GOD’S GRACE FOR DESPERATE TIMES

THE SUFFICIENCY OF GOD’S GRACE

Lesson 1. God’s Grace for Desperate Times

Lesson 2. Grace Brought God’s Blessings

Lesson 3 Questioning God’s Grace

Lesson 4. God’s Grace Affirmed

Lesson 5. Testifying of God’s Grace

Lesson 6. Salvation is by God’s Grace

Lesson 7. Calling of God is by Grace

Lesson 8. Empowered by God’s Grace

Lesson 9. God’s Grace upon His Churches

Lesson 10. Grace For Speaking

Lesson 11. Grace for Singing

Lesson 12. God’s Throne of Grace

Lesson 13. Growth in Grace

GOD’S GRACE FOR DESPERATE TIMES

Application: To show that regardless of the circumstances, God’s grace is sufficient.

Scriptures to Read:

Text: Genesis 6:1-8

Related Scripture: Genesis 19:19-22; Exodus 33:12-17; Psalms 37:21-26; 84:11; 119:21; Proverbs 3:34; Jeremiah 1:5; Amos 5:15; Luke 1:30; Acts 2:41-47; 4:33; 14:26; Romans 5:15-20; 6:14; Galatians 1:15,16.

Devotional Readings: Paul Found God’s Grace To Be Sufficient, II Corinthians 1:5-11

Introduction:

God’s grace. What is this theme that will be the focus of these lessons? One definition of grace is God’s favor bestowed on those who are undeserving. The Old Testament word comes from a root that means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. Since the subject is God’s grace, the idea presented is of the infinitely superior God stooping down to offer His favor to those who are undeserving. The New Testament word implies being happy and well-off. Here, the picture if of one who had cone nothing to deserve the favor of another; yet, the one who is greater grants kindness to the lesser. God certainly was not required to offer grace to a created race of beings, but He is so loving and kind that He willingly offered to humanity something it could never deserve. This is His grace being bestowed on those who are less than He.

Often, grace is only applied to teaching on salvation. While God’s grace definitely has its part in salvation, it does not stop there. His grace is necessary for every aspect of life. An example of this came in the life of Paul. He had been called by God to be a missionary, but Paul had a physical ailment. He called it “a thorn in the flesh” (II Corinthians 12:7). This thorn was so difficult that he compared it to “the messenger of Satan to buffet me” (verse 7). Paul prayed to God for the removal of his problem, but God answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee” (verse 9). God would not remove the difficulty but would help Paul succeed in his work in spite of the problem. God’s grace would direct the glory to Him, not Paul.

People often do not recognize the hand of God in their lives when life is smooth and without care. God’s grace is needful in the good times and the bad times. It is during the bad times when people recognize their need and cry out to God for help. God’s grace is available during these desperate situations. God’s people should never fail to approach Him for help. He has promised, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

1. THE SINFULNESS OF HUMANITY – Genesis 6:1-5
   1. Adam created in innocence.
      1. Adam had the capacity to make the decision to sin or not sin.
      2. This does not mean that God created a sinful person.
      3. God gave man the ability to choose.
   2. The time for choosing came.
      1. Adam could have chosen not to partake of the forbidden fruit.
      2. Adam rebelled against the commandment of God.
      3. Adams act of rebellion cast all of his descendants into a state of sin.
      4. Rebellion has been initiated into the spiritual DNA of everyone born.
   3. As time went by the population of the earth increased.
      1. Some of Adam’s descendants had chosen to follow the path God had selected for them.
      2. The offspring of Seth chose to “call upon the name of the Lord” according to (Genesis 4:26).
   4. This has the ability to have two meanings.
      1. One meaning could be – they began to call themselves by God’s name much like people today call themselves Christians.
      2. Here is what a true saved person does – They began to call out to God in prayer and worship.
      3. Seth’s descendants endeavored to worship God and serve Him properly.
      4. This was not true of all the people.
      5. The descendants of Cain did not have the spiritual outlook they needed.
   5. Therefore, the people of earth were divided into two groups.
      1. Here is where we stray. The attraction of the world.
      2. We find that those whose minds were focused on God began to notice the physical attractiveness of those who pursued worldly things.
      3. The sons of God became so distracted that many began acting and living like the daughters of men.
      4. We find that eventually God was left out of the equation of living.
   6. Worldly activities have taken the place become so attractive that many focus on those activities.
      1. Therefore going to church falls behind the attractions of the world.
      2. Children sacrificed to entertainment rather than the service of God.
      3. The reaction of God during Noah’s day lets us know how God feels about this.

2. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD – Genesis 6:3, 6, 7
   1. Even when facing a time of judgment, humanity still has the offer of God’s grace.
      1. The lord looked down from heaven and saw their rebellious lives.
      2. His Spirit shall not always strive with man.
         1. This is not a physical struggle.
         2. This indicates that the spirit does strive or convict man of his wickedness and need for a Savior.
         3. Also demonstrates that men can resist the Spirit.
         4. This also reveals that there is a point of no return. A point where the Spirit will no longer convict or try to persuade a person to repent and turn to the Savior.
      3. 120 years later the flood came on the earth.
         1. A witness to the rebellion of man is Noah, a righteous man.
         2. The building of the Ark was the witness of the calamity to come.
   2. As God continued to watch His creation, He “saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (verse 5).
      1. People turned their backs upon the Lord and did not care for his ways.
      2. Only evil continually shows their focus.
      3. Therefore God stood ready to judge.
      4. God’s mercy and grace was sufficient to continue convicting and drawing people to Him.
      5. God does not want any to continue in rebellion against Him.
      6. If they do not respond then judgment comes.
   3. The warning issued by the Lord:
      1. God gives warnings – “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; foe it repenteth me that I have made them.
      2. God’s mercy has a limit.
      3. When people continually refuse His offer of grace, the time will come when they will no longer have the opportunity to be saved.
      4. This is a warning for people to stop trying the patience of the Lord.
      5. They need to come to Him now.

3. THE MAN OF GOD – Genesis 6:8
   1. God Found a man.
      1. God approved of the life and habits of this man.
      2. Noah found grace in the eyes of God
         1. Gen. 5:29 – And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
         2. This a prophecy
         3. His Father Lamech prophesied this character of Noah
      3. In the very next verse we fine three descriptions of Noah.
         1. Just man.
            1. Lawful, – God’s law
            2. righteous, – Looking to the righteousness of the coming Saviour.
            3. Faithful – “The Just shall live by faith” – Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38
         2. Perfect in his generations.
            1. Morally
               1. Principles of right and wrong
               2. Conforming of standards of behavior.
            2. Integrity – a completeness of standards established.
            3. Truth – a quality of speaking correct things. Not lying. Accuracy in speaking.
            4. Sincere – solemnly earnest in all good things.
            5. Upright – good and just.
            6. Complete – Highly skilled – having all necessary qualities
         3. Walked with God
            1. According to God’s will.
            2. Walked in truth
            3. Walked in Righteousness
            4. Walked in a manner that was pleasing to God.
            5. Walked in communion with God.
   2. Often people consider Biblical characters as spiritual giants.
      1. Noah was a just man that was committed to God.
      2. We can be just and committed to God.
      3. Noah wanted his life to be pleasing to God.
      4. We should desire that our life is pleasing to God.
      5. The problem for many is that they choose the way of the world over God.
      6. Because of this their lives do not please God.
      7. For some that is why their lives are falling apart.
      8. Galatians 6:7 says “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”
      9. This is not a mere possibility, this is a certainty.

CONCLUSION:

• Noah faced difficult, even desperate days.
• He had a special work to do.
• He would be ridiculed and mocked.
• He was preparing for judgment that was coming.
• He was the man that God wanted for the job.
• He was faithful and true.
• We need this kind of man, this kind of woman that will prepare for the judgment of God.

