International Gospel Hour

Guest (Male): Let's glean and collect little by little with the beautiful subject of grace that's coming up from the International Gospel Hour. Let's glean, shall we?

J. Webb: Hi, this is J. Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Well, thank you always to our J. Webb and greetings to all of you. It's great having you with us, and how thankful we are that you have the interest in God and the things there be of God through His Word as we study together from the International Gospel Hour. On the air since 1934, and you have helped us to do that good work through the years. Thank you for listening.

Maybe you have seen the beautiful painting by Millet known as *The Gleaners*, where it shows three peasant women stooping low as they glean a field of wheat. Now, that brings to mind the book of Ruth and how Ruth gleaned the field that belonged to Boaz. Boaz was being charitable, as it was an offering for others to gather wheat left behind after harvest, or to glean in the corners where the cutters could not get to that.

And that was a matter of charity; people could glean from the field. It's like Boaz was paying taxes to help those in need. Well, you think about it, how that field was accessible to everyone, as is the grace of God. Today, I want us to just glean a little, if you will, take away something that is accessible to everyone: the grace of God. When one hears the word "grace," that affords a moment of refreshing and peace. It's like the word "mercy," similar.

Let's glean a little bit from the following: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord," Genesis 6 and verse 8. Are we not thankful for Noah, especially when we see how the first seven verses of Genesis 6 show us how bad a shape the world was in? I mentioned Ruth a little earlier and unto Boaz she exclaimed in Ruth 2 and verse 10, when she fell on her face and she bowed herself to the ground. She said to him, "Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?"

That little bit of gleaning reaps much, for are we not thankful for Boaz, of whom we read within the lineage of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1? To the Christians in Rome, Romans 3:24 through 26: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."

That's a lot of reaping from gleaning. I mean, glean the word "grace," "redemption," "propitiation," "righteousness," and so on. Well, friends, we're going to glean a little bit more about God's grace. But first, we'd like for you to share the following with your Spanish friends and neighbors. Yes, our Hispanic podcast. Here is our J. Webb.

J. Webb: International Gospel Hour, in collaboration with SpanishBibleSchool.org, presents a biblical podcast for our Spanish-speaking friends. Please join Marlon Retana for *Cristianos Fieles*, also known as *Faithful Christians*, at your favorite podcast platform. That's *Cristianos Fieles* with Marlon Retana. You can also hear the broadcast at our website, InternationalGospelHour.com.

Jeff Archey: Friends, let's glean from God's grace and let's see salvation. What about Ephesians 2:8 through 10? "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

God's mercy and grace is patient and persevering in the past. And we think of 2 Peter 3 and verse 9. And it's patient with us in the present as we walk with Him. Have you ever considered how the Ephesian brethren were saved by grace through faith? Well, in Ephesians 1 and verse 13 tells us how they had heard the gospel and thus believed in Christ.

We go back to Acts 20 and verse 21; they understood repentance and confession they understood in Acts 19 and verse 18. But you know they were baptized in Acts 19 and verse 5. I love this thought by one named Copeland: that their faith together with the working of God is how one is raised with Christ in baptism. And that's affirmed in Colossians 2 and verse 12: "Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."

Well, see, the Ephesians, they were baptized into Christ, Acts 19, verse 5. Someone says, "Well, that is a spiritual baptism." No, friends, because later, remember Peter and John came, or rather Paul laid hands on them to receive the Spirit. You see, as they were buried with Him in baptism. Someone says, "Well now, that's a work of man." No, friends. Baptism, according to Colossians 2 and verse 12: "Buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God." Baptism is a work of God.

Now, where does the idea of His workmanship come in? Verse 10. Well, we're created unto good works. Our works are expressed by our faith, or our faith rather is expressed by our works, James 2. Works that glorify the Father, Matthew 5:16. Works that consider one another to help one another, Hebrews 10, verse 24. And works of which we should be zealous thereof, Titus 2, verse 14. All of this is learned through the saving grace of God.

Now, let's glean a little bit more from God's grace, and let's see not only salvation but where to stand. Have you considered that we stand in the grace of God? 1 Peter chapter 5, verses 10 through 12: "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand."

You see, the Christian not only is saved by the grace of God in obedience to God, but also the Christian has a place wherein to stand in the true grace of God. A saving grace and, yes, a standing grace. Look at what all God provides of those that suffer. How about "perfect" or "mature"? That we learn from those sufferings, those challenges, and our faith is strengthened.

How about the word "establish"? That is a concrete term, if you will, which means established or settled strong. And then the word "strengthen" is enhanced, going back to perfection, and then "settle" the same. We see how God's grace helps us and just keeps us rooted and standing as we walk in Him, as we stand in Him.

Let's glean a little bit more from God's grace, and let's see how to serve. I see salvation, I see standing, but now serving: how I respond. Hebrews 12:28: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." You see, receiving the kingdom and the church and the kingdom are one and the same; we see that affirmed in Matthew 16, verse 18; Colossians 1 and verse 13, of those who are conveyed into the kingdom.

And, friends, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, we can serve God from that kingdom. What a beautiful thought to serve God. His grace that we may serve God to tell others of what God has done for us. In Titus chapter 2 and verse 11, the Bible says, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age."

Friends, when you think of the grace of God and what all God grants us through His grace, what a joy that we may respond to His grace. And no matter it is worldwide, it's international, if you will. That's the blessing of sharing *Cristianos Fieles* with so many of you through the favorite podcast platforms and even opportunities for over-the-air radio. How thankful we are for that opportunity.

And friends, we're thankful that we can go worldwide with our broadcast and how thankful technology of man has opened many doors for us. You see, friends, as we glean from God's grace, we glean and we take. We see salvation, we see a place to stand, a place to serve. Friends, maybe we've talked about some things that you would like to study a little further on your own. I'd like for us to go back to the Bible in all of our studies. But you know, our friend Rob Whitaker has an awesome online study that I'd love for you to check out. And it's called *Back to the Bible*. Here is our J. Webb.

J. Webb: Let's go back to the Bible, shall we? On International Gospel Hour, we always desire to go back to the Bible for our studies. And now we are delighted to offer a special video series through our friends at World Video Bible School. It's called *Back to the Bible* with our friend Rob Whitaker. A simple yet thorough study that deals with authority in religion, the church, and your salvation. It's free, friends. Call us at 855-444-6988. Tell us your email address, say "Back to the Bible," and we will send the link to you. It's that easy.

You can go to our website at InternationalGospelHour.com, click on the contact tab, leave us your email, type "Back to the Bible" in the message box, and we will send the link right away. We look forward to hearing from you.

Jeff Archey: Friends, we greatly encourage you to take a view of the *Back to the Bible* study with our friend Rob Whitaker. It is a tremendous study, and we hope that it will be of advantage to you. We're grateful to offer *Cristianos Fieles*, our Hispanic study, and to also check out the WVBS Spanish Bible School YouTube channel to see the great work of our Marlon Retana.

I'm thankful you joined me today that we could glean from God's grace. Let us put it to use. And friends, we'll study together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey and, friends, keep listening.

J. Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at InternationalGospelHour.com.