Those that have received Christ must by faith live upon him, and not receive his grace in vain

Those that have received Christ must by faith live upon him, and not receive his grace in vain

Matthew Henry, a renowned theologian and commentator, emphasized the importance of living by faith in Christ and not receiving his grace in vain. In his writings, Henry stressed that simply receiving Christ is not enough; one must actively live by faith in Him in order to truly experience the transformative power of His grace.

Henry believed that faith was not just a one-time decision, but a daily commitment to trust in and rely on Christ for everything. He understood that receiving Christ was just the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith and obedience. In his commentary on the book of Galatians, Henry wrote, "Faith is not a dead, inactive thing. It is a living, active principle that must be constantly exercised and nurtured."

For Henry, living by faith meant surrendering one's will to Christ and allowing Him to guide and direct every aspect of one's life. It meant trusting in His promises, even when circumstances seemed bleak, and obeying His commands, even when it was difficult. Henry believed that true faith was evidenced by a life of obedience and holiness.

Henry also warned against receiving Christ's grace in vain, meaning to accept His forgiveness and salvation without allowing it to truly transform one's heart and life. He believed that those who received Christ's grace but did not live by faith in Him were missing out on the abundant life that He promised. In his commentary on the book of Hebrews, Henry wrote, "To receive Christ's grace in vain is to treat His sacrifice as if it were of no value, to continue in sin and disobedience, and to neglect the great salvation that He offers."