, dwelling one isn’t surviving on yesterday’s manna (grace), but is gathering some new and fresh mercy today.  

I HATE quippy sayings that aren’t in our bibles.  They neuter the chest-hair, robust, toothy gospel that should make us tremble at our own frailties and marvel at the expanse of His love and the depth of His grace.  

Feeding with you......

Ben McGraw