Exploring the depth of Grace that ain’t greasy
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The book of Deuteronomy (a summary of the law of sorts) is pervaded with a togetherness of grace and law. God has already brought the nation into partial possession of the land. Israel is posed to take possession of the rest of their inheritance, but this depends on total obedience to instructions. Only whole-hearted fidelity to God’s directions, spiritual precepts and persuasions, will ensure them victory over their enemies and peace and prosperity within the land promised to their forefathers. God desires His “grace” to be seen and noticed correctly.
So the writer of Hebrews summarizes this, being God’s graciousness toward us.
“By the which will we are sanctified (made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
Gracious חָנַן to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favour, bestow;
חָ = to separate i.e. to be apart/divided from.
נַ = to inherit as an heir i.e. continue the heritage as a son.
ן = to finalize the inheritance, the finishing thereof. “It is finished.”
Numbers 6:25-26
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious (חָנַן) unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Seeking, knocking, and asking...This is our response in order to receive the graciousness of God through Christ. Within God’s righteous judgement is found “grace.” Within the “grace” of God is found righteous judgement.
So the writer of Hebrews summarizes this, being God’s graciousness toward us.
“By the which will we are sanctified (made holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:10)
Gracious חָנַן to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favour, bestow;
חָ = to separate i.e. to be apart/divided from.
נַ = to inherit as an heir i.e. continue the heritage as a son.
ן = to finalize the inheritance, the finishing thereof. “It is finished.”
Numbers 6:25-26
25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious (חָנַן) unto thee:
26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
Seeking, knocking, and asking...This is our response in order to receive the graciousness of God through Christ. Within God’s righteous judgement is found “grace.” Within the “grace” of God is found righteous judgement.
Hi davida., Just a bunch of hugs for you., no meanness ((((HUGS))))
Titus 2:12-13
[SUP]11 [/SUP]For the grace of God [SUP][a][/SUP]hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, [SUP]12 [/SUP]instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present [SUP][b][/SUP]world; [SUP]13 [/SUP]looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory [SUP][c][/SUP]of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Jesus came and died for the whole world offering to everyone eternal life to live and reign with Him in heaven., to be sons and daughters of God. Our response is to accept Him and His great gift of unmerited.,undeserved, unearned love and right standing and eternal life with God.
Freedom from sin and judgment. Salvation is offered to all but not everyone will believe and receive Him. But those who believe to them He gives power to become the son's of God...
John 1:10-13
[SUP]10 [/SUP]He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
[SUP]11 [/SUP]He came unto [SUP][a][/SUP]his own, and they that were his own received him not.
[SUP]12 [/SUP]But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name:
[SUP]13 [/SUP]who were [SUP][b][/SUP]born, not of [SUP][c][/SUP]blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The way we live our lives out as believers is the same way we first got saved., by grace through faith. Knowing all that we have is due to the unmerited unearned for love and favor of God IN Christ.
We can't be good enough for it to get saved nor can we be good enough for it to stay saved. We get it based on Jesus finished work on our behalf. In Him we have been given all things pertaining to life and Godliness.
2 Peter 1:3
[SUP]2 [/SUP]Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
[SUP]3 [/SUP]seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us [SUP][a][/SUP]by his own glory and virtue;
[SUP]4 [/SUP]whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of [SUP][b][/SUP]the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Now we walk it out in Christ through the Holy Spirit who was given to us as a seal of security. He is our Comforter and our Guide and Teacher. Not because we deserve it., worked for it or are worthy of it. It's ours ONLY because of Jesus.
When I began to start to understand grace., that is when at the age of 55 my Christian life changed drastically. The Holy Spirit baptized me and then began to really teach me about Jesus and the love of God In Christ and the promises of God IN Christ. Knowing it is not because we deserve it but because of His love that loves because it comes unconditionally. Comes from Him without our even loving Him back because until He first loves us., we can't comprehend how His kind of love (grace) works.
We learn how to start to love Him back after we experience how He first loved us. We will be learning about His love and grace probably unto eternity.
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Also., those who have tasted the goodness and grace of God in Christ learn to have a joyful expectation of good coming from God. This is a good thing to EXPECT from God all the good things He has promised IN Christ. This is what grace being multiplied unto us is all about. We learn about it and we count on it and lean on it.
