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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. – Revelation 22:21 I recently took my ministry team to Washington DC to see the Museum of the Bible. We had just completed a Pastor’s Conference and we decided to take a little detour before returning home. We spent our first day in the capital visiting the Lincoln and World War II Memorials, the Washington Monument, and the White House. We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant that had burritos the size of watermelons, and then we rolled our way to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial where we were picked up by an uber cab and made our way back to the hotel. We slept really well that night. The next day we got up, called another uber and set out on our journey to the Museum. As we jumped into the uber, we were pretty fired up from the conference and our time together. We were four ministers refreshed from a great time of fellowship, Bible teaching and some of the best worship you’ll experience this side of heaven. That uber driver was going to hear the gospel. I sat in the front passenger seat and my three buddies sat in the back. As we drove away, I introduced myself and asked the driver where he was from. He said he was from Iran. That was my in. I explained that Iran in Biblical times was Persia and we were going to the Museum of the Bible. We talked some more and it turned out he had a degree in history from college. I told him that was great, that the Bible is filled with some incredible history. He was very cordial. We talked a bit more and then I asked him his name. This is when it got interesting. He said his name was “Cyrus.” “Cyrus!” I exclaimed. “Cyrus of Persia is driving us to the Museum of the Bible? In scripture Cyrus of Persia is connected to one of the most incredible Bible prophecies found in the Bible (cf. Isaiah 44 and 45). “Cyrus, this is a divine appointment. This is no accident.” This is when my buddies and I started sharing. Cyrus, as a history student, said he had read most of the major religious books of various religions and he appreciated all of them. His father had tried to force him to be Muslim but he resisted that. He had seen historically how religions had been a source of much death and war. In an effort to keep the peace and coexist he had adopted a kind of broad impersonal detached religious ecumenicism. That’s when one of my bro Pastor Dom in the back chimed in, “Hey Cyrus, do you know what makes Christianity different from all other religions?” Cyrus thought a bit, and then had to admit he didn’t know. Then, as best I can remember, Pastor Dom answered, “It’s grace. In all other religions people are told what they have to do to be right with God or go to paradise or ‘heaven.’ But in Christianity, God, because He loves us, did something for us, to bring us to Himself. He sent Jesus His son to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. And to prove it all true, He rose from the dead.” We shared a bit more on our short ride to the Museum. Cyrus was not altogether receptive. He apologized for not being more receptive. We said there was nothing for us to take offense at. We were blessed to live in a country where such conversations can freely take place. He agreed. That’s why he came to America; to be free. We tried to tip Cyrus but he said he didn’t feel right taking a tip from “friends.” We left him a gospel track. When I said good bye and shook his hand, I looked into his eyes. I could see we made an impression on him. I pray it was a lasting impression. I pray the seed of the gospel found good soil in his heart. I pray it grows to produce lasting fruit unto salvation in him. At least he was told the difference between Christianity and religions. He was told about God’s grace. Pray for our Cyrus of Persia. The difference between Christianity and all other religions is grace. But what is “grace”? What difference does grace make? Why should we care, as non-Christians and as Christians? The last verse in the entire Bible concludes with a reference to grace. In Revelation 22:21 it states, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” When, after revealing a scarlet chord of redemption throughout the history of humanity, from the beginning of time until the end, what you conclude with is important. Last words are always important, or at least revealing. The first half of the Bible, the Old Testament, ends with these words: - Malachi 4:4 – “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.” The Old Testament ends with the Law. The Law is religious. It focuses on things a person has to do to be righteous. The Old and New Testaments are connected. The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. The New Testament ends with Grace. The Law was meant to lead us to the cross of Christ which is the symbol of God’s gracious provision for us. Paul wrote: - Galatians 3:24 – “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The Law is used by God to reveal unquestionably the sinfulness of man. But grace is God’s answer to the sin problem of humankind. The New Testament states: - Romans 5:20-21 – “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God’s grace is abundant. God’s grace is sufficient. We approach God by grace. We continue with God by grace. We will spend eternity with God in Christ, by grace. Do you know about God’s grace? The word “grace” is found 141 times and the word “gracious” is found 32 times in the New King James Version of the Bible. Grace is defined in terms of grace, graciousness, kindness, goodwill; a gift, a favor; thanks, gratitude. We find the concept of grace from Genesis to Revelation. Noah, surrounded by a fallen depraved and sinful world that was ripe for judgment from God, found grace when he looked into the eyes of God (Genesis 6:8). This was centuries before the Law was given (Exodus 20). Even after the Law was given, we see people approach God by His grace (e.g. Moses in Exodus 33:13-17). When God’s people historically had to be disciplined because of their sin, God restored them by His grace (e.g. Ezra 9:8). The prophets were inspired by God to speak of His grace and the opportunity to be forgiven sin and