Exhortation Twenty-Four                                                                 Age of Grace    A few years ago, I was sitting in the pews of my once favorite Church in Federal Way, Washington. We had a guest speaker who was to deliver a sermon on Grace. He was the then Superintendent of the Federal Way Public School District. I remember him pacing back and forth across the altar asking the question, “What is grace?”    Before long, it became evident to me that if any who were not asleep actually paid attention, they would walk out of this Sunday Service really confused. He talked about reading his Bible while on a flight somewhere and was prompted in his heart to ask, “What is grace?” I’ll never forget how he struggled with an explanation. Sadly, I left the service being very disappointed in what Christians are being taught about grace.    In the days of chivalry, if one approached a King or Magistrate, a Queen or Arch Bishop, a proper address was to begin or end your statement with “your Grace.” This was appropriate in context because the person being addressed was one in authority. They possessed power and had influence over many. So to properly address such a leader is to acknowledge his power and authority; his grace.    As we move forward through time, we find the word graceful being used in the context of dance and speech. To say of a Ballerina’s performance, as having been graceful did not mean she was kind or gentle or forgiving but it infers that she was flawless in her delivery or her dance was masterfully done. You could say that she was powerful in her execution of or the performance was empowering. She had great control and demonstrated great discipline in her dance.    Just the other day, a friend and brother of mine were sparring over the Word. He had asked me to explain the riddle presented in Hebrews 9:8. He was searching for understanding regarding the Holy Spirits declaration. As I took him through my first exhortation entitled, “To All Who Call Themselves Christian,” and pointed out the extraordinary evidence cited in Scripture, he began to feel uncomfortable with the notion that his Christian membership in the churches of man did not qualify him for “entry into the more perfect tabernacle,” one that was not built by the hands of men.    He uttered a hastened response, “But we are living in the Age of Grace! That’s why Jesus died on the cross (stake). We don’t have to literally follow the path Jesus took, do we?” I responded by citing Jesus own words to His disciples when they marveled at the glory of the Temples.   Jesus said, “Do you not see all these things? I tell you truthfully, not one                  stone shall be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”    The writer of Hebrews answers this riddle in the passage proceeding forward of 9:8.           We are told that this temple system was only to last for a little while and was incapable of perfecting the worshippers in conscience. Then we are exhorted to cleanse our conscience of dead works and purpose to serve the Living GOD.             I then told my friend that the Grace, which Jesus authored, was to empower us to overcome every form of deception and false practice. His Grace literally, seasons us with salt and makes us useful. We are told elsewhere in scripture that the Spirit is not timid and exhorted that our speech should be seasoned with grace. His Grace is the light, which shines forth. It is what illumines the darkness, which surrounds us. Therefore, Grace is the power in us to make a difference in this wicked world and thus gain entry through the Kingdoms Gates to receive our inheritance. Scripture is explicit that there is no other way to the Father except to go through the Son. Jesus was clear about it when He said, “I am the way, the light and the life.”                        “We are expected then to proceed with our duty just as Jesus had demonstrated. We are called to lay aside our selfish ambitions, vain rituals and traditions because they are fruitless! These things, as Hebrews exhorts,     “Are for everyone who partakes of milk. They are not accustomed to the word of righteousness for they are babes! Solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”             “Leave behind the elementary teaching of Christ and press on towards maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance of dead works and of faith towards GOD.”    I finally got through to my friend or rather; the Spirit convicted him for all his unbelief. He leaned forward and put his head in his hands, realizing he had been remaining in the cradle all these years and never really stepped forward to maturity. I told him, “Now when you recognize these things and accept them, you are duty-bound to repent (turn away) for living the lie so long and ask GOD for mercy and purpose while there is still time. It remains to be seen what he will do at this point. Only the Father knows.    Hebrews goes on to say,              “For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth,            there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying            expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL            CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.”                                                                        And               “For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted                of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit and                have tasted the good word of GOD and the powers of the age to come, and                then to have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to                repentance since they again crucify to themselves the Son of GOD and                put Him to open shame.”   Your faithful brother in the Appointment to which I am called, Nicholas