Faith

FAITH

Romans 10:17; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 11:6

How often we hear, “have faith.” How infrequently we demonstrate our faith. Faith is the first step to salvation, a relationship with Jesus. We find that “. . . faith cometh by hearing.” God has provided for the hearing of the word by building His church during His time here on earth. Therefore we have this instruction, “ . . . and hearing by the word of God.” This publishes the importance of hearing the word of God. That means attendance to the Lord’s church. Yet we must be sure that what is preached from the pulpit is the word of God. That demands that we carry the word of God and follow the scriptures that are used. Here is that scripture; “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 KJB

We have faith as a basis for salvation. Without faith there is no salvation. With our faith, God gives us a free gift of forgiveness of sin. Salvation is completely dependant upon the grace of God. His grace has provide a means to establish a relationship. When we have faith we can be saved and become a child of God. Here is the scripture; “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8 KJB

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 KJB Do you believe in God?If you do believe in God, do you want to please God? That means you must exercise your faith in God. Be saved and then through hearing the word, increase our faith. The more time we spend in the word and hearing the word, the more our faith will increase. My prayer, Lord increase my faith.

WHAT REALLY WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW?

Bro. Hess has given a good presentation on the law

            Being the God who knows everything, is the same God that gave the Law as is recorded throughout Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.  So did the all-knowing (omniscient) God really think that it was possible for man to be able to keep the whole law without messing up at all?  If so, why would He give such a law that would condemn those who broke it to death, physically and spiritually?

            Look at what James wrote in James 2:8-11. If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10  For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 

  So what does this tell us?  Any one infraction of the Law, regardless of whether one considers it a “small” infraction or not, it still pronounces us as guilty and therefore, we have missed God’s mark of perfection, which is what is called sin.  What are we told in Romans 6:23?  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

            So, in this respect, the Law worked against man in that it showed man what God considered as sin and therefore man is guilty if he breaks the law in any way.  Man has absolutely NO excuse for doing ANYTHING that God doesn’t want him to do.  The Law, that Paul wrote about in Colossians 2:14 is called “the handwriting of ordinances”.  What did he say about the law?  “.Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;  So why did God give us a Law “that was against us and contrary to us”?

            Here is what Paul stated in Romans 7. In verse 7 Paul said that “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.   In his early years, Paul THOUGHT that what he was doing was right in the sight of God and that he was safe.  But when the law was revealed to him, it was by the law that he knew what God considered to be sin.  Now look at what he said in Romans 5:20.  ” Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

  The law exposed sin in such a way that it gave sin a broader perspective in the mind of man.  The Jews did not fully understand how big sin really was in God’s eyes.  They considered, as many do today, that there were “little” sins that didn’t carry as much weight as the “bigger” sins.  But in God’s eyes there are NO “little” sins or NO “big” sins.  Sin is sin.  So the law made it possible for man to see just how “BIG”  ALL sin was in the eyes of God.  And as such, sin of any kind had the overall penalty of death.  Therefore, the necessity of “GOD’S GRACE” became more important and necessary to a man.  We see these words when we read all of Romans 5:20-21. “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

            In Galatians 3:10 Paul wrote “ For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”  In Galatians 2:16 we read, “ Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.“  Then on to Galatians 2:21 where we read, “ I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”  And what about what Paul wrote in Romans 3:20?  “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”  Isaiah 64:6 gives a message of no hope when it comes to what we can do of ourselves.  “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” 

            So seeing what we have read in these references, what really WAS the purpose of the Law? 

                        (1)  As we saw in Romans 5:20 and 7:7 God gave the Law so that man would be able to see sin through the eyes of God.  Sin was “bigger” than man realized.

                        (2)  As we saw in Galatians 3:10; 2:16,21 ; and 3:20 the law was totally impossible to keep to the point of gaining righteousness in God’s eyes.

                        (3)  Isaiah’s message from God was that our best “good” doesn’t even come close to bringing us to God.

            But look at the beautiful information that Paul gives us in answer to the question, “What really was the purpose of the law?”.  In Galatians 3:23-25 we read these magnificent words. “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” 

Notice these words; “…kept under the law, …”we were imprisoned under the law.  Those words were followed by “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ,”the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ.

            Man needed something to show him how helpless he was in being able to make it possible for him to come into the  proper relationship with God. The law was what God used to show man that he needed a MEDIATOR between himself and God.   Jesus Christ was that Mediator.  ” For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ” (I Timothy 2:5).  Jesus was the One and only Way to the Father.  Jesus was the REAL truth in physical form to point man to the Father.  Jesus was the only one who could give man the spiritual, eternal life that was necessary to prepare man to meet and live with the Father.  No human being can come to the Father except through Jesus Christ.

