Over the years, several scriptures began to surface as the dots I connected to form an understanding of grace. No doubt, others have different scriptures they would include. If this is the case, you can mention your best choices in the comment section.
1. Gal. 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2. Phil. 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
3. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
4. Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Sunday, March 4, 2007
It All Started When I Said ...
The following are the comments that started the "Discussion."
Gal. 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Eph.3:2,6-8 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph. 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Phil. 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
1 Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
These scriptures show that there is more to the grace of God than the “eternal security blanket” we receive at salvation. Here Paul shows that there is a specific grace give to him, to do a specific job which bestows a unique authority (calling) not available to anyone else. It is also clear that there is “grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” given to all believers to accomplish their God given responsibilities in the kingdom. It is up to us to learn to access it, then stand in it and function in it.
Acts 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
Romans 1:1-7 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Romans 15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
1 Cor. 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
1 Cor. 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Gal. 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
Eph.3:2,6-8 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph. 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Phil. 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
1 Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Opening
What I wrote:
Jay, besides meaning gift and benefit, the word "grace" literally means "graciousness," which also means "acceptable, favour, pleasure." Like you and I were talking about the other Sunday, grace is an action performed by God, and therefore it is not a principle (as is gravity or inertia) but is a relationship status.
Here's what you responded:
I understand your comment how you interpreted what I wrote. I did not begin by explaining the "unmerited favor of God" mostly because I was just unloading my brain with this concept. Taken by itself, now that I think about it, what I have written so far is a little unbalanced. Your point about grace being a relationship status is well taken and everything about God must be understood through that prism. Having said that, in some way everything about God is a principle and people need to learn about how God interacts with us. He has chosen certain avenues of working in and/or through us, even Jesus walked in accordance with the same truths that we operate under. Even Jesus said "of mine own self I can do nothing." (hey, this will be a great chapter)
Jay, besides meaning gift and benefit, the word "grace" literally means "graciousness," which also means "acceptable, favour, pleasure." Like you and I were talking about the other Sunday, grace is an action performed by God, and therefore it is not a principle (as is gravity or inertia) but is a relationship status.
Here's what you responded:
I understand your comment how you interpreted what I wrote. I did not begin by explaining the "unmerited favor of God" mostly because I was just unloading my brain with this concept. Taken by itself, now that I think about it, what I have written so far is a little unbalanced. Your point about grace being a relationship status is well taken and everything about God must be understood through that prism. Having said that, in some way everything about God is a principle and people need to learn about how God interacts with us. He has chosen certain avenues of working in and/or through us, even Jesus walked in accordance with the same truths that we operate under. Even Jesus said "of mine own self I can do nothing." (hey, this will be a great chapter)
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