That is how God deals with us now. We never get what we deserve. We get what Jesus deserves. We are now the righteousness of God IN Christ and we need to acknowledge that as true in order for it to be of effect in our lives. We live our Christian life out the exact same way we came into the Christian life.... by grace through faith.
If we think we get grace by our good behavior... it is no more grace. And many believers are working hard to attain grace and instead of attaining it., they miss out on it because they try to earn it.
That is how God deals with us now. We never get what we deserve. We get what Jesus deserves. We are now the righteousness of God IN Christ and we need to acknowledge that as true in order for it to be of effect in our lives. We live our Christian life out the exact same way we came into the Christian life.... by grace through faith.
If we think we get grace by our good behavior... it is no more grace. And many believers are working hard to attain grace and instead of attaining it., they miss out on it because they try to earn it.
[FONT="]I believe when we believers walk in our self righteousness (and many of us have done it for years until we learn about the grace of God that teaches us otherwise) we dismiss the grace of God and put ourselves under the law. We do it ourselves. I believe God always sees us in the righteousness of Christ but when we as Christians believe we are "due" because of our own good works, we walk outside of grace here on earth and miss the blessings Jesus died to give us in the here and now because we try to get it by our works. [/FONT]
[FONT="]That is why many are weak and sickly among us and many sleep. (die) Giving Jesus the honor by acknowledging Him and not "our" worthiness via our works... then allows God to direct our paths. If I don't acknowledge Jesus in all my ways., He won't be able to direct my paths. Not that He doesn't WANT to but He requires the obedience of faith in this new covenant of grace we New Testament believers live under .
When so many of us have tried to live by the "obedience of the law or flesh" we couldn't understand why God didn't direct our paths. We wonder why we were not blessed in learning and teaching and healing and answered prayer etc.... it's because we went to God thinking He would honor us for our works of the flesh and pay us back for our works in the flesh...giving us our 'due'
When what is required of us in this new covenant is OBEDIENCE of FAITH...believing and having faith in Christ and His righteousness we received as a GIFT., Having our eyes opened to the truth that it is because of Christ we have all things pertaining to life and Godliness....not our self righteousness and the fruit of that. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Fruits of the flesh look good and even feels good. It looks good and feels good to our flesh when we tithed or when we worked at church or donated our car or were in church when the doors were open., or when we taught Sunday School .. or when we were elders or deacons or pastors... it all looked good and right when we obeyed the 10 commandments.
But many of us have done those things in our own strength and thought it counted and we would be rewarded for "our" hard work. Romans 4:14-15
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified for the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is their violation.
And yet., new covenant believers are living under the old covenant of law and teaching the 10 Commandments (teaching death) when they should be teaching about the grace and truth and righteousness that Jesus brought freeing us from the law of sin and death. The reason it is death is because to follow it and believe 'it' is getting us points with God will nullify grace.
If we only had known it is because of Christ that we are righteous., His righteousness is what we need to walk in and not our own when we sit or stand.[/FONT]
[FONT="]I've discovered it is because of Jesus I have anything., can do anything or be anything. It's that acknowledgment God sees and God blesses. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. The righteous shall live by faith., We obey the law of faith.., I've been learning God is not pleased with anything but faith in the finished work of His Son.
[/FONT][FONT="]Reposted from my previous post since it applies here too.[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
[FONT="]That is why many are weak and sickly among us and many sleep. (die) Giving Jesus the honor by acknowledging Him and not "our" worthiness via our works... then allows God to direct our paths. If I don't acknowledge Jesus in all my ways., He won't be able to direct my paths. Not that He doesn't WANT to but He requires the obedience of faith in this new covenant of grace we New Testament believers live under .
When so many of us have tried to live by the "obedience of the law or flesh" we couldn't understand why God didn't direct our paths. We wonder why we were not blessed in learning and teaching and healing and answered prayer etc.... it's because we went to God thinking He would honor us for our works of the flesh and pay us back for our works in the flesh...giving us our 'due'
When what is required of us in this new covenant is OBEDIENCE of FAITH...believing and having faith in Christ and His righteousness we received as a GIFT., Having our eyes opened to the truth that it is because of Christ we have all things pertaining to life and Godliness....not our self righteousness and the fruit of that. [/FONT]
[FONT="]Fruits of the flesh look good and even feels good. It looks good and feels good to our flesh when we tithed or when we worked at church or donated our car or were in church when the doors were open., or when we taught Sunday School .. or when we were elders or deacons or pastors... it all looked good and right when we obeyed the 10 commandments.