reconciled to God (e.g. Isaiah 26:10; Jeremiah 31:2; Zechariah 4:7; 12:10). But God’s grace is especially revealed in the New Testament in the cross of Christ and gospel. Grace is the way human beings approach God. That is especially true as a result of their fallenness from sin. Grace can be understood as it relates to two other words, justice and mercy. Justice is getting what you deserve. Under God’s just system of universal law, the breaking of His law is sin. “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is an act of rebellion against God and His law. Sinful acts are an expression of a dark heart condition. Humanity, since Genesis 3 and the Fall of humanity, are born in sin. David said he was “brought forth in iniquity” (Psalm 51:5). The wicked are estranged from the womb” (Psalm 58:3). All fall short of the glory of God and have sinned (Romans 3:23). Such sin separates us from God who is Holy. “Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (e.g. Isaiah 59:1-2). Sin has a consequence of damnation in hell and ultimately being sentenced to an eternity in the Lake of Fire. Why is such judgment so sever and justly deserving and appropriate? Sin is dynamic, it never is isolated to a single incident. Sin grows and spreads. Sin is the ultimate addiction. Jesus said, “whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34). Sin is like cancer. Sin kills, not only physically, but eternally. The wages or consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23; cf. also Romans 3:10-18). Sin is the root cause of all the pain and suffering in this universe. The God of love therefore, finds sin repulsive and abhorrent because it inflicts pain and suffering on the objects of His affection. The Bible says of God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness” (Habakkuk 1:13). It’s as though the effects of sin are almost too painful for God to watch. Because of the metastasizing nature of sin, it only takes one sin act to disqualify someone from heaven (Galatians 3:10; James 2:10). Because of the absolute Perfection of God, one sinful offense is enough to disqualify someone from His presence. God requires we are holy for He is Holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). We are required by God to be perfect as he is perfect as it relates to sin (Matthew 5:48). Sin is serious, even just one sin. Multiply that by the sinful intents of each sinner’s heart, and you can see that sin is a BIG problem for humanity. Because of the nature of sin, God judges it justly to deserve eternal isolation in fire where it can no longer do any harm. Sin involves a willful decision to rebel against God and His law. Rebellion is in the heart of the sinner. The sinner chooses self over everything and everyone else. The sinner persecutes God’s people, they plunder and pillage, they commit evil and prey on the weak. The sinner tramples and causes trials. The sinner is wicked and deceitful, they are everything God opposes or intended for humanity and those who reside with Him not to be. Sinners are hurtful and harmful. They “bring forth iniquity” conceive and birth trouble, and falsehood. And because of all of this and more, “God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword” in judgment of them (cf. Psalm 7). Sinner, are you listening? God will not allow a sinner, someone infected with sin, into heaven. Sin is a choice we make. And therefore, it is just and appropriate that God prohibit those in sin from entering heaven. God protects those whose sins have been removed from those who have chosen to remain in their sins. The sinner will get what they deserve; they will get justice. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. But God is merciful. For that we should all be thankful. Humanity is lost in sin and “dead in trespasses and sins.” The sinner walks willfully “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience.” The sinner, turns from God to self and lives after the lusts of the sinful nature and are “by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3). The sinner deserves the just wrath of God. Even though all of this is true, “God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). Mercy is not getting what we deserve. And thank God, because He is merciful, He made a way through Jesus so that we wouldn’t have to receive what we justly deserved. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. We deserved an eternity separated from God in the torment of the Lake of Fire. God who is merciful made a way for us to deal with the problem of sin. He did for us, what we don’t deserve, He made a way for the sinner to be reconciled to Him. As a just Judge, God made a just way for sin to be dealt with justly. The penalty for sin was not just cast aside or dismissed without payment. God provided what no sinner deserved, He, in Christ, paid our sin-penalty of death for us on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:19). All of this He did freely by grace. All of this and its powerful benefit of forgiveness from sin, He did, in Christ, on the cross, and He did it by grace. God dealt with the curse of sin on the cross of Christ. The Bible states: - Galatians 3:10–13 (NKJV) – 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), God’s mercy and love are enveloped in His grace. The Bible states: - Ephesians 2:4–9 (NKJV) –4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Grace is essential to our relationship with God. If it weren’t for God’s grace, we wouldn’t be able to have a relationship with God. If it weren’t for God’s grace, we’d be lost in sin and irrevocably destined to an eternity in the lake of fire. Truly we are who we are by God’s grace. Life is about appropriating by faith, the benefits of God’s grace. That begins with our salvation and forgiveness from sin. It continues in this life once we have received God’s forgiveness for our sins. And it continues from this life to the next. If we are in heaven in the end, it will all be because of God’s grace. The Apostle Paul put it like this: - 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV) – 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. There’s good reason for the final chapter in the final book of the entire Bible to