"A Thankful Captive of Grace"

 

“A Thankful Captive of Grace”

 

But thank God! He has made us His Captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s Triumphal Procession. Now He uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.     2 Corinthians 2:14

 

When a person is CONVICTED of their SINFUL CONDITION by the Holy Spirit of the Living God, and they RESPOND to the WOOING of the Spirit, by coming to the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ, for the SALVATION of their soul. They will then become a CAPTIVE, one, who is ENSLAVED by LOVE, the LOVE of God for ALL of mankind, and for them PERSONALLY.  They too, then can be called a CAPTIVE of GRACE.  I am EXTREMELY THANKFUL ALL the TIME, to be considered a CAPTIVE of GOD’S AMAZING GRACE.  And I am ASTOUNDEDLY THANKFUL to SERVE Him. 

 

The Apostle Paul, in this letter to the TRUE BELIEVERS in CORINTH, wanted them to KNOW just what it meant to be a CAPTIVE OF GRACE.  First, of all he is THANKFUL, because in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, He LEADS them/us in TRIUMPHAL PROCESSION, a VICTORY PARADE. They were ONCE slaves to sin, but they NOW, were SLAVES or SERVANTS of the MOST HIGH GOD, and they NOW have VICTORY over SPIRITUAL DEATH and an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY to ESCAPE, after you are there.  In a Roman triumph processional INCENSE was diffused everywhere, and the Apostle Paul compares the SWEET FRAGANCE of the INCENSE to the KNOWLEDGE of Christ, by way of PREACHING and WITNESSING to a LOST and DYING WORLD.

 

We, the TRUE BELIEVERS, are the AROMA of Christ, this FRAGANCE is perceived differently among those who are being SAVED and among those who are PERISHING, to those who are PERISHING, we are a DREADFUL smell of DEATH and DOOM.  But to those who are being SAVED, we are a LIFE-GIVING PERFUME.  What an AWESOME TASK, and this is why I am a THANKFUL CAPTIVE of GRACE.  I am UNWORTHY on my OWN merits, but because of GOD’S AMAZING GRACE, I am HONORED to be able to SHARE the LOVE that God has for EACH ONE OF US, to this LOST and DYING WORLD, and to be HIS CAPTIVE of GRACE.   Are you His CAPTIVE of GRACE?

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD, then you are NOT a CAPTIVE of GRACE, but you are LOST and on your way to an ETERNITY in HELL.  In order to CHANGE that DESTINY, you MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  Then CONFESS your sins to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  And BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS died for YOU, and that He is NOW ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST ACCEPT His Gift of SALVATION, and be THANKFUL that you are a CAPTIVE of GRACE, SHARING HIS LOVE, and a part of the VICTORY PARADE, marching into an ETERNITY in HEAVEN with ALL its BLESSINGS.  So, do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and COMING SOON!!!