But many of us have done those things in our own strength and thought it counted and we would be rewarded for "our" hard work. Romans 4:14-15
For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified for the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, neither is their violation.
And yet., new covenant believers are living under the old covenant of law and teaching the 10 Commandments (teaching death) when they should be teaching about the grace and truth and righteousness that Jesus brought freeing us from the law of sin and death. The reason it is death is because to follow it and believe 'it' is getting us points with God will nullify grace.
If we only had known it is because of Christ that we are righteous., His righteousness is what we need to walk in and not our own when we sit or stand.[/FONT]
[FONT="]I've discovered it is because of Jesus I have anything., can do anything or be anything. It's that acknowledgment God sees and God blesses. God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. The righteous shall live by faith., We obey the law of faith.., I've been learning God is not pleased with anything but faith in the finished work of His Son.
[/FONT][FONT="]Reposted from my previous post since it applies here too.[/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
The Gospel road only goes "one way."
"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (Matthew 3:3)
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" (Matthew 7:13)
Where so you think the term "backsliding" came from? Sounds pretty slippery to me.
"For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." (Matthew 3:3)
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" (Matthew 7:13)
Where so you think the term "backsliding" came from? Sounds pretty slippery to me.
There is going to be so great a number of people saved that we won't be able to count the number! I heard the ending of a message last week that mentioned this very thing. I can't help wondering why it is that there are different kinds of Bible messages and Christians out there who talk more about the swelling numbers of souls saved than lost.
I think more about how all encompassing the Love of God is in Christ that people are drawn to Him in giant numbers all through history. And that perspective has a lot to do with how we interpret much of the Bible.
I think more about how all encompassing the Love of God is in Christ that people are drawn to Him in giant numbers all through history. And that perspective has a lot to do with how we interpret much of the Bible.
There is such a huge opportunity these days like no other time before for so many to hear the Gospel. TV., internet and social media. In the last days the Bible says His Spirit will be poured out and I think it's that time now.
Because I believe the rapture (Jesus coming for His bride the church) 1 Thess.4:13-18 is at hand and as soon as us believers leave the scene., the Holy Spirit will be out of here too. The restraining hand of the Holy Spirit will be lifted and evil will have a major free reign like never before.
1 Thess.4:13-18
[SUP]13 [/SUP]But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep [SUP][a][/SUP]in Jesus will God bring with him.
[SUP]
15 [/SUP]For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the [SUP][b][/SUP]coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
[SUP]17 [/SUP]then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Wherefore [SUP][c][/SUP]comfort one another with these words.
Salt and light will be gone and then the anti Christ will show up on the scene. We live in exciting times!!! I sometimes forget to think about how close we are to the Blessed Hope of the coming of Christ for us when the day gets so busy. When I do it brings so much into perspective. We get so involved in our lives here that take up our time and our mind activity.
Just getting the days work done took so much of my brain's attention today. Dentist., Dr. appt., vet., house and lawn., laundry... going to work tonight. I'm so glad that He knows our frame that we are but dust. He knows we have limitations and how frail we are in ourselves.
But then we can hear the Word and think on it and be brought right back to the truth of life that it's always about Jesus. And yet., He doesn't expect us to not take care of our lives even though we are limited in our abilities to do so and keep everything always in proper perspective. So the Holy Spirit brings us back to Jesus.
His grace maintains us exactly where we are even in our weaknesses., and especially FOR those weaknesses. When we need His grace the most., that is when He pours it out on us as we acknowledge how this truth works.
When we are weak.... He is strong for us. 2 Cor.12:10
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Because I believe the rapture (Jesus coming for His bride the church) 1 Thess.4:13-18 is at hand and as soon as us believers leave the scene., the Holy Spirit will be out of here too. The restraining hand of the Holy Spirit will be lifted and evil will have a major free reign like never before.
1 Thess.4:13-18
[SUP]13 [/SUP]But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that fall asleep; that ye sorrow not, even as the rest, who have no hope.
[SUP]14 [/SUP]For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also that are fallen asleep [SUP][a][/SUP]in Jesus will God bring with him.