end with a mention of grace. God is a God of grace. And His revelation is an unfolding of His grace poured out abundantly on humanity. God’s grace to all. God pours His grace upon everyone. Revelation concludes with the words, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21). Of all the things John could have mentioned to conclude this book, he chose to conclude with a benediction of grace. Paul starts his letters with “grace and peace.” The Bible is rich in depicting and relaying the revelation of God’s grace. It’s only fitting that grace be part of the closing words of the Bible. The Bible is Gods’ revelation of His grace. Grace in the Old Testament. God revealed Himself to Moses as, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (exodus 34:6-7a). Elsewhere scripture records, “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15; cf. also Psalm 103:8). “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:8-9). It’s been about grace from the beginning. God loves to give. The Bible is filled with the giving of God. Grace is a way of describing the giving nature of God. Grace is entirely from God. There is nothing in us that warrants or deserves God’s grace. Grace proceeds from God’s good nature. God’s grace leads us to repentance from sin. God’s grace is always “much more” than expected (e.g. Romans 2:4; 5:12-20). When we look at the Bible we see that God’s grace is “great,” God’s grace is “sufficient,” and God’s grace is “exceedingly abundant” toward us (Acts 4:33; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 2:4; 5:12-20; Ephesians 1:7-8; 2:4-5; 2 Corinthians 9:8; 1 Timothy 1:12-16; 1 Peter 4:9). God’s grace is always “much more” than we expect or can ever comprehend it to be (Romans 5:3,10,15,17,20). God gives grace upon grace (John 1:16) The gracious benefits of God’s grace. According to Romans 6:23 Gods’ gift of grace is “eternal life.” That provision is inseparably tied to Jesus (John 1:16-17; 3:16; 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12; Acts 4:12; 15:11; Romans 6:23; 1 Peter 1:13). You can’t receive the gift of eternal life apart from receiving Jesus Christ by grace through faith. But God’s grace is the means by which He bestows on us “all things.” The Bible says: - Romans 8:31-32 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” God gives us “all things” by His grace. All we need to do is trust Him, and He will take care of the rest (e.g. Matthew 6:33-34; Philippians 4:19). All we need do is to trust that “If God is for us,” and He is, it really doesn’t matter who is against us. And if, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all” did such an amazing act of grace, then clearly, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” That’s amazing abundant grace. God does not promise us eternal physical life. Death is not a defeat; it is a blessed coronation to new eternal spiritual life. God gives us a blessed assurance of eternal life with Him (John 5:24; 10:28; 1 John 5:13). Eternal life is not something we receive only in the future. Eternal life is a quality of life we receive and begin right now. That eternal life is characterized by a new attitude to God and His grace. Knowing God’s grace opens the door to the abundant life Jesus spoke of (John 10:10). Receiving God’s grace. The Bible tells us it is possible to receive God’s grace in vain or without effect. It’s possible to misuse and even abuse God’s grace (Romans 11:6; 2 Corinthians 6:1; Galatians 2:21; 5:3-4; Jude 4). Some abuse God’s grace by defining it in a way that condones indulging in sin. We are saved from our sins by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. But we need to remember that Jesus said to the sinner, “Go and sin no more” not “Go and sin some more” (John 5:14 and 8:11). Some cheapen grace by thinking that it should be used (abused) to sin. The Apostle Paul encountered such wrong aberrant interpretations of God’s grace and said, “Certainly not!” to such thinking (Romans 6:1-2). Grace should free us from sin. Grace should not be abused to excuse indulging in sin (cf. Romans 6:14). There’s a wrong way to “receive” God’s grace. And there is a right way. What should our attitude toward God’s grace be? We should have a holy expectation of God’s grace. God’s grace is all God and none of us. God’s grace is not dependent on us but on Him. This thought is the basis of a right response to God’s grace. Pastor Chuck Smith, used by God to redeem thousands of wayward “hippie” youth in the 60s and 70s, and who was the founder of the Calvary Chapel church movement, in his lifetime championed God’s grace. Pastor Chuck has gone home to be with the Lord now, but he defined grace in the following way: “Grace is God acting freely according to His own nature of love.” That’s one of the best definitions of God’s grace I know of. Pastor Chuck was a living example of the grace of God he taught others about. Grace originates wholly in God, not in us. Nothing in us activates God’s grace. This confuses us because we question why God is gracious to sinners. We can give ourselves the benefit of the doubt, but we question why God is gracious toward those who we feel are worse than us. We are used to climbing our own towers of Babel. We are used to working our way up. We are religious by nature. When God reaches down to help those who don’t deserve it, and then not only saves but blesses the undeserving super-abundantly, its’ hard for us to wrap our mind and heart around that. Grace is what separates Christianity from all other religions. Religions are all about what a person has to due to appease their god and work their way to heaven. Christianity on the other hand is about grace; it’s about God in love taking the initiative and doing something for us. God’s grace takes the initiative to save us from our sin. That’s unheard of in the religious world. We have a hard time understanding why God would bless those who are dirty rotten sinful scoundrels. We have a hard time accepting God’s grace gracefully. We think we earn God’s grace, but that is works and not grace. Grace is sovereign. If grace is going to be grace, then there is no human cause for God’s grace. God simply acts graciously upon whom He chooses to act graciously. Think