G--Grace, God's gift
R--Reigning in us
A--Abounding Actively with
C--Continual victory by constant trust
E--Exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask of think
The Gift of God, through Christ for us to receive by faith without
wavering.
Praise You, Lord for the gift of Grace through Christ Jesus
contributed by S. Alt
When we continue reading through verses 4 and 5, we understand that
when we were baptized into Christ at our conversion experience, we
were baptized into His crucifixion, burial and resurrection. That is,
we became spiritually crucified, buried and resurrected.
When we respond to the guidance of Romans 6:11-13, we actually
experience our own spiritual crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
Then Romans 6:14 says that by experiencing our crucifixion, burial and
resurrection, sin will no longer rule over us because we are not under
law but under grace.
Galatians 3:27 says: "For as many of you as have been baptized into
Christ have put on Christ."
Galatians 3:28 adds, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither
bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in
Christ Jesus." When we were baptized into Christ, we were baptized
into a spiritual oneness with all believers.
A clear explanation of our baptism into Christ is presented in 1
Corinthians 12:12-13, which says: "For as the body is one, and hath
many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are
one body: so also [is] Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized
into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond
or free …."
As the human body is one with many members. Jesus is one body with
many members. Again we see that when the Holy Spirit baptized us into
the one body of Jesus, we were baptized into a oneness with all other
believers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Living by Grace, Oct. 10, 2010. www.livingbygrace.org.
Copyright © 2000-2005 David Kuykendall Ministries.
SPIG?
...It seems that the common contemporary approach to church ministry reflects four key words: Strategy, Programs, Imitation, and Growth. In essence, we often believe the key to successful ministry is a proper strategy – which often includes discussions about mission, values, vision, and ministry structure. To implement this strategy, we create or refine our programs. These various activities are the key to implementing the strategy. The outcome of this is often "imitation." We try to pattern our efforts after the success of another church or some model described in a popular book. Perhaps, we even hope others will imitate our projected success. Ultimately, our goal is growth. We want to be bigger and better than we were before we had a strategy.
I am not saying that every element of this approach is wrong. God can use our plans for His purposes. Yet, it seems disconnected from the sufficiency described in Romans 11:33-34 and the non-conformity of thought commanded in Romans 12:1-2. Rather, it can appear to be an attempt to do ministry following a more corporate model that seems to work in the world of business enterprise.
Or SPIG?
A less common approach would reflect four different words: Spirit, Prayer, Inspiration, and Glory. In this case, there is a resolute recognition that the Spirit is the instigator and source of all effective initiatives and the power for fruitful ministry. Extraordinary prayer is the practical means by which we understand, experience, and implement the Spirit's desires. The result is the "inspiration" of a ministry effort that comes from the Lord's unique plan for our specific ministry and context, not to be copied by anyone else. The ultimate goal is glory. This involves the compelling manifestation of the presence of Christ among His people and the clear magnification of the person of Christ by His people. This glory produces supernatural kingdom advancement and proclamation of the Gospel...
When we grasp the "riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God" (Romans 11:33) made known to us by His Gospel and working in us by His Spirit, it changes the way we approach life and ministry. As Romans 11:34 declares, "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever." Our approach to ministry is transformed, not conformed. Then the will of Christ is on glorious display before broken people desperate for an encounter with the supernatural power of the Spirit in and through a revived church.
