Other Types
Hagar:- the bondwoman who so exemplifies Israel and the covenant of LAW – fleshly Hagar and the law – which was set aside for spiritual Israel and grace. Sarah:- the free-woman so exemplifying spiritual Israel and the covenant of GRACE – chosen Sarah; the barren wife who was set aside and buried by her husband.
Job is a story that demonstrates the mercy and love and grace of God..
there were times when I wept with joy at the grace that God shows towards us – and there were also when I wept with pain as I realised how much we must have hurt the heart of God. I pray others will find blessings in looking deeper into the pages of Job..
It is the saddest thing to see people in the service of God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them, depending on what they have by the accident of heredity.
Grace and Glory
It staggers the mind that we who were once at enmity with God should-be so honoured. We who have received the riches of His grace are also to receive the riches of His glory..
Extravagant Grace
Let us marvel at the enormity of our inheritance in Christ and our glorious future.
Let us ponder on the extravagant grace that God shows to all who trust in Jesus.
But a believer with a new life in Christ is to live his life by grace and not by works of the Law.
But increasingly in John’s gospel, we find the suffocating regulations of the perfect Law, starkly contrasted with willing, gentile acceptance, of Christ’s grace and truth.
Life and Light
Yet in Him was life and in Him was light to all men – and in Him was grace and truth.
Self-righteous Pride
Nicodemus, a pious Jewish leader, struggled with the idea of grace rather than human merit to gain God’s acceptance. Self-righteous pride may be the most difficult obstacle to overcome when free grace is offered, for one relies on the merits of man while the other rests on the grace of God. The constant strivings of the religious man to become acceptable to God by works is a far cry from the submitted heart of a broken sinner, who is thirsting for salvation.
so that the glory of God’s grace is hid from view. But the heart reaching out to God’s grace by faith is rewarded with joys from above.
This is one of the most fundamental grace truths and when this is seen and fully understood there will be no desire to hold on to the Law as a means to Christian conduct.
A Heart Matter
Works of the law are unacceptable to God and unreachable to man, but the logic of legalism persists in trying to obscure God’s gift of grace. But trusting in God is not a matter of the intellect but a matter of the heart.. for with the heart man believesth unto righteousness.
Advent of Christ
It took 4000 years for God to prepare a fallen world for the advent of the Messiah, and the slowly unfolding plan of this never-ending love-story discovered righteousness and justices kissing love and grace as the eternal Creator Himself entered the universe that He made – to redeem the fallen race of man, who were in active rebellion against Him.
Secrets of the Lord
For the secrets of the Lord are with those that fear Him, and He will reveal to His favoured one, His covenant of love. Remember, God’s creation is seen by all. God’s act of grace is received by those that believe in His name, but God’s thoughts are only revealed to His friends.
Law and Grace
The work through Israel was through the works of the Law – which failed. The work for the Church must be carried out in Christ – which cannot fail.
Gospel of Truth
We must rightly divide the GOSPEL of truth – the good news from God:- the gospel of the kingdom points to both a heavenly and earthly rule.. the gospel of the grace of God points to Christ’s perfect sacrifice.. the gospel of the glory of Christ points to His coming Kingdom – the everlasting gospel points to grace before judgment, justice, and mercy.
So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:7
Principle of Consecrated
The principle of consecration is that God might use that one as a sign –‘His sign.’ Not only as a sign of His immeasurable grace in the ages to come, but here and now, in the corner of the field where He has planted you. And every consecrated saint points in one-way or another to Jesus Christ.
As Thou hast sent Me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” John 17:18,19 The Lord wants us to be signs to the world – signs that His grace is sufficient. He desires His own to go the way of the cross – and to suffer and die. Maybe in the physical, but predominantly and principally in the spiritual..
Flesh Versus Spirit
The stark contrast between the Law- in which he trusted, and Grace- his only hope, started to register in the mind of Nicodemus – for the law, has its roots in the flesh.
Impossible Standard
The reality that the Law, in which Nicodemus trusted was related to the flesh, must have been shattering to this religious-minded Pharisee – this esteemed teacher. Though the Law was God’s benchmark for the man that is born of the flesh it was an impossible standard to keep – but the new life in Christ, which is a gift of God’s grace to the one that believes, is a new work of God in man – a new creation in Christ Jesus.
Spiritual Life
Man must be born of the Holy Spirit – if he is to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. The spiritual life of which Christ spoke is something entirely separate from the Law. The spiritual life is rooted in grace and truth, which comes to us from Jesus Christ.
Law Verses Grace
The lessons that Nicodemus learnt on this night visit were of immense proportions. He had a glimpse into the heavenlies, yet did not even understand earthly truths. He discovered Christ was to be lifted up, like the serpent in the wilderness, so that all who look to Him will be saved and that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. He discovered that God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Learning Obedience
Like Christ, they also had to learn obedience through all they would suffer, and they were to learn that Christ’s grace would be all-sufficient for them – they would need to imitate their Master and say, 'Thy will not mine be done'.
Gospel of Grace
And Paul was the vehicle, who opened their understanding of the gospel of grace.
Instead of experiencing eternal death and separation from God we are given eternal life, which can never be lost, left, forfeited or removed – and it is all by His grace and power, and for His greater glory.
Indeed to understand God’s plan for our live, we need to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the Word, for we live in a world which is no friend to Jesus, the enemy of God and antagonistic towards His children – but His grace is sufficient.