about the implications of God’s grace. If grace is wholly dependent on God and not us, then our works or human effort can actually short-circuit God’s grace. Short circuiting God’s grace happens when we try to “earn” God’s grace. If we can earn God’s grace by something we do, then by definition, God’s grace ceases to be grace and crosses the line into a wage or reward. Grace is defined by the word “freely.” In Romans 8:32 it states, “How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” That’s a rhetorical question. We should expect God to give us, by His grace, freely, all things. But this of course doesn’t mean God gives us things that would harm us. God is not less responsible than an earthly parent. “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” God doesn’t relinquish His sovereignty and Almighty nature of omniscience in His acts of graciousness. The word “freely” means without payment, without obligation or consequence, without restriction, as much as you want. Freely humanity was given permission by God to eat of the trees in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16). God’s love is “freely” bestowed on His people, even though they don’t deserve it (Hosea 14:4). Jesus taught His disciples His Father’s grace when He instructed them, “Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8; cf. also Luke 7:42). The word “freely” here comes from the Greek term dorean which means gratuitously, without a cause, undeservedly. The gospel is all about “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). God’s grace is freely bestowed on us. We don’t earn it. We can’t and couldn’t earn God’s grace. Otherwise it would cease to be grace. This is the true and right definition of God’s grace, that God freely acts to bless and acts in our lives, separate form anything done by us to deserve His blessed actions. Grace therefore, humbles us. We’re embarrassed by God’s grace. It’s so positively incredible and we are so negatively incredible. We don’t deserve God’s grace. All we can do is receive it by faith. This creates some implications about what our attitude toward God and His grace should be. In light of God’s grace, what should our attitude toward God’s grace be? First, we should believe we are going to be blessed by God’s grace. We should expect to be blessed by God though we do not deserve His blessing in any way. No one deserves God’s grace. But everyone can expect God’s grace (Ps. Second, grace is God working in us for His pleasure, not us working to gain God’s pleasure (Zechariah 12:10; 1 Corinthians 15;10; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13). We simply need to surrender and receive God’s grace in our lives and hearts. Third, trials are not God’s judgment on us, but God’s gracious loving means to build godly character and spiritual maturity in believers (Romans 5:3-5; 8:28-29; Hebrews 12:3-11). Someone has said, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” There’s no cynicism in God’s version of that. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28; cf. also 1 Peter 1:6-9). God’s priority is to prepare us for heaven, not to merely build big bank accounts in this temporal world. The stuff of this world is all going to burn. God has bigger and better things for us. He uses this world to prepare us for His best. We need to trust Him. We won’t be disappointed. Fourth, the hope to be better is a failure to see yourself as complete in Christ (Romans 6:14; Colossians 2:10; Philippians 1:6; 2:13; 2 Peter 3:18). To be disappointed in myself means I am trusting in myself, my flesh, not God. If we are who we are and what we are by God’s grace, then we should stop striving and start being satisfied in Him. Yes, we “press on” but by God’s grace not our flesh. We are, by grace, complete in Christ. Fifth, discouragement is the product of unbelief (Num. 13 and 14; Acts 18:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17). Discouragement is based on a failure to believe and trust that God is working and that He will fulfill His word and promise. We walk by faith not mere sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). God’s gracious promise is, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Amen to that! Sixth, to be proud is to be blind to God’s grace (Proverbs 16:18; 1 Peter 5:5-6). The proud think they are the reason for their blessing and that is spiritual blindness. This is self-delusion. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5b-7). If you’re proud, you’re on your own. If you want to be blessed by grace, humbly present yourself to God by the grace He supplies. Seventh, the lack of blessing comes from unbelief rather than a lack of devotions (Joshua 1; Romans 4). We are wrong to think that God blesses based on our faithfulness in devotions. Devotions should be our communion with God. Devotions should be a safe place of God’s grace. When we enter into devotions with a mindset that they will earn us favor with God, devotions distance us from God rather than draw us closer to God. Devotions should be something we thankfully embrace and partake in because of God’s grace. We should seek to free ourselves from ulterior motives in our devotions. Let’s meet with God just to meet with God. By grace we can do that. Eighth, to teach devotions bring God’s blessings is to reverse God’s order. Devotions do not produce God’s blessings. God’s blessings produce our devotions (Romans 2:4; 3:24; 4:4; 11:6). Devotions, when they are what they should be, flow out of us by virtue of God’s grace working in us. If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:7). Just draw near to the One who loves you so graciously. Ninth, true praise rises spontaneously from my recognition of God’s grace in my life (Romans 11:34-35). When we realize God’s grace in our lives, we can’t help but praise the Lord. “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). Tenth, the proper response to Gods’ grace is loving appreciation. Any effort or work we do for God should be motivated purely by a loving appreciation for His gracious provisions. This is why Paul was inspired to write, “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Romans 5:5; 12:1-2; 1 John 3 and 4). The word “grace” is not found in these two verses, but they are full of God’s grace nonetheless. What’s the difference between Christianity and religions? Grace. Grace that is defined as God’s free blessings and benefits. God simply blesses us because He simply loves us. That is grace. God’s grace is something we need to receive and it is something we need to share (Ephesians 4:29). We need to be agents of God’s grace (Colossians 4:1-6). [1] Grace is just too good to hoard to ourselves. Grace is so great; it must be shared. Leave a lasting impression on those God brings your way. Share God’s grace by God’s grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. [1] See Chuck Smith – WFT tape #I45133 Romans 6:23 and William R. Newell’s great commentary Romans Verse-By-Verse, Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Pub. Kregel Classics, 1994, p. 245-247
