Esau and Jacob - Revd Kcwilliams GraceMan
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"A Shadow of the SCANDALOUS GRACE OF GOD"
Definition:
Scandalous - causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law. Offensive to propriety or morality.
Synonyms: disgraceful, shocking, outrageous, monstrous, criminal, wicked, sinful, shameful, atrocious, appalling, dreadful, deplorable, reprehensible, inexcusable, intolerable, insupportable, unforgivable, unconscionable, unpardonable;
Gospel of Grace versus Gospel of morality! Gospel of God's Grace is very offensive to man.
Many believers are even ashamed to declare BEING SAVED BY GRACE ALONE.
Because they consider it shameful, shocking and outrageous. Nothing less than scandalous describes man's perception of the Grace of God.
"For I am NOT ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God unto Salvation unto everyone who believes" Romans 1:16.
Who is ashamed of the Gospel of Morality?
All religions on earth preach morality, even the atheists who don't believe in God believe in morality. So, morality gospel will offend no one, NO ONE CAN BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF MORALITY. EVEN THE GOVERMENT PREACHES THAT.
But do you know the problem with the Gospel or Morality? IT CANNOT SAVE. Only the Gospel of God's GRACE is THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERYONE WHO BELIVES.
The Gospel of morality is weakened by the flesh. You will hear excuses like "NOBODY IS PERFECT".
But God demands PERFECTION. Anything less than perfection is unacceptable to God.
Since your gospel of morality cannot present you perfect in God's sight, IT IS A WEAK, DEFICIENT, AND POWERLESS.
You know what gospel of morality can produce at best? - FILTHY RAG.
"All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like FILTHY RAGS; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." Isaiah 64:6.
FAIRNESS VERSUS BEING JUST / RIGHTEOUS:
Let me shock your theology: GOD NEVER PROMISED TO BE FAIR. HE ONLY PROMISED TO BE JUST.
Or what will you say about a God who says "Therefore is NOT of man who wills, but of God who shows mercy."
IT IS FAIR TO FAVOUR THOSE WHO ARE TRYING THEIR BEST. BUT IT IS JUST TO FAVOUR THOSE WHO KNOW THEIR BEST IS NOT ENOUGH, THEREFORE TRUST GOD FOR HIS BEST. That is the difference.
See the Scripture:
Romans 4:5
"However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness."
IT IS NOT FAIR TO JUSTIFY THE UNGODLY, BUT IT IS JUST TO JUSTIFY THE UNGODLY WHO TRUSTS IN GOD.
JACOB AND ESAU
Esau was the firstborn. NATURALLY, he was qualified to be chosen and receive the blessing, and carry out the line of God's covenant to Abraham. THAT IS FAIRNESS.
But God chose Jacob, the second born. That was very unfair and outrageous. No wonder Esau was angry and bitter, NOT only against Jacob, but against God, who chose the UNDESERVING, UNQUALIFIED to enjoy the blessing.
May be you have NOT known God.
"27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
28.He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
29.so that no one may boast in His presence. "
HE DOES NOT CHOOSE THE NATURALLY QUALIFIED. THAT IS FAIRNESS.
HE CHOOSES THE NATURALLY UNQUALIFIED, AND BECOME THEIR QUALIFICATION. THAT IS GOD BEING JUST.
Fairness gives glory to man. God's Justice /Righteousness gives ALL GLORY TO GOD.
If Esau was chosen, he had something to boast of. Yes, he was chosen because he was the firstborn. Yea...
BUT GOD STRIPPED HIM OF THAT ABILITY TO BOAST AND GAVE THE BLESSING TO A MAN WHO COULD NOT BOAST - JACOB.
Check out the HALL OF FAITH chapter (Hebrews 11), and you will see many of those described there as heroes of faith who received public commendation of God, THEY ALL MESSED UP during their lifetimes. BUT THE DIFFERENCE WAS THAT THEY BELIEVED IN GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS.
NOT ONE OF THEIR FLAWS WAS LISTED.
I know many of us were trained to be judgmental with Samson. And some people even believed he must have gone to hell, BUT as far as God is concern, Samson was a man of faith and he pleased God and was accepted by Him.
David, a man after God's own heart, by human record, did a lot of atrocities. He fornicated and committed adultery with the wife of one of his soldiers. Not only that, HE MURDERED THE HUSBAND IN COLD BLOOD.
Yet, GOD FORGAVE HIM, AND NOT ONLY THAT, GOD CHOSE TO CONTINUE HIS LINNEAGE THROUGH THE WIFE THAT HE GOT THROUGH ADULTERY.
Isn't this Grace scandalous?
JACOB AND ESAU -THE FIRST BECAME THE LAST. THE LAST BECAME THE FIRST.
Jesus made this statement twice. The first time, at the beginning of a parable, and second time, at the end of that same parable.
Mathew 19:30 (the last verse of chapter 19)
"But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first"
Matthew 20:1-15
1. For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard..... (then goes the parable)
15. "Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'
"16. "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
This statement perfectly described Jacob - Esau's story.
Esau, the first became the last. Jacob the last became the first. THAT NO MAN MAY BOAST IN HIS PRESENCE.
Now, it is good you understand the parable which Jesus used this statement to explain. Please read Matthew 20:1-15.
In this parable, It was about a Gardener who hired some workers at the START OF THE DAY and THEY NEGOTIATED AND AGREED TO THE RATE of payment with the Master.
(Verse 2 and Verse 13).
Then in the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 11th hour, the Master went to the highway to hire some other people. BUT THEY NEVER NEGOTIATED.