            I hope and pray that this lesson has answered the question “What really was the purpose of the law?” for you.

SWIMMING IN THE POOL OF GRACE

SWIMMING IN THE POOL OF GRACE

William Andrew Dillard
Parson to Person
A childhood memory is that of the simple joy of reading comic books, and one in particular: Donald Duck. It seems Donald had a rich uncle who was also very stingy. He had accumulated so much money that it filled a swimming pool. This uncle (scrooge by name) loved to dive off the diving board into the pool of money and wallow in it, throwing it into the air and immersing himself in the sheer glee of it all.
This little story is at best crude, but it does have a way of illustrating the marvelous, fathomless grace of God toward his creation, and specifically mankind.
The word “grace” is commonly defined as “Unmerited favor.” It is first employed in the Bible in Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” The law of first mention is that a word finds its clearest meaning in the context of its initial usage. Here and throughout the Bible, it is clear that great favor of a totally unmerited nature is bestowed upon mankind. It is favor that builds upon itself as it finds welcome acceptance in its beneficiaries.
Certainly, Noah did not merit the favor of God, but this favor (grace) was bestowed upon him by which he escaped the global flood, and repopulated the earth.
The multiple instances of grace being bestowed on various saints of old would require a sizeable book, but suffice it here to fast forward to the New Testament where the word and its meaning takes on expanded appreciation, though remaining far from our comprehensive understanding. As the apostle John presented the Word in the first chapter of his gospel, he spoke of this abundant grace. Moreover, he recorded the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus: “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1: 16-17.
In an attempt to better understand the idea of the phrase “grace for grace,” most scholars say this means grace piled on top of grace. Another likens it to the continuous supply of manna to the Hebrews in the wilderness wanderings. By grace it was there this morning, and by grace will be there the next day to replace what was used. But in the writings of John, it is contrasted with law which came by Moses. Thus, it is conveying the unmerited favor of the New Covenant: the church, the faith once delivered to the saints in contrast to the law and its penalties of the Old Testament. It is favor beyond that of spiritual salvation to that of comprehension to the point of spiritual maturity. It is unmerited favor piled upon unmerited favor. To a submissive people to Him, it is as David of old said, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” Psalm 68:19. What a spiritual pool of grace we have in Christ Jesus! Enjoy the swim!

THE PLACE OF LAW AND GRACE

THE PLACE OF LAW AND GRACE

William Andrew Dillard
Parson to Person

Oil and water do not mix. But, they would mix before law and grace would do so. A question was posed about Exodus 23:3, 6, “Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause,” and “Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.” Does this mean that poor people should be exempt from any law based on their socio-economic status? Following is my reply.
It is my studied opinion that Israel is here commanded to be “straight shooters” under the terms of the Mosaic Law. That is, the poor man was not to be excused simply because he was poor, and the judgment against him was definitely not to be skewed in his disfavor. Now consider contextual meaning as well.
These verses are the initiation of Law to Israel, the covenant people of God. It was vitally important that they learn (and we as well from them) the difference between sin and righteousness, and just how completely righteous God is and how completely sinful man is. This law then became our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, and to His grace, Paul argues in Galatians 3:24-25.
However, the law and the prophets were until John (the Baptist) Luke 16:16. Jesus said they must be fulfilled, Luke 24:44, and He did so according to Matthew 5:18; Col. 2:14-17. The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came to us by Christ Jesus, John 1:17. Grace does not mean that the law was not righteous, quite the contrary. Covenants may change, but principles do not.
Law is Law! It is commandment plus penalty. If either is absent, the law is not in play. It cannot be injected with anything else and still be law. But, it is recognized that some cases tried by the medium of courts of law may either merit or demand mercy. But, when mercy is injected, it negates law and creates grace. Grace is what Jesus is all about. He as The God-man met each and every demand of Law. He fulfilled it to the very jot and tittle, and offers to us not the punishment of law which we deserve, (and by which God’s standard will always remain) but, His own righteousness by grace through faith.
Moreover, just as the law cannot be injected with anything else and remain law, so it is with grace. It is ludicrous to seek to maintain grace through law. This is the trouble the churches of Galatia got into, and which Paul addressed in his epistle by their name. After all, the law was not given to righteous people, but for sinners. By it, they could understand their lost condition, and their inability to do anything about it except through grace.
That mercy and grace should rule whenever possible among the affairs of men is underscored repeatedly in Jesus’ teachings, especially in Matthew 18:21-3

