James, good morning to you. Of all people who have lived under Grace and have been the recipient of it, I can think of no person I know personally who has benefited more. Likewise, I am constantly aware of the many, many sinful thought, word and deeds that are still in my life, and do not excuse any of them except of being of my flesh, period. So I don't like anyone to judge Jesus by myself. I could not in my wildest dreams approach being like Him except for rare moments in time.
As for Paul, I feel as Peter does. Peter saw things in the first couple of years he was worried about, and I have seen thousands and would rather not discuss them any more. For me, I am happy to return to the gospels, and when I finally did after hearing the Epistles of Paul and Paul only for years and years and years I realized how far from the mark the current church was from the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, in His flesh, setting a perfect example.
Beyond that, I believe it will best suit me to continue to spend my Bible time in the Gospels. I have no problem with that whatsoever.
Nor do I have problem with the writings of Paul, but I don't spend much time in the Psalms either. Actually, I have only so much time for the Bible, to sit and read it, and prefer to go directly to the Source and absorb what He said. Most of the Jesus Freak movement was more totally centered on the four gospels and the
Book of Acts. The teachings we had were all that were needed.
That is why America was almost turned upside down in a few years.
I don't believe the Lord would have me justify my love for the gospels any more than that. Nor was I particularly instructed by the Lord while He was on Earth to look more toward things to come. So, I don't think being attacked for loving the gospels is something that can be justified either. Nor do I have a problem with Grace, or God's unmerited forgiveness, or anything else.
Nor do I particularly need anything else at this point in my life but the Gospels and the words of Jesus. Looking at the Book of Acts is certainly one of the better inspirations on earth, also. But if you find what you need in Paul, stay in the epistles of Paul. Do what the Lord instructs you. I believe if you begin to listen very closely to EVERY sermon preached any more, correct me if I am wrong, but very little of it will be a about the actual life and words of Jesus Christ. The church spends more time on David's life often than Jesus in the course of the year. Why this is so, I can only guess. I believe it is because we have all grown so far from His example over the centuries, that it is best not to closely compare the preacher or the congregation to the actual life experience of Jesus.
Do you have another experience? Again, perhaps dwelling on Paul and Paul's ministry and Paul's words way down deep in my heart
disturbs me because my Lord and Savior is Jesus. I would rather study my Lord and Savior, than Paul talking about Him.
James, in all truth, there are much greater problems in this world for you to worry about. Can you see that? Please address something that the Lord also is worried about. Trust me, James, He doesn't mind my obsessing on Him at all.
Now, one more thing which might give you total peace about my understanding of Paul's explanation of God's Grace, which I didn't need from Paul because the Holy Spirit put it in my heart immediately anyway, if you want to know. I simply did not find vast new meaning anywhere outside the Gospels about anything. But. My name is Lowa Grace. My grandmother's are both named Grace. Grace is what both of them went by. I liked Lowa better, and went by Lowa until I was 19, at which time my best friend Linda, who thought Lowa sounded better than Linda, and we were very competitive with each other, one day said in her sweet southern accent, "you know, you seem more like Grace to me...I'm going to start calling you Grace." And by that worldly and silly way, the Lord slowly changed my name back to Grace, because a few years later I never went by Lowa again. So HE apparently wanted me to also be named Grace, quite obviously.
So, please don't worry about my understanding of Grace. I'm even named Grace, and couldn't get out of it. |
