Manifold Grace

Webster’s dictionary defines manifold as “marked by diversity or variety: many: comprehending or uniting various features.”

In 65 AD, the Great Fire of Rome destroyed much of the city. Many blamed Nero in the aftermath, but the truth is that it was more than likely an accident waiting to happen. The city had been a tinderbox; years of poor construction, overcrowding, and garbage-filled streets made for a ticking time bomb. Nevertheless, the emperor needed someone to blame fast. Christianity, a new, fast-growing religion that people viewed suspiciously due to its refusal to bow to the Roman gods, just happened to be a convenient scapegoat.

This started the first persecution, which quickly escalated into a horror show. Whether or not he caused the fire, Nero was a homicidal sadist. Peter happened to be in Rome when he found out that the persecution had spread to Asia Minor, specifically Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia. Many Christians were abandoning their faith and returning to paganism. Perhaps even more alarming, some had taken up arms and were leading rebellions against the local governments.

It’s interesting that Peter, well-known for cutting off a guard’s ear at Jesus’ arrest and being rebuked with for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Matthew 26:52), would also be the one to discourage Christians from violence against their persecutors. But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1 Peter 3:14).

Grace is the beginning of the Christian walk. There would be no salvation without it. None of us deserves it, but He gives it freely. Every other blessing comes out of grace. But we all have to show that same grace towards others. Without grace, there can’t be any spiritual fruits. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). Charity, or love, is first of the nine fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Its importance can’t be overstated; in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul said we have nothing without it. 1 Peter 4:10: As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

The gifts of the Spirit, on the other hand, are not necessarily for every single believer but for every church. Ideally, each congregation should have the nine gifts in operation, which the Spirit divides up amongst its members. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God: if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever: Amen (verse 11). Without grace there would also be no gifts: no miracles, no healings, no tongues, or no prophesying.

God’s grace is the easy part of salvation; Christ already paid the price already for it. But serving grace to others is the hard part. The Lord expects us to show the same kind of mercy to others that He showed us. 1 John 4:20: If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? This sums up so much of what’s wrong with the church today: we want the free part of salvation (God’s grace) but we don’t want the part that requires effort (forgiving others).

In 1 Peter 2:21-24, Peter tells us why grace towards others is so important. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose striped ye were healed.

Jesus was brutally whipped and beaten while carrying His cross. He could have called it quits at any moment. At His command, an army of angels would have come down and killed everyone and taken Him back to heaven. But His mission would have been a total failure. Instead He cried Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34).

We tend to make villains out of the Pharisees who condemned Jesus and the Roman soldiers who crucified Him. I’ve reveled in the thought of them standing before the One they put to death on the Day of Judgment, to face the truth of who He was. But then I realize it wasn’t just the Pharisees or Romans who nailed Jesus to the cross. It was my sins. And yours. We’re all guilty. So if I were to wish Jesus to call judgment and hellfire down on those who condemned Him, I would be wishing the same fate for myself.

The crowd hailed Jesus with palm fronds when He arrived at Jerusalem on a colt. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest (Matthew 21:16). But a short time later, undoubtedly many of the same people were at His trial. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified (Matthew 27:22). They called Him king one day, then cried out for His crucifixion the next. People will follow Christ when it’s the trendy thing to do. They’ll put on the appearance of a Christian when it doesn’t cost anything. But they turn their backs once the going gets tough. They weren’t really ready to pick up their cross and take on a life of suffering. And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow me (Luke 9:23).

But are we any different? Our sins sent Him to the cross. I could be a great Christian one week, praying, preaching, and reading the Bible daily. But then the next week I’ve sinned, and then I’m in the crowd turning my back on Him. I’ve become the one who used to hail Him as the Messiah, but now cries “Crucify Him!”

We couldn’t make it without His grace. But remember His prayer of forgiveness as He hung on the cross whenever someone sins against you. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44). That’s the only way we can truly be identified as His followers.

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My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge: Hosea 4:6.

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