{"id":4591,"date":"2010-06-04T22:08:20","date_gmt":"2010-06-05T03:08:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/?p=4591"},"modified":"2020-01-10T17:18:52","modified_gmt":"2020-01-10T17:18:52","slug":"this-mysterious-thing-called-grace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buddymartin.org\/blog\/2010\/06\/04\/this-mysterious-thing-called-grace\/","title":{"rendered":"This mysterious thing called grace&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"_mcePaste\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4592\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"Jesus\" src=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"259\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">&#8220;Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, the man who was raised on high declares, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">&#8216;The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me, He who rules over men righteously, who rules in the fear of God, is as the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, when the tender grass springs out of the earth, through sunshine after rain. Truly is not my house so with God? <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><strong><span style=\"font-weight: normal;\">&#8220;For He has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in all things, and secured; for all my salvation and all my desire, will He not indeed make it grow? But the worthless, every one of them will be thrust away like thorns, because they cannot be taken in hand; but the man who touches them must be armed with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they will be completely burned with fire in their place.'&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><strong> <\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>(<\/em>2Sa 23:1-7 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: x-large;\"><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: xx-large;\">R<\/span>eaders,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">God&#8217;s promise to David was that the Messiah would to come directly from his lineage. It was this great promise that gave David a unique role as a prophet of God. Many of David\u2019s prophecies were relational to Christ. He experienced Jesus long before the incarnation. David often spoke by the Spirit of Christ and for the Christ of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Here are examples of David&#8217;s visionary experiences with Jesus:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.&#8221;<\/span><\/em> <\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"font-size: small;\">(Psa 63:2<\/span>)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!&#8221; <\/em>(<span style=\"font-size: small;\">Psa 2:12 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;The LORD says to my Lord: &#8216;Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.'&#8221;<\/em> <span style=\"font-size: small;\">(Psa 110:1 NASB) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"color: #003300;\">&#8212; <\/span><span style=\"color: #003300;\">New Testament accords Psalm 110:1, as the Father speaking to the Son at the ascension of Jesus to the throne of heaven. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Understanding David&#8217;s unique visionary relationship with Christ, helps us to see the wonderful prophecy that begins with, <\/span><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u2018Now these are the last words of David\u2019 <\/span><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">as recorded above. Every statement in the &#8216;last words of David&#8217; have a direct bearing on the eternal covenant of Christ.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>David provided a description of the finished work of the cross.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In David&#8217;s last words we are seeing how that the new covenant would unfold itself in the mysteries and wonders of grace. This is an area were some believers have their greatest struggle. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The key is in understanding the finished work of the cross. Salvation in the new covenant is entirely a matter of what took place in the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus,<a href=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4639\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"Jesus1\" src=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"260\" \/><\/a> and how these things accrue\u00a0to those who truly believe in Jesus. It is all about grace. Paul addresses this:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.&#8221; <\/em><\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(Eph 2:8-9 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And again,<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.&#8221;<\/em> <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(Tit 3:5-6 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Most often we think of grace as in terms of &#8216;unmerited favor.&#8217; Of course this is true. But what does that mean? Renewing grace is what places beauty to the life of a believer. <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Grace is also God&#8217;s strengthening power.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The prophet said, <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.&#8221;<\/em> (Isaiah 40:29) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Paul heard it this way: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;My grace is sufficient for you, for [My] power is perfected in weakness.&#8221;<\/em><\/span> (2 Corinthians 12:9)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>The Spirit of grace.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is called &#8216;the Spirit of grace.&#8217; A primary role of the Holy Spirit in the new covenant is to minister grace to those who have been to the cross. John 1:16 draws on this:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(Joh 1:16 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Greek is expressing a picture of grace taking the place of grace, even before the prior grace is exhausted. This supplying of grace is always from the finished work of the cross. The cross is both our dying place, and our living place. At the cross our entire lives were judged in Christ. At the cross Jesus exchanged lives with us. He took our place in order to gives us His place. And in the resurrection we were made one with Him. <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Greek emphatic in John 1:16, is on two words,<\/span> &#8216;<em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">His<\/span><\/em>&#8216;, and, &#8216;<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>fullness<\/em><\/span>&#8216;. <span style=\"color: #000000;\">John is saying that we need to realize the force of this truth. The truth to be realized in our faith walk is that all Jesus became in his ascension and <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">glorification, has been placed on the account of every true believer. It is this fullness of Christ that we draw from continually.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\">\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">This is why John could later write,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: #a5abab; margin: 15px;\">\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;As He is, so also are we in this world.&#8221;<\/em> (1 John 4:17)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">This is also why the apostle Paul said,<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 12px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 12px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid; border-left-color: #a5abab; margin: 15px;\">\n<p style=\"padding: 0px; margin: 0px;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;[He] raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.&#8221;<\/em> (Ephesians 2:6)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-4642\" title=\"Jesus3\" src=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus3.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"284\" height=\"356\" \/><\/a>Under the new covenant the Holy Spirit brings us to the cross and thus passes us through the cross. In this passing we are made one with Jesus in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The message of the cross does not limit itself to the death of Jesus. And the cross is not something we mer<\/span>ely come to for forgiveness of sins. We actually pass through the cross. We pass out of death into life. We have been made holy in the sacrifice of Christ. The cross now becomes our altar of grace.