E
The over all theme of the Bible is: GOD'S ETERNAL COVENANT OF GRACE. Others have presented about the same theme ,using the words : God's covenant of salvation, the covenant of redemption, The story of salvation, or any number of other suggestions. The discussion of the theme of the Bible is important to our discussion of Dispensationalism to see if we can find a common tread, theme, running through out the whole Bible. After 52 yrs of Bible study I see Grace is the common theme in the whole bible. Grace is the only term used in the bible that is broad enough that it can not be challenged by any other word in the Bible. But the common meaning of grace is not broad enough to meet the challenge.The Bibles definition of grace is twofold: 1. the Bible teaches that grace is the power of God to change the sinner into a saint. 2. The Bible also teaches that grace is God's Mercy to forgive sin. In order to be willing to accept this definition of grace you have to willing to challenge the common meaning of grace,which is: God's undeserved mercy. I use two acrostics with the word grace to teach this claim. 1. God's Recreation at Christ's Energizing and 2. God's Riches At Christ's Expense The first one is my invention but the 2nd one is not mine. Much of the error on salvation teaching comes from a false definition of grace, as mercy only. If we accepted the true,two fold, meaning of grace we would not think so shallowly about being born again. The common meaning of the new birth is just being accepted into the family of God, by means of our acceptance of free salvation , the forgiveness of our sins by receiving Jesus as our savior. Justification is presented as the whole of our salvation and being transformed into the image of God by the imparting of a new nature to over rule our sinful nature is diminished to something not worthy of mentioning. Salvation is viewed as a new position but nothing is said of our new condition. Conversion is belittled as a mere receiving of grace, undeserved mercy. More later. Hoffco
I think instead of trying to make an interpretation of a word other than its true interpretation is dangerous.
Grace literally means charity, or something given that was not earned.
Paul makes it clear, it is either of grace, or it is of works, it can not be both. And it can NEVER be earned.
It is BY grace (gods mercy) we are saved, and it is also by this same grace we are given power to do the works God created us to do (eph 2: 8-10)
As for our new condition. would love to get into this. Unfortunately people want to make our new condition and how we handle it a per-requisite for salvation (salvation by works) . So we can never get to this conversation.