What is Grace?
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God's grace is his unmerited favor and love for us, his completely unworthy enemies...
Matthew 5
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ~KJV
The best definition I've heard is, "God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves". God has given all His spiritual riches to us in lord Jesus. Grace is also the Life of Christ. Everyone knows "by grace you are saved" Ephesians 2:8. I've never heard a sermon on Romans 5:10. It tells us that we are saved by His Life. Christians should stop fussing about what we have to do to please God (answer - nothing) and focus on what God has already done for us in Christ. I've preached this myself. The message title is "How to be a Christian without really trying".
When I think of God's grace, I think of this passage:
Romans 5:6-11 (KJV)
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Romans 5:6-11 (KJV)
6For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
KJV Dictionary Definition: grace
grace
GRACE, n. L. gratia, which is formed on the Celtic; Eng. agree, congruous, and ready. The primary sense of gratus, is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from advancing.
1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace.
Or each, or all, may win a lady's grace.
2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.
And if by grace,then it is no more of works. Rom.11.
3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.
My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor.12.
4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom.5.
5. A state of reconciliation to God. Rom.5.2.
6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, &c. proceeding from divine influence.
(and more, found here)
Grace - King James Bible Dictionary Online
grace
GRACE, n. L. gratia, which is formed on the Celtic; Eng. agree, congruous, and ready. The primary sense of gratus, is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from advancing.
1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace.
Or each, or all, may win a lady's grace.
2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.
And if by grace,then it is no more of works. Rom.11.
3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.
My grace is sufficient for thee. 2 Cor.12.
4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Rom.5.
5. A state of reconciliation to God. Rom.5.2.
6. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, &c. proceeding from divine influence.
(and more, found here)
Grace - King James Bible Dictionary Online
E
eternally-gratefull
Guest
Romans 5 gives a good explanation of grace.
Won't post the whole chapter but will post the following
Romans 5:20-21
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Greek word for abounded hyperperisseuō basically means to super abound.
I totally agree with the definition of grace as being unmerited favour.
Thank God that it is.
However I believe that grace is not only that it goes beyond that.
It's his grace that to walk in a way to freedom from sin.
It's not an excuse to sin as Paul addressed in Romans 5-6.
Won't post the whole chapter but will post the following
Romans 5:20-21
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Greek word for abounded hyperperisseuō basically means to super abound.
I totally agree with the definition of grace as being unmerited favour.
Thank God that it is.
However I believe that grace is not only that it goes beyond that.
It's his grace that to walk in a way to freedom from sin.
It's not an excuse to sin as Paul addressed in Romans 5-6.
Not that I wish to detract from the thread but do you think it would help to give examples of Gods grace from the Bible?
Lots of nuggets in it and lots of it in the OT as well.
I will start with Adam and Eve.
They sinned, they hid from God he sought them out.
As a result the separation from God started yet he clothed them.
Maybe the first act of grace?
Lots of nuggets in it and lots of it in the OT as well.
I will start with Adam and Eve.
They sinned, they hid from God he sought them out.
As a result the separation from God started yet he clothed them.
Maybe the first act of grace?
Why is it that if we use the tremendous power of the Lord through our faith in Him it should mean that we turn a blind eye to the tremendous power there is in following His guidance through works?
Our focus on His faith should lead us to also having faith in His guidance to our work instead of taking away that faith in His guidance. How can we have faith in His grace and withhold faith in His guidance?