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Listen once again to the apostle John:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;<span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>He who believes in Him is not judged<\/strong><\/span>; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.&#8221;<\/span><\/em> <\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(Joh 3:18 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">And again,<\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, <span style=\"color: #000080;\"><strong>and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.<\/strong><\/span>&#8220;<\/span><\/em><em> <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(Joh 5:24 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">We pass out of death and judgment into the eternal life of the Son. And so the <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Holy Spirit is always ministering the glorified Christ into our hearts. We might speak of this as <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8216;throne grace.&#8217; The writer said<\/span>,<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.&#8221;<\/em> (Hebrews 4:16)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>The beauty of the Lord.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Once again, <\/span>grace is what adds beauty to our walk with the Lord. It is the beauty of the Lord that the Holy Spirit ministers into our lives. It is the fountain of His grace that we drink from. It is His grace that gives us songs <span style=\"color: #000000;\">to<\/span> sing when we are beyond singing. And grace is the upward impulse of our hearts that causes us to long for righteousness.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Psalm 45 has long been considered a Psalm of the Messiah by both Christians and Jews. Notice how it speaks of grace:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;You [Jesus] are fairer than the sons of men; grace is poured upon Your lips; therefore God has blessed You forever.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">(Psa 45:2 NASB)<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Grace always flows from the lips of Jesus. Even when we&#8217;ve done wrong and come trembling to the Lord in repentance, what is it we hear from His lips? We receive from Him grace for our need. John addressed this issue:<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div>\n<blockquote>\n<div><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears [punishment] is not perfected in love [Or, does not understand God&#8217;s perfect love.&#8221;<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"> <\/span><\/span><span style=\"font-size: small; color: #0000ff;\">(1Jn 4:18 NASB)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: large;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>Living in the outflow.<a href=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-full wp-image-4645\" style=\"margin: 10px;\" title=\"Jesus4\" src=\"http:\/\/buddymartin.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/Jesus4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"280\" height=\"350\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But as I said earlier, what gives grace its power is that we are living in the outflow of the finished work of the cross. This is where we need to understand the real distinction between how the Holy Spirit worked before the cross, and how the Holy Spirit now works as a result of the cross.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The one Scripture that sets this forth is John 7:37-39. Jesus said, <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>&#8220;If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, &#8216;From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.&#8217; But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.&#8221;<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">What happened after the cross, is that the Holy Spirit now comes into the heart of a believer, as the Spirit of the glorified Jesus Christ. No person on this planet, of any age, has ever had the Holy Spirit in residence as the Spirit of the glorified Jesus Christ. This is essentially what the &#8220;Abba! Father!&#8221; experience is referring to.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">The apostle says, <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><em>&#8220;<\/em><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, &#8216;Abba! Father!.'&#8221;<\/em> (Romans 8:15) <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The covenant of Christ is about God&#8217;s family. The grace we draw from is sonship grace. The grace we draw from is unlimited. This is why we sing, &#8216;Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.&#8217;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">Make no mistake in what I am sharing. We are worthy of nothing on our own. We are all sinners saved by grace. But saved by grace we surely are. There is no other way to be saved. The apostolic writer said that Jesus saves us to the utmost. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">John said that we weren&#8217;t saved because we loved God. We are saved because God loved us. What a great mystery is God&#8217;s love. What a great mystery this thing called &#8216;Grace.&#8217;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Are you struggling over something in your life that went wrong? Do you feel like you made a mess of things. The Lord knows all about it. He has His arms outstretched. He will help you see things through. Always remember that nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of God that is found in Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\">While thinking about all this take time to listen to <em>&#8216;Why Me, Lord?&#8217; <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 13.5pt; color: black;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><object classid=\"clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000\" width=\"480\" height=\"385\" codebase=\"http:\/\/download.macromedia.com\/pub\/shockwave\/cabs\/flash\/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0\"><param name=\"allowFullScreen\" value=\"true\" \/><param name=\"allowscriptaccess\" value=\"always\" \/><param name=\"src\" value=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/v\/U3iy7NcZCEo&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1&amp;\" \/><param name=\"allowfullscreen\" value=\"true\" \/><\/object><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">x<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Much love found in Jesus,<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: medium;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Buddy<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Views: 61<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, the man who was raised on high declares, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, x &#8216;The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of IsraelContinue reading &rarr;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"give_campaign_id":0,"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","_crdt_document":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[36,67,156,355,415],"class_list":["post-4591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-amazing-grace","tag-beauty-of-christ","tag-david-the-prophet","tag-jesus-son-of-david","tag-love-of-god","no-thumb"],"featured_image_src":null,"author_info":{"display_name":"Buddy","author_link":"https:\/\/buddymartin.org\/blog\/author\/buddy\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>This mysterious thing called grace... - Brother Buddy&#039;s NEW Journal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/buddymartin.org\/blog\/2010\/06\/04\/this-mysterious-thing-called-grace\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"This mysterious thing called grace... - Brother Buddy&#039;s NEW Journal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&#8220;Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse declares, the man who was raised on high declares, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, x &#8216;The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. 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