THE GRACE OF CHRISTIAN SPEECH

David Hardin

THE GRACE OF CHRISTIAN SPEECH
September 22
“He that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”– 1Pe_3:10.
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.” — Col_4:6.

THE IDEAL of Christian speech is given in the Apostle’s words to the Colossians. Our speech should be always gracious; and grace stands for mercifulness, charity, the willingness to put the best constructions upon the words and actions of another. It is a great help in dealing with envy, jealousy, or unkind feeling to compel our lips to speak as Christ would have them. If you are jealous of another, the temptation is to say unkind or depreciating things, but if we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, He will enable us to check such words and replace them by those that suggest kindly consideration on the part of ourselves and others. Endeavour to say all the good that can be said, and none of the evil. It is remarkable that when we make the effort to speak kindly on behalf of those against whom we feel exasperated, the whole inward temper changes and takes on the tone of our voice.
There should be salt in our speech–purity, antiseptic, and sparkling like the Book of Proverbs. A playful wit, a bright repartee, are not inconsistent with the Apostle’s standard, but whenever we mix in conversation with people, they should be aware of an element in us which makes it impossible for them to indulge in ill-natured gossip or coarse jokes.
We must continue in prayer that God would open to us doors of utterance, so that we may speak of the hidden beauty and glory of our Saviour. Sometimes, also, when we are hard pressed to know how to answer difficult questions, it is given to us in that same hour how we ought to speak, and we find that the Holy Spirit has found an utterance by our lips (Luk_12:12; 1Pe_3:15).
It is recorded of our Lord that during His trial He spoke not a word to Pilate or Herod, but as soon as He reached the Cross, He poured out His heart as their Intercessor, saying: “Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do!” Speak more to God than to men who may be reviling and threatening you. It is blessed to realize that He is able to guard the door of our lips, for probably there is no part of our nature that stands more in need of His keeping power.

PRAYER
Live in us, Blessed Lord, by Thy Holy Spirit, that our lives may be gospels of helpfulness and blessedness. May all foolish talking and covetousness, bitterness, wrath, and anger be put away from us, with all malice. AMEN.

GRACE AND TRUTH

Author: W.P. Mackay

Let us suppose that a convict, who has just finished his term of penal servitude, wishes to lead an honest life. He comes to a man who has a large jewelry establishment, and who requires a night-watchman. He is engaged to watch this house through the quiet hours of the night, when he has everything under him, and every opportunity to rob his employer. On the first evening of his watching he meets one of his old companions, who accosts him. “What are you doing here?”

‘I’m night-watchman.’

‘Over this jewelry shop’

‘Yes.’

‘Does he know what you are?’

‘No, no, be silent; if he knew, I should be dismissed.’

‘Suppose I let it out that you are a returned convict!’

‘Oh I pray don’t, it would be my last day here, and I wish to be honest.’

‘Well, you’ll require to give me some money to keep quiet.’

‘Very well, but don’t let any one know.’ Thus the poor man would be in sad feat and trembling, lest it should come to the ears of his employer what his previous character had been. He would be in terror lest he should meet any of his old friends, and lest his resources should be exhausted in keeping them quiet.

Let us suppose, however, that instead of the employer engaging the man in ignorance of his character, he went to the convict’s cell and said, ‘Now I know you, what you are, and what you’ve done, every robbery you’ve committed, and that you are worse than you believe yourself to be.  I am about to give you a chance of becoming honest, I’ll trust you as my night-watchman over my valuable goods.’ The man is faithful at his post. He meets old companion after old companion, who threaten to inform upon him. He asks, ‘What will you tell about me?’

