THE GRACE OF GOD
Read:
Romans 5:6-11
Development:
In this fragment of the letter of the Apostle Paul, we can appreciate how he explains that the grace of God has been manifested to all of us through the forgiveness of sins, through the death of the only begotten son on Calvary's cross.
Before this, we were all dead in crimes of sin, and that thanks to this maximum sacrifice, we were all forgiven and that if we remain in the teachings that Jesus left us, we will be saved from the wrath of God, and not only that but also as it is written, We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
I reflect and respond:
1. How was it obvious that you had no power in your life when Christ died for you?
2. What demonstrates God's incredible love for you?
Read:
Titus 3:3-8; 2:11-14
Development:
In this other fragment of his letters, in this case in the letter to Titus, we can appreciate how the Apostle Paul tells Titus, the same thing he said to the Romans, that the forgiveness we receive from God, with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on that cross, it was not because we had deserved it, or because we had done good works.
On the contrary, as it is written, we were foolish, rebellious, misguided, and slaves to our own concupiscence and various delights of this world in which we live, in malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another.
But through this perfect sacrifice salvation has been manifested for all men.
He also exhorts us to renounce all impiety and all the desires of the world so that we live a sober, just and pious life.
I reflect and answer:
1. Why do we need to be reminded about our old way of life?
2. What did you do to obtain God's forgiveness?
3. How should you respond to God's grace?
4. Describe how you can be self-possessed and eager to do good works.
Read:
1 Corinthians 15:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:1-12
Development:
Through his letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains to us that in the beginning he was an enemy of God, and he explains why.
He also urges us as Christians to recognize that at some point we were all enemies of God.
It also tells us that the law is not for all the just or for those justified by Jesus Christ. Let us remember that even Paul, being a Jew and a member of the Sanhedrin, moved by the grace of Jesus Christ, and by the law.
And he tells us that by the grace of Jesus Christ he is what he is, he also tells us that the grace of God the Father towards him was not in vain, since he worked for that grace, and in fact that is true, because Paul walked more than Jesus Christ himself preaching, bringing the good news of salvation and raising churches.
This is a clear message of what we as Christians must do, working in the same way that Paul did, letting the grace of God manifest itself in our pilgrim lives.
Later he tells us he explains for whom the law was created, for transgressors and for anyone who opposes sound doctrine.
This means that as Christians who are justified by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we must remain under the grace of Jesus Christ. Giving us to understand that when we transgress the teachings of Jesus, the only thing we do is get out of grace, and we place ourselves under the law.
Thus passing from being covered by the grace of God through Jesus Christ to being under the law of God, because of our own concupiscence; making us worthy of the same law because of our sins.
Reflection and answer:
How did Paul show his gratitude to God?
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