He just told them:
"and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you. (Verse 4).
That was the term for the later guys. THEY SIMPLY TRUSTED IN THE MASTER TO GIVE THEM "THE RIGHT IN HIS EYES" (HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS).
At the end of the day, those FIRST set of workers got really mad because the Master paid them ALL the same amount.
They got really mad at the Master, and He told them "He has paid them according to the agreement they entered into."...
Whereas, in His Grace and Generosity, He chose to pay others who were hired later, including those who barely worked an hour the same amount. BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY TRUSTED HIM TO GIVE THEM "WHAT IS RIGHT IN HIS EYES". Whereas, the first group signed an agreement on their pay.
These two group of people were those Jesus was referring to as the First and the Last.
The first were those who chose to be justified before God by the works of the law, NOT by Grace. They were working for their wages. THEY BELIEVE IN FAIRNESS They got job in the first hour. Everything seemed to work according to plans.
Those that trusted in their works to be justified before God signed a personal contract with Him to live according to their works.
However the LAST are those who come to God through faith but have no ground for such personal contract. They were too poor to pay for God's Grace and Blessings.
THEY SIMPLY TRUSTED HIM. THEY ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE MASTER. THEY LIVE BY FAITH IN CHRIST. THEY ARE THE GRACE FOLKS.
Do you see what God's Grace is totally unfair and scandalous to human mind?
JACOB AND ESAU - THE STORY OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT OVERIDES OUR SINS.
Now, God chose Jacob even before he was born. However, God did NOT need unrighteousness to fulfill His promise.
It was NOT God's will that Jacob should trick his brother to exchange birthright. That is supplanting and not God's will.
Also it was NOT God's will for Jacob to lie and pretend to be his brother to collect the blessings from their father, Isaac. NO, IT WAS NOT GOD'S WILL.
If Jacob did NOT lie or supplant, God would have still worked miraculously to give him the blessing in His own way.
HOWEVER THE LIE AND SUPPLANTING CAME UP TO DEMONSTRATE MAN'S INSSUFICIENCY AND INPERFECTION, AND SIN.
However, MAN'S SIN WAS TOO SMALL TO UNDO GOD'S GRACE ON JACOB.
God did NOT change His mind about Jacob because He lied and supplanted and did NOT repent, NOT confessed his sins.
Did you read that?
God did NOT revoke His blessings from Jacob because of his sin and imperfection.
JACOB'S BAD WORKS DID NOT DISQUALIFY HIM, RATHER HIS FAITH IN GOD WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY QUALIFIED HIM.
Do you know why God DID NOT change His mind about Jacob, despite his sin, cheating supplanting and lie?
Romans 11:29
"For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
"God NEVER changes his mind when he gives gifts or when he calls someone." (GWT)
No, He does NOT. GOD'S GIFT IS IRREVOCABLE.
GOD'S SALVATION AND HIS FORGIVENESS ARE IRREVOCABLE. Wooooooooow. Glory to God.
JACOB - IRREVOCABLE BLESSINGS.
Now, after Isaac has "mistakenly" blessed Jacob (the last man who became the first). Esau came and Jacob realized he blessed "the wrong person", who was the right person in the eyes of God... YET IT WAS IRREVOCABLE... Even Jacob has no power to undo it...
Hear what he said
"I blessed him--and indeed he will be blessed!"
The Lord has blessed you IN CHRIST. And INDEED you are irrevocable blessed.
The story of Jacob was that of GRACE from start to finish. Of course, he got some unfair treatments later in the future. Some regarded that are some kind of punishment. Let's assume they are right. YET, GOD WOULD NOT REVOKE HIS BLESSING FROM HIM.
Even though you might suffer some physical / natural consequences for sins and stupid acts ,THAT CANNOT UNDO YOUR FORGIVENESS IN CHRIST.
What is your choice today?
You want to go with FAIRNESS, or do you want GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS?
Do you want TO BE PAID WAGES FOR YOUR WORKS or DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD WHO JUSTIFIES THE UNGODLY that BELIEVE IN HIM?
Do you wanna represent yourself and ENTER A COVENANT WITH GOD or DO YOU WANNA ENJOY THE BENEFIT OF GOD'S COVENANT WITH HIMSELF (CHRIST) on your behalf?
Are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ?
CAN YOU BOLDLY DECLARE IT EVERYWHERE THAT YOU ARE SAVED 100% BY GOD'S GRACE, NO ADDITIVES ADDED?
GOD DOES NOT JUST WANT TO QUALIFY YOU, HE WANTS TO BE YOUR QUALIFICATION.
HE DOES NOT JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU RIGHTEOUSNESS, HE WANTS TO BE YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
HE WANTS TO BECOME YOUR SALVATION.
To the legalistic mind, God's Grace is scandalous, unfair, sinful, provocative, shameful, offensive, outrageous, ...
But to us who could only be saved by God's Grace, who have nothing to offer, God's Grace is amazing, beautiful, just, awesome, and righteous,....
God's Grace is the Best Thing that could ever happen to us.
Lord, we can sing of your Love FOREVER.... Thank you for your Eternal Overwhelming Love. The Love that is out of this world.... Thank you Jesus...
Some people will read this lengthy post and still find a basis to discredit the Grace of God!
I have nothing to say to you.
But to those who just got enlightened and those who desire this life of Christ I chose to describe as "Divine Partiality" leave me a DM right away on any of the social media platforms below and let me lead you to Christ in 30sec or less
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That's a wrap on what I got from my Pastor's wall for this week. Till we meet again.... Keep wining
PB
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