‘That you were the ringleader of house-breakers.’

‘Yes, but my master knows all that better than you do, he knows me better than I know myself.’

Of course this silences them for ever.

 

This latter is — GRACE AND TRUTH

Man by Nature

Man by nature likes neither grace nor truth. He is satisfied neither with perfect justice nor perfect goodness.if John the Baptist comes in righteousness, he is hated, and men say he is too harsh, and not human, but hath a devil. If Christ comes in love, He is taunted with being a friend of sinners. So when the righteous requirements of God’s law are preached, many people are apt to turn and say, ‘Oh yes, but that is too strict; you must allow a little margin for our imperfection.’ God says, ‘Make no provision for the flesh.’ Alas! it will take far too much; but allow it nothing. When a sanctified walk, separated from the world and all its belongings is insisted on, a certain class are sure to call this legal preaching. And on the other hand, when the grace of God is preached, man’s wisdom makes it out to be toleration of evil and lawless licence.

Dr. Dr. W.P. Mackay, M.A

 

THE LAW

Author – Dr. W.P. Mackay, M. A  1903

 

‘The law was given by Moses: grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.’ The law showed what man ought to be. Christ showed what man is, and what God is. The law was given, but grace and truth came. The word translated ‘came’ is very strong in the original. It might be rendered ‘were impersonated’ in Him — always kept in due harmony and proportion. Calvary tells out fully what man’s true state is, what God’s truth is, and what grace means. The law is what man ought to be to God. Grace tells what God is for me. The first word of law is ‘Thou,’ the first of grace is ‘God’ so loved. But it is grace through truth. God has investigated everything, nothing has been overlooked. The greatest sin that any man could possibly commit has been committed, namely, the murder of God’s Son. At the same time the greatest grace of God has been manifested.

 

Wonderful, marvelous grace

James Wilson, founding father, died August 21, 1798

American Minute with Bill Federer

He was one of six founding fathers to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

President Washington appointed him to the Supreme Court.

Born in Scotland, he was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, speaking 168 times.

His name was James Wilson and he died AUGUST 21, 1798.

The first law professor of the University of Pennsylvania, James Wilson wrote in his Lectures on Law, 1789-91, that all law comes from God, being divided into four categories:

“law eternal,” “law celestial,” “laws of nature,”

and:

“Law…communicated to us by reason and conscience…has been called natural; as promulgated by the Holy Scriptures, it has been called revealed…

But it should always be remembered, that this law, natural or revealed…flows from the same divine source; it is the law of God.”

“Human law must rest its authority, ultimately, upon the authority of that law, which is divine.”

James Wilson continued:

“Far from being rivals or enemies, religion and law are twin sisters, friends, and mutual assistants. Indeed, these two sciences run into each other.”

James Wilson stated:

“The first and governing maxim in the interpretation of a statute is to discover the meaning of those who made it.”

James Wilson remarked at Pennsylvania’s ratifying convention, November 26, 1787:

“Governments, in general, have been the result of force, of fraud, and accident.

After a period of 6,000 years has elapsed since the creation, the United States exhibit to the world the first instance, as far as we can learn, of a nation…assembling voluntarily…and deciding calmly concerning that system of government under which they would wish that they and their posterity should live.”

In expounding on the “Will of God,” James Wilson described it as the:

“…efficient cause of moral obligation – of the eminent distinction between right and wrong…(and therefore the) supreme law…

(It is revealed) by our conscience, by our reason, and by the Holy Scriptures.”

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania records in Updegraph v. Commonwealth, 1824:

“The late Judge James Wilson, of the Supreme Court of the United States, Professor of Law in the College in Philadelphia…

for our present form of government we are greatly indebted to his exertions…

In his Course of Lectures (3d Vol. of his Works, 122), he states that…

‘Christianity is part of the common-law.’”

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The Moral Liberal contributing editor, William J. Federer, is the bestselling author of “Backfired: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance no Longer Tolerates Religion,” and numerous other books. A frequent radio and television guest, his daily American Minute is broadcast nationally via radio, television, and Internet. Check out all of Bill’s bookshere.