The ABC's of Christianity
To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. (Titus 1:4 NKJV)
Whenever we refer to the ABC's of something, we're talking about the basics. Blocking and tackling are the ABC's of football. Counting and adding are the ABC's of mathematics. Kicking and treading are the ABC's of swimming. What about Christianity? What represents the basics of our faith? The ABC's of Christianity are grace, mercy, and peace.
Grace. Without grace there wouldn't be a Christian faith. Simply stated, grace is God's favor toward the undeserving. It's when we get what we don't deserve. God has purposed to treat us above and beyond what we could ever earn or deserve, and His grace is the key that unlocks every heavenly blessing bestowed on our lives.
Mercy. Although similar to grace, mercy speaks of God withholding the punishment we have earned as members of the rebellious human race. Because we're all descended from a sinner (Adam), we each have a sinful nature that requires judgment. Mercy is the means of escaping that judgment. Grace is getting what we don't deserve, and mercy is not getting what we do deserve.
Peace. The world defines peace as the absence of conflict. Any nation not at war is said to be at peace. God's peace is much more than a lack of conflict; it's a deep-seated sense that all is well in life because everything falls under the perfect control of our gracious and merciful God. His peace allows us to move through life without the friction that could burn us out.
So how do we apply this to our lives? We, along with Titus, need to have our hearts well-schooled when it comes to the ABC's of Christianity. May we know that our God is gracious and delights in giving us what we don't deserve, that He's merciful and doesn't give us what we do deserve, and that His peace is always there when we need it.
DIG - What are the ABC's of Christianity?
DISCOVER - How can you apply them to your life?
DISPLAY - How can you use these ABC's to convey your faith to others?
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At the age of 24, Bob Coy left a coveted position in the music industry to serve as an associate pastor with Calvary Chapel of Las Vegas. In 1985, Bob and his wife, Diane, moved to Fort Lauderdale and began Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale. As senior pastor, he has become well known for his unique style in expounding the Scriptures, making them come alive and relate to those of us living in the 21st century. His teaching style emphasizes the believer's "life application" of the highest standards of God's truth while his delivery captures the loving heart of God's Spirit.
Pastor Bob has had the rare privilege of watching God's miraculous hand move in the individual lives of those in the fellowship as well as the corporate body as a whole. From the first meeting in a living room with four in attendance, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale has now become home to over 17,000 men and women from the tri-county area, and ranks as the eighth largest church in the country. Though many have tried to attribute its rapid growth to numerous reasons, no one is more surprised by the phenomenon than Pastor Bob, who gives total credit and all the glory to God alone.
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