[SUP]
15 [/SUP]For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we that are alive, that are left unto the [SUP][b][/SUP]coming of the Lord, shall in no wise precede them that are fallen asleep.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;
[SUP]17 [/SUP]then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
[SUP]18 [/SUP]Wherefore [SUP][c][/SUP]comfort one another with these words.
Salt and light will be gone and then the anti Christ will show up on the scene. We live in exciting times!!! I sometimes forget to think about how close we are to the Blessed Hope of the coming of Christ for us when the day gets so busy. When I do it brings so much into perspective. We get so involved in our lives here that take up our time and our mind activity.
Just getting the days work done took so much of my brain's attention today. Dentist., Dr. appt., vet., house and lawn., laundry... going to work tonight. I'm so glad that He knows our frame that we are but dust. He knows we have limitations and how frail we are in ourselves.
But then we can hear the Word and think on it and be brought right back to the truth of life that it's always about Jesus. And yet., He doesn't expect us to not take care of our lives even though we are limited in our abilities to do so and keep everything always in proper perspective. So the Holy Spirit brings us back to Jesus.
His grace maintains us exactly where we are even in our weaknesses., and especially FOR those weaknesses. When we need His grace the most., that is when He pours it out on us as we acknowledge how this truth works.
When we are weak.... He is strong for us. 2 Cor.12:10
[SUP]10 [/SUP]Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
God's grace is His compassionate undeserved favour. It describes His attitude towards us. That is its primary meaning. The giving of His grace in gracious gifts is secondary and not to be confused..
God acts in grace towards men. He only secondarily gives them gracious gifts.
It comes from a heart on which God has acted by His grace. We know of His love because of His grace towards us.
But it is the grace of God which gives us grace.
The grace of God becomes real first of all when He saves us (Eph 2.8-9). Then He gives us grace to show to others.
We love because He first loved us,
You will never know the love of God until His grace has revealed it to you. We need His grace first, then we will know His love. After that He gives us gifts of grace.
You must not confuse His grace in action, with the gifts of His grace.
But even John doubted when he was in prison. Was he therefore in danger of becoming 'lost'?
But that is the commencement. The idea would seem to be that once on the way you are on the one that you have chosen even though you might have problems on the way.
Where do you think the term "backsliding" came from? Sounds pretty slippery to me.
(excerpt)
Grace[T][E]The word "grace" in biblical parlance can, like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God's activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man. In the Old Testament, the term that most often is translated "grace, " is hen [ej]; in the New Testament, it is charis [cavri"]
(found here)
What is Grace? Bible Meaning and Definition
(excerpt)
The New Testament. Grace in the New Testament is largely encompassed by the use of the word charis [cavri"]. While the idea of unmerited favor is found in some other places, the concept may be fairly restricted within the bounds of this article to the use of that term. It is worth noting that, though Jesus is never quoted as using the word charis [cavri"], his teaching is full of the unmerited favor of God. Perhaps the parable of the prodigal son is the most obvious example. In that parable grace is extended to one who has no basis upon which to be shown that grace, other than the fact that he has asked in humility and repentance to be shown it. Other parables demonstrate grace in the teaching of Jesus, perhaps most notably the parable of the laborers in he vineyard ( Matt 20:1-16 ) and the parable of the great supper ( Luke 14:16-24 ).
Grace[T][E]The word "grace" in biblical parlance can, like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God's activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man. In the Old Testament, the term that most often is translated "grace, " is hen [ej]; in the New Testament, it is charis [cavri"]
(found here)
What is Grace? Bible Meaning and Definition
(excerpt)
The New Testament. Grace in the New Testament is largely encompassed by the use of the word charis [cavri"]. While the idea of unmerited favor is found in some other places, the concept may be fairly restricted within the bounds of this article to the use of that term. It is worth noting that, though Jesus is never quoted as using the word charis [cavri"], his teaching is full of the unmerited favor of God. Perhaps the parable of the prodigal son is the most obvious example. In that parable grace is extended to one who has no basis upon which to be shown that grace, other than the fact that he has asked in humility and repentance to be shown it. Other parables demonstrate grace in the teaching of Jesus, perhaps most notably the parable of the laborers in he vineyard ( Matt 20:1-16 ) and the parable of the great supper ( Luke 14:16-24 ).