Is there Biblical evidence that Elijah understood and preached the grace of God, that is, righteousness by faith? Or was he stern, hard, lacking compassion? We know this:
1. God sent him (1 Kings 17; 18), and "God is love" (1 John 4:8).
2. His message was preeminently reconciliation of alienated hearts in home and national life (Mal. 4:5, 6). That took "grace unlimited."
3. His prayer on Mt. Carmel was calm, simple, heart-felt, gracious.
4. The people's "heart" was "turned ... back again" (1 Kings 18:37).
5. What did it was God's acceptance of the blood sacrifice that clearly prefigured Christ's sacrifice on His cross (vs. 33). It's not too much to say: Elijah preached to the nation a great sermon on the cross that day.
6. The people responded, believed, humbled their hearts before this divine revelation of the abounding grace and forgiveness of God. But the priests of Baal hardened their hearts against it; in hopeless rejection, they would crucify Christ a thousand times over. This demonstration was in miniature the judgment at the end of the millennium (Rev. 20:11-15). To execute the priests of Baal was the people's choice, their unanimous will. It was clear: their sin was the unpardonable one.
7. The fruit of Elijah's ministry? Genuine reformation and revival. And God translated him! (2 Kings 2:11). Pretty good evidence of grace.
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 25, 2005.
Copyright © 2010 by Robert J. Wieland.
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