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अनुग्रहको प्रबन्ध अनुग्रहको प्रबन्ध अब हामी छैटौं प्रबन्धको अध्ययन गर्न तयार छौं जुन प्रबन्धको प्रारम्भ ख्रीष्टको मृत्यु र बौरिउठाइ पछि भयो र ख्रीष्टको दोस्रो आगमन नआएसम्म जारी रहनेछ। अघिल्ला पाठहरूमा हामीले बिगतका प्रबन्धहरूलाई अध्ययन गर्यौं तर अब हामी वर्तमानको प्रबन्धलाई अध्ययन गर्नेछौं जसलाई अनुग्रहको प्रबन्ध (DISPENSATION OF GRACE) भनिन्छ। हामी आज यही प्रबन्धअन्तर्गत जिइरहेका छौं। ठीक व्यक्तिलाई ठीक प्रबन्धसित जोडा मिलाउनुहोस्: पावलले वर्तमान प्रबन्ध (भण्डारीपन) लाई एफेसी ३:२ मा उल्लेख गरेका छन् – “यदि तिमीहरूले परमेश्वरको _____________को ____________को विषयमा सुनेका छौ भने, जो तिमीहरूका निम्ति मलाई दिइएको छ।” प्ररित पत्रुसले पनि १ पत्रुस ४:१० मा यस महत्त्वपूर्ण भण्डारीपनको उल्लेख गर्छन् – “हरेकले पाएको वरदानअनुसार, परमेश्वरका नाना प्रकारका ___________का ________________झैं तिमीहरूले त्यो वरदान एक-अर्काको सेवामा लगाओ।” परमेश्वरले अब्राहामलाई विशेष प्रतिज्ञाहरू दिनुभयो। परमेश्वरले मोशालाई आफ्नो पवित्र व्यवस्था दिनभयो। आज प्रभुले विश्वासी जनहरूलाई परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको विशेष ज्ञान दिनुभएको छ। वर्तमान प्रबन्धमा परमेश्वरले आफ्नो अनुग्रहलाई विशेष प्रकारले प्रकट गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ। सधैंदेखि नै परमेश्वर अनुग्रही परमेश्वर नै हुनुहुन्छ। परमेश्वर आदम र हव्वाप्रति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्थ्यो जब उहाँले उनीहरूलाई छालाका वस्त्रहरूको प्रबन्ध गरिदिनुभयो (उत्पत्ति ३:२१)। परमेश्वर नूहप्रति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्थ्यो (उत्पत्ति ६:८) र परमेश्वर सारा पृथ्वीप्रति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्थ्यो जब उहाँले जलप्रलय फेरि कहिल्यै नपठाउने प्रतिज्ञा दिनुभयो (उत्पत्ति ९:११)। परमेश्वर अब्राहाम र मोशा र दाऊद र बप्तिस्मा दिने यूहन्ना प्रति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्थ्यो। तर परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह आज सबभन्दा प्रस्टसित देखिन्छ। विगतका युग (समय) हरूमा परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह एउटा खोलाजस्तै थियो। खोला सधैंदेखि नै त्यहाँ थियो अनि त्यो सदैव बगिरहेकै थियो र परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको पानी प्रत्येक युगमा देख्न सकिन्थ्यो। तरैपनि आज परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको खोला एउटा विशाल नदी बनेको छ र यसले किनारहरूलाई वारपार ढाकेको छ। आज परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह बगिरहेको मात्र छैन तर वारपार ढाकेर बगिरहेको छ। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह प्रशस्त मात्र भएको छैन तर ज्यादै प्रशस्त भएको छ! आज हाम्रो प्रभुको अनुग्रह “सा____ प्र__________” छ (१ तिमोथी १:१४)। एउटा सानो खोलो देखेर हामी त्यसको विचार प्रायः त्यति गर्दैनौं। जब खोला बढेर किनारहरूलाई वारपार ढाकेर बग्दछ त्यतिखेर हामी त्यसको विचार गर्न बाध्य हुन्छौं। आज परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह किनारहरूलाई वारपार ढाकेर बगिरहेको छ र परमेश्वर कति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्छ भनेर मानिसहरूले विचार गरेको उहाँ चाहनुहुन्छ। विगतको करिब २००० वर्ष यता, परमेश्वरले आफ्नो अनुग्रहलाई प्रदर्शन गर्दै आउनुभएको छ। जीवित परमेश्वर आफूलाई प्रकट गर्न रूचाउनुहुन्छ। यही नै हो परमेश्वरको उद्देश्य – कुनै पनि युगमा, प्रत्येक युगमा। इजकिएलको पुस्तकमा हामी घरीघरी यी शब्दहरू भेट्छौं, “तब तिनीहरूले म नै ___________ हुँ भनेर ____________” (हेर्नुहोस् इजकिएल २८:२२,२३,२४,२६, आदि)। आफू को हुँ भनेर प्रकट गर्न र देखाउन परमेश्वर रुचाउनुहुन्छ! विभिन्न समयमा विभिन्न तरिकाले परमेश्वरले आफूलाई प्रकट गर्ने क्रम नै इतिहासको कहानी हो। केही उदाहरणहरू नूहका समयमा परमेश्वरले आफू पापलाई घृणा गर्ने, इन्साफ गर्ने परमेश्वर हुँ भन्ने कुरा प्रकट गर्नुभयो (उहाँले जलप्रलय पठाउनुभयो!)। अब्राहामको समयमा परमेश्वरले आफू आफ्नो प्रतिज्ञालाई नतोड्ने विश्वासयोग्य परमेश्वर हुँ भन्ने कुरा देखाउनुभयो। यूसुफको समयमा परमेश्वरले आफू सबै कुरा मिलाएर आफ्ना जनहरूका निम्ति भलाइ उत्पन्न गराउन सक्ने एक सार्वभौम परमेश्वर हुँ भन्ने कुरा देखाउनुभयो (उत्पत्ति ५०:२०)। लाल समुद्रमा परमेश्वरले आफ्नो सामर्थ्य र उद्धार देखाउनुभयो। मोशालाई व्यवस्था दिइँदा परमेश्वरको पवित्रता प्रकट भयो। इतिहासको पन्नै पिच्छे परमेश्वरले आफूलाई प्रदर्शनी गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ र आफू को हुँ भनेर प्रकट गर्दै हुनुहुन्छ। आफू को हुँ भनेर मानिस र स्वर्गदूतहरूलाई प्रकट गर्नु आज पनि परमेश्वरको उद्देश्य रहेको छ। नयाँ नियमले देखाउँछ। नयाँ नियमले यो देखाउँछ कि आज परमेश्वर विशेष गरी “उहाँको ____________को महिमा” (एफेसी १:६) र त्यसको धन प्रकट गर्न इच्छुक हुनुहुन्छ। जीवित परमेश्वर आफ्नो अचम्मको अनुग्रहलाई प्रदर्शनी गर्न चाहनुहुन्छ। परमेश्वरले अनुग्रहको खोलो बगाउँदै हुनुहुन्छ र मानिसहरूको ध्यान त्यसप्रति आकर्षित भएको चाहनुहुन्छ। अनुग्रह के हो? अनुग्रह एउटा महत्त्वपूर्ण शब्द हो र हामीले यसको अर्थ बुझ्नुपर्छ। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह भन्नाले “परमेश्वरको निगाह” भन्ने बुझिन्छ। यसलाई परमेश्वरको “अनार्जित निगाह” (unmerited favor) भनेर परिभाषित गरिएको छ (मानिसप्रति परमेश्वरको त्यो निगाह जसको लायक मानिस थिएन अथवा कुनै पनि हिसाबले मानिसले त्यसलाई आर्जन गरेको वा कमाएको थिएन)। अनुग्रह भन्ने शब्द “पाउन- नालायक दया” (undeserved kindness) भनेर पनि परिभाषित गरिएको छ (अथवा परमेश्वरको त्यो अचम्मको प्रेम र दया, तिनीहरूप्रति जसको लायक तिनीहरू छँदै छैनन्)। बाइबलले अनुग्रहको दुइटा सरल परिभाषाहरू दिएको छ: १. एफेसी २:७ (सिलसिला छ, परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहकै, पद ७ र ८) अनुग्रह भनेको “__________ ________मा हामीप्रति भएको उहाँ (परमेश्वर) को _______” हो (एफेसी २:७)। येशू ख्रीष्टको कारण परमेश्वर अपराध र पापहरूमा मरेकाहरू प्रति समेत दयालु हुन सक्नुहुन्छ (एफेसी २:१-३)! २. तीतस ३:४ (सिलसिला छ, परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहकै, तीतस २:११; ३:७) अनुग्रह भनेको “हाम्रा ____________ परमेश्वरका _______ र __________प्रतिको ________” हो। परमेश्वर मानिसप्रति दयालु हुनुहुन्छ (तीतस ३:३ मा बयान गरिएको जस्तो मानिसप्रति समेत)! जोहरू दया पाउन लायक नै थिएनन् तिनीहरू प्रति परमेश्वर कति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्छ! मेपीबोशेतप्रति राजा दाऊदले गरेको व्यवहारले परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको सुन्दर चित्रण गर्दछ। यो हामी २ शमूएल अध्याय ९ मा पढ्न सक्छौं। के राजा दाऊद मेपीबोशेतप्रति दयालु व्यवहार गरे (पद ७ र १३)? _________। के मेपीबोशेतले आफूलाई त्यस्तो दयाको योग्य ठाने (पद ८)? ___________। दाऊद मेपीबोशेतप्रति मेपीबोशेतकै कारण दायालु थिए कि अरू कसैको कारण (पद ७)? __________ ________________। त्यसरी नै परमेश्वर हामीप्रति हाम्रै कारणले नभएर येशू ख्रीष्टको कारण दयालु हुनुहुन्छ (एफेसी ४:३२ – परमेश्वरले “_______मा तिमीहरूलाई क्षमा गर्नुभएको छ”)। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह (GRACE) लाई यसरी पनि व्यक्त गर्न सकिन्छ: “ख्रीष्टको खर्चले मिलेका परमेश्वरका धनहरू” (God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense)। यसलाई हामी सबभन्दा प्रस्टसँग २ कोरिन्थी ८:९ मा देख्छौं – “किनकि तिमीहरू हाम्रा प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टको ___________ जान्दछौ – उहाँको गरिबीद्वारा तिमीहरू ____________ होओ भनेर उहाँ ____________ भएर पनि तिमीहरूका निम्ति __________ हुनुभयो।” ख्रीष्टको खर्चले (“तिमीहरूका निम्ति गरिब हुनुभयो”; हाम्रो निम्ति क्रूसमा मर्नुभयो) परमेश्वरका धनहरू (“तिमीहरू धनवान् होओ भनेर”)। कलवरीको क्रूसले मात्रै परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको मूल फुटाउन सक्थ्यो। ख्रीष्ट क्रूसमा मर्नुभएको हुनाले परमेश्वरको प्रशस्त अनुग्रह पापीहरूमाथि खन्याइन सम्भव भयो। ख्रीष्ट क्रूसमा नमर्नुभएको भए परमेश्वर हामीप्रति दयालु र अनुग्रही बन्न सक्नुहुनेथिएन। बरु परमेश्वरले हामीलाई हाम्रा पापहरूका निम्ति इन्साफ गर्नुपर्ने थियो र हामी प्रत्येकलाई अग्निकुण्डमा पठानुपर्ने हुन्थ्यो। खुशीको खबर यो हो कि येशू हाम्रा निम्ति मर्नुभयो र उहाँले पापको दण्ड पूरै तिरिदिनुभयो भनी परमेश्वर पूर्ण रूपममा सन्तुष्ट हुनुहुन्छ।। त्यसैले आफ्नो अनुग्रह र दया उहाँको पुत्रमाथि विश्वास गर्नेहरूमाथि सित्तैंमा खन्याउन परमेश्वर स्वतन्त्र हुनुहुन्छ। मैले पाउनुपर्ने त यो हो तर येशू ख्रीष्टले मेरो निम्ति गरिदिनुभएको चाहिँ यो हो (उहाँले आफैमाथि मेरो दण्ड लिनुभयो र उहाँले मेरो स्थान लिनुभयो) ख्रीष्टले क्रूसमा जे गरिदिनुभयो, त्यसको कारण, परमेश्वर आफ्नो अनुग्रह ममाथि खन्याउन स्वतन्त्र हुनुहुन्छ १. प्रारम्भमा मानिसको अवस्था अनुग्रहको प्रबन्धको प्रारम्भमा हामी पाप त्यसको चरमबिन्दुमा पुगेको देख्छौं। अधिकांश यहूदी जातिहरूले आफ्नो मुक्तिदाता र मसीहलाई अस्वीकार गरेका थिए: “उहाँ आफ्नैकहाँ आउनुभयो र उहाँका आफ्नैले (यहूदी जातिले) उहाँलाई _________ गरेनन्” (यूहन्ना १:११)। तिनीहरू आफ्नै अविश्वासले अन्धा पारिएका थिए। अन्तमा उनीहरूले यसो भन्दै चिच्याए, “त्यसलाई क्रूसमा टाँग!” मानिस पापको गगिराइमा पुगेको थियो अनि पापको अन्धकार यसभन्दा अँध्यारो हुने ठाउँ थिएन। मानिसले आफ्नो दुष्टता अन्त्यन्तै महान् छ भनेर प्रमाणित गर्यो तर परमेश्वरले यसैलाई आफ्नो अनुग्रह त्यसभन्दा पनि महान् छ भनेर प्रमाणित गर्न मौका लिनुभयो! परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह मानिसको पापभन्दा अत्यन्तै महान् छ। यो हामी रोमी ५:२० मा देख्छौं – “अनि अपराध ___________ होस् भनेर व्यवस्था आयो।” यसको मतलब व्यवस्थाले पाप कति नराम्रो छ भनेर देखाउँछ। व्यवस्था एउटा लेन्स जस्तै हो जसले पापलाई त्यसको बास्तविक रूपला झन् झन् देखाइदिन्छ। यसबारेमा हामीले व्यवस्थाको अध्ययन गर्दा सिक्यौं (यस अध्ययन मालामा पाठ ७ र ८)। व्यवस्था त्यो ऐना हो जसले मानिसलाई ऊ बास्तवमा कति पापी र फोहोरी छ भनेर देखाइदिन्छ। अब रोमी ५:२० को अन्तिम भागलाई पढौं – “तर जहाँ ________ प्रशस्त भयो, त्यहाँ __________ झन् बढी प्रशस्त भयो।” पाप प्रशस्त भयो तर अनुग्रह झन् प्रशस्त भयो!नअ मानिसको पापले परमेश्वरलाई आफू बास्तवमा कति अनुग्रही छु भनेर देखाउन एउटा सुन्दर मौका दियो। एउटा बहुमूल्य पत्थर अथवा मणीको विचार गर्नुहोस्। उक्त बहुमूल्य पत्थरको सुन्दरता र रंगलाई साँच्ची नै देख्न सक्न ठीक खालको पृष्टभूमिको छनोट गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ। एक खालको पृष्टभूमिले भन्दा अर्को खालको पृष्टभूमिले त्यस पत्थरलाई हेर्न बढी मदत पुर्याउँछ। आफ्नो अनुग्रहको चम्किला रंगहरू प्रस्ट देखाउन परमेश्वरले पापको कालो पृष्टभूमिलाई रोज्नुभएको छ। परमेश्वर आफ्नो अनुग्रहलाई प्रदर्शन गर्न चाहनुहुन्छ। उहाँको अनुग्रह मानिसको पापभन्दा महान छ भनेर उहाँले प्रकट गर्न चाहनुहुन्छ! हामी महा पापीहरू हौं तर हाम्रा निम्ति अझै महान् मुक्तिदाता हुनुहुन्छ! जब पाप सबभन्दा चरमबिन्दुमा थियो तब परमेश्वरले आफ्नो अनुग्रह “झन् प्रशस्त” छ भनेर देखाउन थाल्नु भयो (रोमी ५:२०)। यहूदी जातिले आफ्नै मसीहलाई क्रूसमा टँगाएपछि परमेश्वरले के गर्नुभयो? जब पापले आफ्नो कुरुपता साँच्ची नै प्रकट गर्यो (जब मानिसले परमेश्वरको पुत्र र परमेश्वरको मुक्तिलाई ग्रहण गर्न अस्वीकार गर्यो), परमेश्वरले के गर्नुभयो? के उहाँले संसारलाई नष्ट गर्नुभयो? के उहाँले सबैलाई इन्साफ गर्नुभयो? अहँ, परमेश्वरले बरु एउटा अचम्मको काम गर्नुभयो। परमेश्वरले सबै ठाउँमा सबै मानिसहरूलाई निम्तो गर्न थाल्नुभयो। अधिकांश यहूदीहरू मुक्तिदाताकहाँ आउन चाहँदैनथे त्यसैले परमेश्वरले सबै मानिसहरूलाई निम्तो गर्न थाल्नुभयो र भन्नुभयो, “जसले चाहन्छ, उसले सित्तैंमा ___________को ________ लेओस्”(प्रकाश २२:१७)। संसार पापले अँध्यारो भएको थियो त्यसैले परमेश्वरले संसारमा अनुग्रहले ढाक्ने निर्णय गर्नुभयो। “किनकि मुक्ति ल्याउने परमेश्वरको __________ ______ ______________कहाँ देखा परेको छ (तीतस २:११)। परमेश्वर सबैलाई भेट्टाउन र समेट्न चाहनुहुँदैथियो! परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको अच्म्मको प्रशस्तता यूहन्ना १:१६-१७ मा पनि देखिन्छ: “अनि उहाँ (येशू ख्रीष्ट) कै परिपूर्णताबाट हामी सबैले पाएका छौं, अनि ___________माथि ___________।” “अनुग्रहमाथि अनुग्रह” को अर्थ हो “अनुग्रहको सट्टा अनुग्रह” जसरी समुद्रको किनारमा पानीको एक छालमाथि अर्को छाल वा छालको सट्टा छाल उर्लेर आउँदछ। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह समुद्रका छालहरू जस्तै हुन्छ। अनुग्रहको एउटा छालमाथि अर्को छाल आउने क्रममा उहाँको अनुग्रह कहिल्यै रित्तिदैन: “किनभने _________द्वारा व्यवस्था दिइएको थियो, तर ___________ र सत्यताचाहिँ ________ ________द्वारा आए” (यूहन्ना १:१७)। मोशा व्यवस्था-दाता थिए; येशू ख्रीष्ट अनुग्रह-दाता हुनुहुन्छ! परमेश्वरले हामीलाई अनग्रह मात्र दिनुहुन्न, उहाँले “___________ र धार्मिकताको दानको प्रशस्ता” दिनुहुन्छ (रोमी ५:१७)! परमेश्वरले यो अनुग्रह सबै मानिसहरूलाई प्रदान गर्नुहुन्छ, चाहे उनीहरू यहूदीहरू हुन् या अन्यजाति! पवित्र परमेश्वरका सामु मानिसको अवस्था आज मानिसहरूले आफूलाई परमेश्वरको सामु आफ्नो बास्तविक अवस्थालाई देख्न खाँचो छ। तिनीहरूले आफूहरूलाई परमेश्वरले देख्नुभए जस्तै देख्नु खाँचो छ। निम्न जोडा मोलाउने अभ्यास पूरा गर्नुहोस्: यस्तो अवस्थामा रहेका मानिसहरूप्रति के परमेश्वर अनुग्रही हुन सक्नुहुन्छ? निश्चय पनि! ख्रीष्ट येशू पापीहरूलाई __________ दिनालाई संसारमा आउनुभयो” (१ तिमोथी १:१५)। ख्रीष्ट पापीहरूका लागि मर्नुभयो अनि परमेश्वर पापीहरू प्रति अनुग्रही हुन चाहनुहुन्छ। परमेश्वरसँग एउटा सित्तैंको उपहार (वरदान) छ र त्यसलाई उहाँ सबै मानिसलाई दिन चाहनुहुन्छ! त्यो उपहार के हो (रोमी ६:२३; दाँज्नुहोस् रोमी ५:१५,१६,१७,१८)? ______________________। के उक्त उपहारलाई मानिसले कमाउनुपर्छ वा त्यसका लागि उसले तिर्नुपर्छ कि त्यो सित्तैंमा दिइएको छ (रोमी ५:१५)? ___________________________________। २. मानिसको जिम्मेवारी मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूको जिम्मेवारी यदि एकजना अरबपतिको हातमा रू ७,५०,००,००० छ र त्यो पैसा तपाईंलाई दिनलाई उनले आफ्नो हात पसारे भने, तपाईं के गर्नुहुनेछ? के तपाईंले त्यो लिनुहुनेछ? के तपाईंले उक्त उपहारलाई स्वीकार गर्नुहुनेछ? कि तपाईं त्यो पैसा लिन अस्वीकार गरी एकातिर लाग्नुहुनेछ? परमेश्वरसँग एउटा उपहार छ जुनचाहिँ रू ७,५०,००,००० भन्दा बढी मूल्यको छ। “परमेश्वरको वरदान हाम्रा प्रभु येशू ख्रीष्टमा ___________ ____________ हो” (रोमी ६:२३)। योचाहिँ परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको उपहार हो अनि यस उपहारलाई परमेश्वरले सबै मानिसहरूलाई प्रदान गर्नुहुन्छ। उदेकको, असीमित, अतुलनीय अनुग्रह विश्वास गर्ने सबलाई सित्तैंमा छ; उहाँलाई हेर्न तृष्णा गर्नेहरूहो अहिले नै उहाँको अनुग्रह लिनुछ। – जुलिया जन्स्टन् परमेश्वरले आफ्नो उपहार कसैमाथि लाद्ननुहुन्न। यसलाई लिन अस्वीकार गर्नेहरूसित उक्त उपहार छैन। परमेश्वरले यसलाई सबैलाई प्रदान गर्नुभएको छ तर सबैले यसलाई ग्रहण गर्दैनन्। परमेश्वरबाटको अनन्त जीवनको उपहार ग्रहण गर्ने एउटै मात्र तरिका छ। एक व्यक्तिले येशू ख्रीष्टलाई उहाँको नाममा विश्वास गरी आफ्नो मुक्तिदाताको रूपमा ग्रहण गर्नुपर्छ (यूहन्ना १:१२)। यूहन्ना ३:१६,१८,३६ अनुसार आज मानिसको जिम्मेवारी के हो? __________________________________ । मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूलाई आज परमेश्वरको के आज्ञा छ (१ यूहन्ना ३:२३ को पहिलो भाग)? ____________ _______________________________। के तपाईंले यस आज्ञालाई पालन गर्नुभयो? ___________। के तपाईंले परमेश्वरको सित्तैंको उपहारलाई ग्रहण गर्नुभयो? __________। परमेश्वर पापीहरू प्रति कत्तिको अनुग्रही बन्न सक्नुहुन्छ भनेर के तपाईंले पत्ता लगाउनुभयो? __________? मुक्ति पाएकाहरूको जिम्मेवारी जीवित परमेश्वर आफ्नो अनुग्रहलाई प्रदर्शन गर्न चाहनुहुन्छ! उहाँ कति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरा मानिसहरू र स्वर्गदूतहरूले देखेको परमेश्वर चाहनुहुन्छ। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह क्रियाशील भएको देख्न सक्न तपाईंले कहाँ हेर्नुपर्छ? पर्वतमा? आकाशका ताराहरूमा? समुद्रमा? होइन, परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह क्रियाशील भएको देख्न तपाईंले अनुग्रहले बचाइएका पापीहरूलाई हेर्नुपर्छ! प्रत्येक विश्वासी परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको “प्रदर्शन सामाग्री” हो! तपाईं संग्राहलयमा जानुभयो भने तपाईंले थुप्रै “प्रदर्शन सामाग्रीहरू” भेट्टाउनुहुन्छ। विश्वासी जनहरू कुनै संग्राहलयमा थुनेर राखिएका त छैनन्, तर तिनीहरू संसारमा परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको जिउँदो प्रदर्शन सामाग्रीहरूका रूपमा हिँडिरहेका छन्। यो वर्तमान समयको लागि मात्र सत्य नभएर आउनेवाला युगहरूमा पनि सत्य हुनेछ: “ख्रीष्ट येशूमा हामीतर्फ भएको उहाँको दयाद्वारा पछि आउने _____________मा उहाँको _____________को अपार धन देखाउनाका निम्ति” (एफेसी २:७)। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको प्रदर्शन-सामाग्रीहरू हुन पाउनु हाम्रो अहोभाग्य हो, हालको लागि मात्र नभएर अनन्त अनन्त युगहरूसम्म। साथै परमेश्वरले आफ्नो अनुग्रहको बारेमा स्वर्गदूतहरूलाई सिकाउनका निम्ति हामी विश्वासी जनहरूलाई प्रयोग गर्नुहुन्छ। यसको बारेमा हामी एफेसी ३:१० मा सिक्दछौं (“प्रधानहरू र अधिकारीहरू” ले स्वर्गदूतहरूलाई जनाउँछन्)। यस पदले हामीलाई निम्न कुरा सिकाउँछ: विश्व-ब्रम्हाण्डचाहिँ पाठशाला हो परमेश्वर शिक्षक हुनुहुन्छ स्वर्गदूतहरू विद्यार्थीहरू हुन् परमेश्वरको बुद्धि र अनुग्रह विषयवस्तु हो। आफ्नो अचम्मको बुद्धि र अनुग्रहको बारेमा स्वर्गदूतहरूलाई सिकाउन परमेश्वरले देखाउने दृश्य साधन म__________ (विश्वासी जनहरू) – हेर्नुहोस् एफेसी ३:१०)। स्वर्गदूतहरू छक्क पर्छन्, परमेश्वर तपाईं र मजस्ता पापीहरूलाई गर्नुभएको अनुग्रह देखेर! पावल प्रेरितले आफ्नै जीवनमा परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको बारेमा धेरै थाह पाएका थिए (१ कोरिन्थी १५:१०)। के पावल एक महा पापी थिए (१ तिमोथी १:१३-१५)? ___________। के पावलसँग उनको पापभन्दा पनि महान् मुक्तिदाता हुनुहुन्थ्यो (१ तिमोथी १:१५)? ______________। परमेश्वर पावलसित अति सहनशील (रिसाउनमा ढीलो) हुनुभयो र पावलसित अनुग्रहको व्यवहार गर्नुभयो (हेर्नुहोस् १ तिमोथी १:१६)। १ तिमोथी १:१६ मा पावल यसो भन्दैथिए: “परमेश्वरले ममा आफ्नो अनुग्रह र सहनशीलता प्रकट गर्ने काम गर्दैहुनुहुन्छ। म परमेश्वरको सहनशीलताको प्रदर्शन-सामाग्री हुँ। जुन परमेश्वर मप्रति यस्तो अनुग्रही र सहनशील बन्नुभयो त्यही परमेश्वर तपाईंहरू प्रति अनुग्रही र सहनशील बन्न इच्छुक हुनुहुन्छ!” प्रत्येक विश्वासी जनले पावलले जस्तै भन्न सक्नुपर्छ! मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूका लागि हाम्रो सन्देश यो हो: ‘यदि परमेश्वर मप्रति अनुग्रही बन्न सक्नुभयो भने परमेश्वर तपाईंप्रति पनि अनुग्रही बन्न सक्नुहुन्छ! यदि परमेश्वरले मजस्तो पापीलाई बचाउन सक्नुभयो भने निश्चय पनि परमेश्वरले तपाईंजस्तो पापीलाई बचाउन सक्नुहुन्छ! परमेश्वर अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्छ र उहाँले पापीहरूलाई बचाउन सक्नुहुन्छ भन्ने एउटा जिउँदो प्रमाण म हुँ!” विश्वासी जन भएर मेरो जिम्मेवारी के हो? यहाँ मैले गर्नुपर्ने चारओटा कुराहरू छन्: १. म परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहमा ला___________पर्छ (प्रेरित १३:४३)। परमेश्वरले मलाई आफ्नो अनुग्रहले बचाउनुभयो जब मैले उहाँको पुत्रमा आफ्नो भरोसा राखें। म अनुग्रहमा नै लगातार जिउनुपर्छ (परमेश्वर सर्वेसर्वा हुनुहुन्छ र म केही होइन भन्ने कुरा महसुस गर्दै)। मेरो ख्रीष्टियन जीवनभरि म परमेश्वरको पुत्रमाथि भरोसा गरिरहनुपर्छ। “ईश्वरको अनुग्रह हेरी ऋणी आफूलाई ठान्छु, त्यो अनुग्रह साङला सरी बाँधोस् चंचल मन मेरो!” म अनुग्रले मुक्ति पाएको मात्र होइन, म मेरो ख्रीष्टियन जीवन अनुग्रहले नै जिउनुपर्छ। २. मैले ____________को सुसमाचारको गवाही दिनुपर्छ (प्रेरित २०:२४) मैले अरूहरूलाई, मलाई जस्तै उनीहरूलाई पनि बचाउन सक्ने अनुग्रही परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्छ भनेर बताउनुपर्छ। के तपाईंले एक व्यक्तिलाई मुक्तिको उपाय स्पष्टसँग बताउन सक्नुहुन्छ? अनुग्रहले मुक्ति पाउनु भनेको के हो, के तपाईंले अर्थ खोलिदिन सक्नुहुन्छ? ३. म अनुग्रहमा ब______पर्छ (२ पत्रुस ३:१८)। मुक्ति पाएपछि मैले प्रभु ______________ हुनुहुन्छ भनेर