Title: Life without grace (John 21:1-6)
Paul says in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God." Also, the Bible tells us that when a believer receives this gift of grace from God, amazing changes in their lives take place.
When you receive grace, first of all, you are in an environment sufficient to lead a separate life. In Genesis 6:8-11, we see that Noah, a man of God, lived uprightly, without being stained by sin and rebellion, even though he was living in that wicked and corrupt age. This was because Noah received the grace of God. When a person receives God's grace, he automatically leads a separate life.
Many people today feel thirsty. This world is so unrighteous and full of lewdness and rebellion, I lament that even if I want to live according to God's will, I cannot live right. In the meantime, people are in a situation where they are sinking into sin by themselves with the sound of sighing. Everyone, our life is not good only when the environment is good. A clean environment does not mean that we do not sin. Like Noah, even in the age of rebelliousness and evil, when we receive God's grace to the full, His grace will protect us so that we can lead a separate life.
Second, you will live a blessed life. Genesis 39 contains the biography of Joseph. Joseph was a slave for 11 years. He had to be in prison, suffering as a sinner, not a sinner. However, the surprising fact is that even in the days of slavery and prison, God's grace received incalculable blessings.
People only think that when difficult things happen, it is the Lord's curse. Frustrated. But guys, look at Joseph. Even in the oppressed life of slavery, by the grace of God, he received innumerable blessings and became the prime minister of Egypt, enjoying wealth and honor, as well as leading his 70 or so members of his family, and later, 600,000 troops in 430 years. We received the wonderful blessing of entering the land of Canaan.
Please remember that it takes precedence over receiving grace. When you receive grace, your life will prosper. Your road ahead will be wide open.
In John 1:17 it says, "The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
God's grace to change and bless our lives comes only through Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can know that Jesus Christ is grace itself. Today's text shows us what are the characteristics of the life of a person who has lost grace.
1. You are bound to go back to your old life.
In verse 3 of the text, Simon Peter said to his companions, “I am going fishing,” and is going to the sea of Tiberias. In these words, we see Simon Peter who returned to the place of his old life. Here we learn what the Fall is.
The Fall is not just about committing adultery and sin. The fall is when a person who was in the seat of grace and mission leaves the seat of grace and mission. This is also corruption.
Ladies and gentlemen, Peter is a man who has been called. When the Lord spoke, Peter was a man of amazing faith who boldly threw away his fishing nets and followed the Lord. With the determination of such faith, Peter returned to his old life and threw his net again to catch fish in the Sea of Galilee.
Theologians say they were waiting for a great revelation about Peter's attitude, but when there were no great signs, they were disappointed and returned to their old occupation of a fisherman. Others said that they died in disappointment when their hopes were not fulfilled and delayed. . In any case, there is no doubt that Peter, who followed the Lord, left his mission and returned to his old life. This is the spiritual fall, and this is the spiritual stagnation.
Even today, we see believers naturally returning to their old places when grace is lost. Reunited with friends from the world that were cut off, and closer to the worldly pleasures that were far away. That is why when grace falls, the reality of sin is made one's own. Therefore, in order not to lose grace, we must strive for the Word and prayer life.
2. You will jump on the bandwagon.
In verse 3 of the text, Peter says, "We are going to catch a fish," and they said, "We will go with you." This verse emphasizes the image of a person who clearly lacks self-doubt for us. It shows an attitude of living that jumps on the bandwagon without self-control.
Gentlemen, in John 20:19-31, Jesus appears to the disciples twice after His resurrection. One time, when they were hiding because they were afraid, he appeared and said, "Peace be with you." After 8 days, Thomas appeared again while they were together, showing Thomas his side and palms, and telling him to touch them.
In this way, the risen Lord appeared to the disciples twice, and although they must wait for the Lord's return, the disciples followed Peter to the Sea of Galilee. This kind of behavior of the disciples is the wrong thing to jump on the bandwagon.
If you are a true believer, you must only rely on and follow Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, there are many people today who, like Peter and the six disciples, are following the wrong trend of this time. They also claim to be believers. At home and at work, there are many people who live a secular life of faith following the tides of the world rather than following the right faith based on the Word of God. There are many church members who do not hesitate to compromise with the times in moderation.
Why did the saints today become so ill because they did not experience grace. It is because the true church and the true Word are few. In order to live according to the Word of God, we must receive grace.
3. You feel that life is meaningless.
Verse 3 says, “They caught nothing that night.” Although Peter and his six disciples were seasoned fishermen, they did not catch a single fish of mine overnight. The Sea of Galilee is also perfect for late night fishing. But that night, the disciples did not catch a single fish. What is this trying to teach us? It is to emphasize the meaning of the sense of emptiness of failure in not catching anything.
In today's world, there are many things that people's minds expect and try to grasp. So I keep throwing the net. What are you throwing towards? Money, fame, and power. But it doesn't catch anything. Eventually, you will feel a sense of emptiness in life. Life is already old age when you feel a sense of emptiness in what you have been trying to capture all your life.
Ladies and gentlemen, failure in life is not exclusive to any particular person. Not only Peter and Thomas, but all the seven disciples all failed to catch fish. However, the important thing is that those with grace hold on to the Lord and stand up again even if they fail. However, those who do not have grace feel frustrated and empty because they think that it is the end of their life. Everyone fails at times. If you receive grace at this time, failure becomes a stepping stone to success.
4. You fall into spiritual ignorance.
Verse 4 says, “As the dawning began, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Why did they not know because they were spiritually ignorant. We can discern Jesus when we see it with the eyes of grace. All things in the world can be recognized with the eye, but only Jesus cannot be discerned with the eye. The two disciples on their way to Emmaus did not know Jesus right in front of them. Because he did not have the eyes of grace.
In John 1:18, there is a saying, "The Word became flesh...". Jesus is said to be the Word. Therefore, to fail to discern Jesus is to fail to discern the Word. Even though the saints today read the Word, they do not understand the Word. It is because the spiritual eyes are dark and the eyes of grace are so dark that they cannot see. You cannot see the deep world of the Word.
The dryness of grace means that the disciples are inclined to the old life, riding on the bandwagon, living in vain, and living in spiritual ignorance. In the end, I'm bound to destroy myself.
Verse 1 says, “After that, Jesus revealed himself to his disciples on the seashore of Tiberias, and these were the things he revealed.” To the disciples who returned to their old life, to those who jumped on the bandwagon, and to the disciples who were engulfed in emptiness, he revealed his resurrection confidence. After that, Jesus gave the mission through the Word. "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these people, then feed my sheep." How to live this is the direction of life.
Everyone! Looking back on ourselves, how many times have we lost grace. But do not despair. Just as the resurrected Lord broke the power of death and came to the disciples, please come to us at this time and believe that He will be with us until the end of the world. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that you will experience the amazing work of working through the Word, blessing through the Word, and giving missions through the Word, so that your relationship with the Lord is united.