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G-R-A-C-E
author of SOUGHT BY GRACE is Kent Hughes, pastor of the College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. G-R-A-C-E: GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE [G]race is a gift from God, centered and mediated through His Son Christ Jesus. Through the years I’ve learned that grace is a lavish, joyous word which describes God’s perpetual inclination to bless His people. If grace could be contained in a water pitcher, then the pitcher would always be tilted to pour out a flood of grace. We were sought by grace, sustained by grace, and "Grace has brought us safe thus far And grace will lead us home." God’s grace in bringing the gospel to us defies any single description. The whole of God’s Word informs it, especially the Gospels and the Epistles. The best way to understand grace is through reading and rereading key texts. . . . My experience is that many people in good churches do not fully grasp God’s saving grace. So often when asked how they know that they are Christians they answer, "Because I accepted" or "I prayed" or "I went forward." Notice the prominence of "I"—which places the emphasis on what they have done. Rather the grace-emphasis must center on God alone—"Because Christ . . ." Grace begins with God and has its end in God. So my prayer is that this little book will clear away the spiritual fog so that those who are uncertain of salvation can settle it once for all and know the riches of His grace: "For you know the grace of Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) — R. Kent Hughes, SOUGHT BY GRACE. Chicago: Moody Press, 2002, p. 9-10. ISBN 0-8024-1431-1 [May our worship and prayer be fueled by a deeper and deeper awareness of and thankfulness for the Lord’s amazing grace to us—God’s riches at Christ’s expense.] Have a great week, Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.carlstam.org www.sbts.edu |