स्वाद पाएँ (चाखें)। खानेकुराको विचार गर्नुहोस्। कुनै मीठो कुराको अलिकति स्वाद पाएपछि तपाईंलाई त्यो अझ खाऊँ जस्तो लाग्छ। एक पटक मात्र चाखेर मात्र तपाईंलाई पुग्दैन! ख्रीष्टियन जीवन पनि यस्तै हुन्छ। हामीलाई परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको बारेमा झन् झन् जान्न मन लाग्छ। हामीलाई “उहाँको _____________को वचन” (प्रेरित २०:३२) ले बढ्दै जान मन लाग्छ। आफ्नो अनुग्रहले बचाउनुहुने परमेश्वरलाई खुशी पार्ने इच्छा हुन्छ हामीलाई। ४. म पापमा ला____________हुँदैन (रोमी ६:१-२)। कसैले भन्ला, “परमेश्वर आफ्नो दुष्ट र अनाज्ञाकारी सन्तानप्रति कति अनुग्रही हुन सक्नुहुन्छ भनेर मानिसहरूलाई देखाउनका लागि तिमीले बरु पाप गरे हुँदैन र? आफूखुशी जिवन बिताए हुँदैन र? तिमीले जति पाप गर्यौ त्यति नै परमेश्वरले आफ्नो अनुग्रह देखाउनुहुनेछ नि!” के यो कुरा एउटा साँचो विश्वासीले भन्ने कुरा हो (रोमी ६:१-२)? _____________। ठीक कि बेठीक जवाफ दिनुहोस् (तर पहिले तीतस २:११-१२ पढ्नुहोस्): मुक्ति ल्याउने परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहले हामीलाई यो सिकाउँछ – हामीले मुक्ति पाइसकेका हुनाले र हामी स्वर्ग पुग्ने भएको हुनाले हामी जस्तोसुकै खालको जीवन बिताए पनि हुन्छ। __________। एक व्यक्तिले जति परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहलाई बुझ्छ त्यति उसले परमेश्वरले खुशी पार्दै जिउन चाहनेछ जुन परमेश्वरले यति ठूलो अनुग्रह गर्नुभयो। ३. मानिसको विफलता मुक्ति नपाएकाहरूको विफलता यद्यपि परमेश्वरले आफ्नो अनुग्रहमा मानिसहरूलाई सित्तैमा मुक्तिको उपहारको प्रबन्ध गर्नुभएको छ, थोरैले मात्र ख्रीष्टमा विश्वास गरेका छन् र यस उपहारलाई ग्रहण गरेका छन् (दाँज्नुहोस्, मत्ती ७:१३-१४)। अधिकांश मानिसहरूले परमेश्वरको उपहारलाई लिन अस्वीकार गरेका छन् र ख्रीष्टलाई उनीहरूको जीवनमा राजा र प्रभुको रूपमा राज्य गर्नलाई अस्वीकार गरेका छन् (लूका १९:१२-१४)। अनुग्रहको यस युगमा परमेश्वर मानिसहरूले मुक्ति पाऊन् भनेर सहनशील भएर पर्खिरहनुभएको छ। उनीहरूले हरेक पल्ट कुनै गम्भीर पाप गर्नेबित्तिकै परमेश्वरले उनीहरूलाई इन्साफको प्रहारले नष्ट गर्ने काम गरिरहनुभएको छैन। परमेश्वर रिसाउनमा ढीलो हुनुहुन्छ (इन्साफ गर्नु अगाडि उहाँ लामो समय पर्खनुहुन्छ)। नास्तिक रबर्ट इन्गर्सोलले आफ्नो वक्तव्य दिएपछि आफ्नो खल्ती-घडी झिकेर भने, “बाइबलअनुसार परमेश्वरले मानिसहरूलाई ईश्वरनिन्दाका लागि मृत्युले प्रहार गरेका छन्। म उनको ईश्वरनिन्दा गर्नेछु र उनले मलाई मृत्युले प्रहार गरून् र मेरो प्राणलाई दण्ड दिऊन् भन्ने चुनौती दिँदै म परमेश्वरलाई पाँच मीनेट समय दिनेछु।” घडिको सुइ घुम्ने क्रममा मानिसहरूको जमातबिच चुपचाप भयो। वातावरण तनावग्रस्त बन्यो। मानिसहरू आत्तिए, एकजना स्त्री बेहोस् भई भुईंमा लडीन्। पाँच मीनेट पछि इन्गर्सोलले आफ्नो घडीलाई बन्द गरे, आफ्नो खल्तीभित्र राखे र भने, “दर्शकविन्द, तपाईंले देखिहाल्नुभयो, परमेश्वर छैन नत्रता उनले मलाई मेरो चुनौतीको जवाफ दिनेथिए।” के इन्गर्सोलले परमेश्वर हुनुहुन्न भनेर प्रमाणित गरेकै हुन् त? बास्तवमा यस अविश्वासी जनले अर्कै कुरा प्रमाणित गरे। उनले यो प्रमाणित गरे कि हामी अनुग्रहको दिनमा बाँचिरहेका छौं र परमेश्वर उहाँको नामलाई निन्दा गर्ने व्यक्तिप्रति समेत सहनशील हुनुहुन्छ। (त्यस दिनका एक दर्शकले राम्रै भने, “के यस भलाद्मी जनले परमेश्वरको धीरजलाई पाँच मीनेटमा तोड्न सक्छु भनेर साँच्ची नै सोचेका हुन्?”) जसरी यशैया ३०:१८ मा लेखिएको छ, “तापनि तिमीहरूमाथि _____________ गर्न परमप्रभु इच्छा गर्नुहुन्छ ( हिब्रुमा “पर्खनुहुन्छ”)। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहको दिन सदा रहनेछैन। त्यो दिन आयो जब परमेश्वरले इन्गर्सोललाई मृत्युले प्रहार गर्नुभयो (ऊ मर्यो!)। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहलाई अस्वीकार गर्ने मानिसहरूले परमेश्वरको इन्साफको सामना गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ। जलप्रलय अगाडिको दिनहरूमा १२० वर्ष लामो अनुग्रहको समय थियो (उत्पत्ति ६:३)। उक्त समयमा मानिसहरूप्रति अनुग्रही बन्न परमेश्वर पर्खनुभयो। त्यस समयमा नूहले परमेश्वरको जहाज बनाए र परमेश्वरले मानिसहरूलाई उहाँको वचनमाथि विश्वास गर्ने मौका दिनुभयो। तर अन्तमा ती १२० वर्षपछि अनुग्रहको दिन अन्त भयो अनि जहाजको ढोका बन्द गरियो (उत्पत्ति ७:१६)। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहलाई अस्वीकार गर्नेहरूले परमेश्वरको इन्साफको सामना गर्नुपर्यो: “अनि जलप्रलय आयो र तिनीहरू सबैलाई _________ पार्यो” (लूका १७:२७)। मुक्ति पाएकाहरूको विफलता परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहलाई प्रकट गर्न धेरैपटक विश्वासीहरू चुकेका छन्। उदाहरणको लागि, “अन्धकार युग” (“Dark Ages”) मा मण्डलीहरूले परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहलाई प्रचार गर्न छाडेका थिए। उल्टो उनीहरूले मुक्ति भनेको कमाइनु पर्न, कामले आर्जन गर्नु पर्ने कुरा हो भनेर सिकाइरहेका थिए। मुक्ति एउटा सित्तैंको उपहार हो भनेर सिकाउन छाडे। मुक्ति मानिसको परिश्रममा भर पर्छ, नालायक पापीहरू प्रतिको परमेश्वरको दयामा होइन भनेर उनीहरूले सिकाए। मण्डलीहरूले परमेश्वरको “अनुग्रहको सुसमाचार” को गवाही दिनु पर्नेथियो तर उनीहरू त्यसो गरिरहेका थिएनन्। फलस्वरूप त्यसबेला जताततै आत्मिक अन्धकारले छाएको थियो। दुःखको कुरा, आज पनि यस्तै छ। प्रायः मण्डलीहरू र धेरैजसो धार्मिक संगठनहरूले मुक्ति भनेको मानिसको कामले कमाइने कुरा हो र आफूले गरेका असल कामहरूले यो कमाइन्छ भन्ने कुरा सिकाउँछन्। थोरै मण्डलीहरूले मात्र मानिस “अनुग्रले मुक्ति” पाइन्छ भनेर सिकाउँछन्। धेरैजसो सत्यदेखि फर्केर गएका छन् झूटलाई सिकाउँदै छन्। ४. परमेश्वरको इन्साफ हामीले देखिसक्यौं, परमेश्वरको अनुग्रह र सहनशीलताको दिन सधैं रहिरहनेछैन। रोमी २:४ ले परमेश्वरको कृपा र सहनशीलतालाई तुच्छ ठान्नेहरूको बयान गरेको छ। के यी मानिसहरू परमेश्वरको इन्साफदेखि उम्कनेछन् (रोमी २:३,५)? ______________। त्यो दिन आउँदै छ जब संसारका विश्वास नगर्ने मानिसहरू र सत्य-त्याग गरेको (apostate) मण्डली (एक समय सत्यलाई जानेका तर सत्यतादेखि फर्केका धर्मकर्म गर्ने मानिसहरू – १ तिमोथी ४:१; २ तिमोथी ३:५; ४:३-४) माथि परमेश्वरको इन्साफ वर्षनेछ। नूहका दिनहरूको १२० वर्ष लामो अनुग्रहको समयको एक दिन अन्त भयो अनि परमेश्वरले संसारलाई जलप्रलयले इन्साफ गर्नुभयो। अहिले हामी जिइरहेको अनुग्रहको अझ लामो समयावधि (झण्डै २००० वर्ष लामो समय) को पनि अन्त हुनेछ अनि परमेश्वरले फेरि संसारलाई इन्साफ गर्नुहुनेछ। सबैभन्दा अधिक अनुग्रहको समय (वर्तमान अनुग्रहको युग) पछि सबैभन्दा अधिक इन्साफको समय आउनेछ (महासङ्कष्टकाल)। के उक्त महासङ्कष्ट जस्तै अर्को समय पहिला कहिल्यै भएको थियो वा पछि आउनेछ (मत्ती २४:२१)? _________________। यस अध्ययन मालाको पाठ ११ (शीर्षक, सङ्कष्टको समय) मा हामी सङ्कष्टकालको अझ विस्तृत अध्ययन गर्नेछौं। परमेश्वरको अनुग्रहलाई अस्वीकार गर्नु ज्यादै डरलाग्दो कुरा हो। येशू ख्रीष्टलाई र उहाँले हाम्रो लागि गरिदिनुभएको कार्यलाई अस्वीकार गर्नु र परमेश्वरबाटको मुक्तिको सित्तैंको उपहारलाई लिन अस्वीकार गर्नु एउटा ज्यादै गम्भीर कुरा हो। के तपाईं, एक पापी, अनुग्रहले बचाइनुभयो? के तपाईंले अरूहरूलाई मुक्तिदातातिर देखाउँदै हुनुहुन्छ जो उहाँको क्रोध पाउन योग्य पापीहरूप्रति अति अनुग्रही हुनुहुन्छ?