Author: Kevin Corbin

  • Grace That Transforms

    From Rough Stone to Precious Jewel

    Rough and faceted garnets. An illustration of God's transformative grace.

    Over the past few days, I have been marveling at the incredible scope of God’s patient, loving mercy and grace. It really astounds me when I think that Jesus gave up His life to redeem people who were His enemies. Redeeming them was grace beyond measure, but He goes beyond that and, by the Word and Spirit, transforms us to be more like Him every day.

    The garnets on the left are rough stones as dug out of the ground. The ones on the right have been carefully faceted to reveal the inner jewel that resided in the rough stone.

    That’s what Christ does. He digs us out of the dirt and mire of our sin-filled lives and rebellion, while we are still His enemies and loves us.

    For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:7-8 ESV

    That would be unimaginable grace if He stopped there. It’s far more than any of us deserve. But He extends it further. The Lord sends the Spirit to dwell in the new believer.

    Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV

    The Lord conforms us into the image of Jesus.

    For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 ESV

    Sometimes the Lord cuts off huge pieces of waste material. He often does that through suffering and trials.  Then He carefully considers all the facets and angles and shapes us. Lastly, He polishes each facet into a thing of beauty.

    We were made to be precious stones for the King of Kings and bring Him glory. Each one of us is unique; no two will be alike. We are all given differing genetics, personalities, circumstances, gifts and talents. Each of us is a separate piece of rough being worked in the Master’s hands.

    It’s an ongoing process that He promises to complete in us.

    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV

    The process isn’t always easy, but hold fast. The finished product that will be our glorified life will be beautiful beyond anything we can imagine.

    Be blessed, my friends,

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I’ve been marveling at how far God’s grace goes: it saves us while we’re still His enemies, and then patiently transforms us facet by facet into the image of Christ. Like rough garnets cut and polished into jewels, each of us is being shaped into something beautiful for the King.

    TAKEAWAY

    Christ’s grace redeemed us while we were still His enemies, dying for the ungodly rather than the righteous (Romans 5:7-8).

    The Spirit now dwells within believers, making our bodies a temple bought at a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

    Like rough garnets faceted into jewels, God patiently cuts, shapes, and polishes each of us into the unique image of His Son (Romans 8:29, Ephesians 2:10).

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  • Paul’s Path to Humility: What His Letters Reveal

    open bible with arrown suggestion the growth in Paul's humility

    In most circumstances, I am a generally confident man. Often, that confidence has stepped over the line into arrogance. That’s not a trait I’m proud of, especially since we are called to humility and meekness.

    So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:1-8 ESV

    We often think of Peter as being brash and arrogant at times, for good reason. Yet there is someone else whom we might not think of that way: the Apostle Paul. It’s not something that leaps out to most people, possibly because the epistles don’t appear in chronological order, but are arranged by size (largest to shortest). If we read them in the order they were written, we see it more clearly.

    Chronologically, they read Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Romans. Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, Philippians, 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Timothy.

    Let’s look at how Paul identifies himself in his letters.

    Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. Galatians 1:1 ESV

    Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God Romans 1:1 ESV

    I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 1 Timothy 1:12-15 ESV

    Everything Paul claims is true, but he moves from seeing himself as an exalted apostle to a servant (more properly translated as a slave). By the end, he fully acknowledges that he is a sinner saved by grace, undeserving of the role God has placed on Him.

    The more he knew Christ, the longer He knew Him, the less Paul exalted himself and the more he magnified Jesus. He grew in humility.

    It’s a lesson I’m working on. What about you?

    Be blessed today,

    Kevin

    SUMMARY

    I’ve always been a confident man, sometimes too confident, tipping over into arrogance. Tracing Paul’s letters in the order he actually wrote them shows me something convicting: the longer he walked with Christ, the more his self-description shrank from apostle to servant to the foremost of sinners.

    TAKEAWAY

    Reading Paul’s epistles in chronological order (not the order they appear in Scripture) reveals a clear pattern in how he identifies himself

    Paul moves from calling himself an apostle, to a servant (slave) of Christ, to the foremost of sinners saved by grace

    The more Paul knew Christ, the less he exalted himself and the more he magnified Jesus — he grew in humility

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