Is There Grace in Having Hope?

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Snacks

Well-known member
Feb 10, 2022
1,410
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#41
why in the world didn't the pastor remove him from his church? A "church LEADER", you say. He had no right to be in any position of authority in any church.
I may have misled you and others by not explaining that this man was not outspoken about his lack of faith but rather he confided in me because of my position within the congregation.

I stated in my first post that he openly admitted it but what I meant was he openly admitted it to me. So other than our pastor and maybe one or two confidants over the course of 50 years, no one else knew. That said, it wasn’t like there was an open door policy for atheists to be church leaders.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,762
1,586
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#42
Grace is unmerited favor.
Mercy is not holding our sins against us on our account. This is the current posture of God.

So, there is certainly mercy.

Now, how will this man be judged? I do not know. I only have an account of his struggle with belief of Christ‘s divine nature.

Who would we prefer: one such as this man, who wondered in silence to God? Or one who proclaims “Jesus is Lord” while using the threat of violence to gain political power… or one who simultaneously throws his support behind a known liar and adulterer? Who is more likely to be judged harshly by God?
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,790
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Oregon
cfbac.org
#43
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Grace is unmerited favor.

Jesus was filled with grace. (John 1:14) Was his unmerited too?


Mercy is not holding our sins against us on our account.

God has never pardoned sin without a basis. Mercy would be impossible had
not Jesus been crucified per the 53rd of Isaiah. (cf. 1Pet 1:20 & Rev 13:8)
_
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,762
1,586
113
#44
.



Jesus was filled with grace. (John 1:14) Was his unmerited too?





God has never pardoned sin without a basis. Mercy would be impossible had
not Jesus been crucified per the 53rd of Isaiah. (cf. 1Pet 1:20 & Rev 13:8)
_
He was grace personified.
 

Aaron56

Well-known member
Jul 12, 2021
2,762
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#45
Grace is also how God enables His administration.
 

Webers.Home

Well-known member
May 28, 2018
5,790
1,069
113
Oregon
cfbac.org
#46
.
1Cor 1:3 . . Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ.

Although grace is an important element in Christianity; I seriously doubt that
John Q and Jane Doe pew warmer have an adequate concept of it. I suspect
that quite a few are under the impression that grace is somehow a
quantifiable substance like butter and gasoline; but in regards to God, grace
is an abstract noun that expresses personal qualities apart from substance.

The New Testament Greek word for "grace" is charis (khar'-ece); which
means: graciousness.

Webster's defines graciousness as: kind, courteous, inclined to good will,
generous, charitable, merciful, altruistic, compassionate, thoughtful, cordial,
affable, genial, sociable, cheerful, warm, sensitive, considerate, and tactful.

* Cordial stresses warmth and heartiness

* Affable implies easy approachability and readiness to respond pleasantly to
conversation or requests or proposals

* Genial stresses cheerfulness and even joviality

* Sociable suggests a genuine liking for the companionship of others

* Generous is characterized by a noble or forbearing spirit; viz: magnanimous,
kindly, and liberal in giving

* Charitable means full of love for, and goodwill toward, others; viz:
benevolent, tolerant, and lenient.

* Altruistic means unselfish regard for, or devotion to, the welfare of others;
viz: a desire to be of service to others for no other reason than it just feels
good to do so.

* Tactful indicates a keen sense of what to do, or say, in order to maintain
good relations with others in order to resolve and/or avoid unnecessary
conflict.

* Compassion defines a sympathetic awareness of others' distress, coupled
with a desire to alleviate it, i.e. empathy.

The Old Testament Hebrew word for grace is chen (khane); and means
pretty much the same as charis (e.g. Gen 6:8).

When you put all those lovely attributes together, you get a pretty good
picture of the bright side of God's personality. There's a dark side too; but
grace doesn't go there.
_
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#47
I equate him with doubting Thomas. He was a scientist; seeing is believing.
I believe we must choose between a carnal world view and a spiritual world view...

Hebrews 11:3
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”


Remember that DT did come around once the truth was revealed to Him. There comes a time when doubting needs to cease. There are two knds of hope; one (the "I hope-so" type) allows room for doubting. The other (the "I know-so because I believe with all my heart) does not allow room for doubt. Doubt needs to be repented of. Peter was rightly ashamed when that cock crowed. Faith can overcome fear. Remember Daniel and Steven.


Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:6
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

seeing is believing.
Actually, not seeing is believing.
>
 

oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#50
James 1:6
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.”

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