Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Grace”
Our Bible verse for today: “My sheep know My voice, I know them and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish – ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “God’s special grace is permanent.”
In recent days we have noted the difference between common grace and special grace. While common grace is experienced by all humans simply because they live on planet earth, special grace comes only to those who place their faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. And within the category of special grace, there are four sub-categories which help us to better understand and appreciate the full scope of God’s grace.
Yesterday we considered “prevenient” or “enabling” grace. Today we want to look at “efficacious” grace. I know, I know, there’s another one of those fifty-cent theological words that nobody uses or understands. Me too. I had to look it up. “Efficacious” simply means “producing the desired effect.” “Efficacious grace” produces the effect God intended. So for our purposes we’ll just call it “effective” grace.
Effective grace means that God’s grace produces the effect that He desired. And what would that effect be? Your salvation. What God wants is for you to be with Him in heaven forever. He loves you, He reaches out to you, He sent His Son to die for you, and the entire purpose of His grace is so that you will be with Him forever in heaven.
So does God’s special grace achieve that desired result? According to Jesus it does. That’s what He said in John 10:27-29. Once you belong to Him it’s a done deal and nothing in all eternity can change it. You are His, you will be with Him and the Father for ever, and Satan can go pound sand in frustration because you can now never be snatched out of the Savior’s flock. Once saved always saved.
The grace of God is for a specific purpose (your salvation) and if you will open your heart and receive the free gift of grace, it will achieve in you the purpose God intends – chief of which is your presence with Him in heaven forever.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 