Amen, brother! Romans 5:20-21 (NIV) The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. At 12:23 AM 12/12/2004, you wrote: >Dear Brethren, > >Tomorrow I will preach on the subject, "Grace Reigns." Just that truth, >as a simple declarative, is a source of joy and comfort. How blessed that >it is no longer death that reigns, but grace. Grace reigns, which is to >say, it is sovereign. By this I mean something more than the simple >doctrines of sovereign grace, or that God is sovereign in the disposition >of His grace. I mean that Grace, wherever it is sent, rules. No force is >able to deny it, no authority can restrain it, but it shall and always >will rule the day. Of course, the sovereignty it possesses is actually >the sovereignty of the One who shows the grace. But so often we, (or >maybe I should say, "I") become so enwrapped in a defence of the doctrines >of God's sovereignty in grace, I fail to notice the glorious truth that >grace is actively sovereign over all enemies of the souls of God's people. > >With me, I find great obstacles between me and the longed-for goal of >likeness to and life with the Lord Jesus. I see an overwhelming mass of >sin, both in transgression and nature, and it continually argues against >any hope of eternal blessing. But grace reigns, and my sin, great as it >is, has no standing in the court of grace. I sense such grave doubts and >awful unbelief in my mind. I do not say this as a bit of hyperbole to >emphasize a point: it is the truth of the matter. The temptation to turn >away from the gospel is strong: but grace reigns, so the temptation, >however so strong, is unable to prevail. > >Grace reigns because Christ reigns, and until He is dethroned, grace shall >rule for the salvation of the people of God. Just as nothing can stay the >hand of God or question Him as to His deeds, so is grace beyond the >resistance and scrutiny of men and angels (and demons). Grace >reigns. Think on that glorious truth, and let us all worship Him whose >grace it is that reigns unto life through the righteousness of the Lord >Jesus Christ. > >Jeo T >-- >Read the Sound of Grace pages at >http://www.soundofgrace.com > >To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: soundofgrace-unsubscribe@... > >To view our online archive go to our web page at >http://www.associate.com/groups/soundofgrace Please note my new email address - jb@...