“And that servant, which knew his Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:47-48 KJV).
These passages bring us a radical message viewed through the lens of the gospel of the grace of God. Totally in contrast against the traditional legalistic and religious teachings that focus on fear and threat so to work hard in self effort, we are given notice to rest in the Lord’s finished work by grace. The beatings of many or few blows are the natural, destructive outcomes of living under the law or trying to earn righteousness by works, which leads to being under the enslavement of sin and consequential condemnation. But by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are not under condemnation (Romans 8:1). Hence, these passages give warning about the loss of rewards or blessings for failing to walk in God’s grace by their identity as a child of God, rather than a threat of losing salvation or being cast into hell.
When the Lord Jesus says: "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded"(v. 48), He is giving us a call to good stewardship of the grace, truth, and spiritual gifts that have been entrusted to us, rather than respond to the demand for a law-based performance. It reminds us that with the provision of grace ("being given much"), resting in it by faith there is much fruit to bear as we abide in that freedom, not exploit to abuse it, as displayed by religious system.
This is not a push to work hard in self effort, but rather an urging to labor for rest by faith being attached to the vine to bear much fruit. The Lord Jesus said: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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