Today I was working through 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 and I came away with another reminder of the amazing grace of God. For all the troubles in this first century church, Paul addressed them as “the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling.” Then in v. 4 he adds that he thanked God regularly for them. In particular, he thanked God “for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus.” What a blessed truth. God’s grace is given. The grace of God is his favor which he bestows on the undeserving. Paul thanked God for his grace which, Paul says, “was given you in Christ Jesus.” God’s grace is not earned, nor is it a response to any action of man. It is simply “given.”  God gives grace. He freely bestows it. It is this grace that saves us, keeps us, gifts us, sanctifies us, and will one day glorify us. And in none of these circumstances was he obligated to give it. He bestows it to whom he wishes and he is never obligated to give it.

My heart, selfishly, is still a bit heavy about the home going of Dr. Hoehner. My mind has been filling up with vivid memories of the impact he had on me in all those classes I took with him, and how he loved, lived, and taught the grace of God. It is quite a tribute to the grace of God which was given him, when you read the many memories that people have left on the Dallas website.

We serve a gracious God indeed.

Categories: God