We have been saved by grace and should live by grace.
Without His saving grace, we would remain dead in trespasses and sin – but thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory over sin and death – in Christ.
No Condemnation – in Christ
We are sinners saved by grace and there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. There is now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Grace of God
Transgressions big and small must be confessed daily to maintain sweet fellowship:- that thoughtless word; that selfish thought; that mean streak; that proud attitude; that faithless action.
But we are sinners saved by grace and there is no condemnation – there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus the Lord.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were taught, and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.Romans 6:17-18
Slaves of Righteousness
But Paul reminds the Christians in Rome that although they used to be slaves of sin and serve the sin-nature they were born with, they believed the gospel of grace, trusted Christ and obeyed from the heart.
Law or Grace
The believer has only two ways to function – either as a slave to sin or as a servant of Christ.
He has two ways to live his Christian life – either under law or under grace.
They know not that the life of grace is always and only a life of faith, and that in the relationship to the Lord Jesus the one daily and unceasing duty of the disciple is to believe, because believing is the one channel through which Divine grace and strength can flow into the heart of man.
Gracious Riches
God revealed to all His children the above-all abundance and riches of His grace.
Paul prayed that we’d realise God’s above-all abundance and His gracious riches, and we are to appropriate the riches of His grace and His above-all abundance.
But God promises to provide all our needs according to the His riches of His grace – and He will wait for us to realise that He alone is our above-all abundant God.
Word of Truth
Can we not trust our Saviour’s word, Who died an ignominious death for love of us? Can we not believe that the above-all abundance and riches of His grace is true?
Faith in GOD
It is not more faith that taps into the above-all abundance and riches of His grace.
Far More Abundantly
Let us take God at His word. Let us believe in the rich resources of our reliable Father. Let us trust Him to supply us with the above-all abundance and riches of His grace, for in Ephesians 3:20-21 we read: Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us to Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever AMEN and AMEN.
He preordained that those chosen would be conformed into the likeness of His Son.. and God took the responsibility to save us body, soul, and spirit by grace – through faith. God Himself decided He would save us totally – for we could not save ourselves. And every promise of God is yours by grace, simply because you trusted His Word.
God’s Grace
He redeemed and enlightened us and opened up to us the mystery of His will. He took upon Himself the responsibility to change us to be just like Christ. He even adopts us as His own children and has scheduled a date for our adoption.
Christ’s Righteousness
The Father could not have lavished more grace on the undeserving children of men.
Every step of salvation is planned, performed, and finished by God – by His grace.
Every expression of salvation is secured in Christ’s righteousness – by His grace.
Christ’s Sufficiency
Past, present, and future salvation is planned, performed, and finished – by grace.
We have nothing to contribute and no merit belongs to us. It is all by His grace.
His purpose in Christ is devoid of any spiritual want or need – and it is ALL grace.
All that He has is to be ours, and it is all grace.
This is not the acceptance of the sinner saved by grace.
The soul has to go on until it finds that there is nothing to rest on except the abstract goodness and grace of God; and then… ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31b.?
While Ephesians 1:5-6 tells us that: Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
Bestowed Grace
William R Newell puts it this way: There being no cause in the creature why grace should be shown, the creature must be brought off from trying to give cause to God for His care. He has been accepted in Christ, who is his standing! He is not on probation. As to his life past, it does not exist before God – he died at the cross, and Christ is his Life. Grace, once bestowed, is not withdrawn.. for God knew all the human exigencies beforehand.
– for we have no standing before God, in ourselves. 9) The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, not from failure of devotion. 10) To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is reverse God’s order – it is to preach law, not grace. The Law made man’s blessing depend on devotion.
Grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing: Our devotion may follow, but does not always do so — in proper measure.
You are accepted in the Beloved. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, Who has loved us and given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17. For you are accepted in the Beloved.
It is to the praise of the glory of His GRACE, in which HE has made us accepted in the Beloved.Ephesians 1:6
God has made all believers accepted in the Beloved.
and it is to the praise of the glory of His grace, in which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.
Faith in His person, pledges, and revelation is the only response that God expects. And God Himself has told us in His Word that we are accepted. Now believe it… 'for it is to the praise of the glory of His GRACE, that we have been made accepted in the Beloved'.
Instead of being elated by our own improvement, or depressed because we cannot effect it, we are to be occupied with the grace and beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, in which we are thus made to share.
They have thereby learned the grace and sympathy of the Lord Jesus, and they have been the subjects of so much tender interest and consideration flowing from the spiritual affections of His saints, that they have been conscious of infinite gain and enrichment.
Spiritual Blessings
Should not I who am a child of God, chosen before the foundation of the world.. should not I, as one of His chosen ones, lift up the Lord Jesus? Should not I who will demonstrate His grace to heavenly powers in eternity.. should not I thus lift up the name of Jesus? Should not I similarly sing forth His praises through my voice and my pen?
God saves men by His sovereign grace through the Atonement of Jesus; He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure; but we have to work out that salvation in practical living.
If we obey the Spirit of God and practise in our physical life what God has put in us by His Spirit, then when the crisis comes, we shall find that our own nature as well as the grace of God will stand by us.
God's grace turns out men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ, not milk sops.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.1 John 5:13
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.Ephesians 2:8-10
Threefold Promise
Salvation is 100% God’s by grace through faith.
A believer who trusts God’s word in this matter will live his life the grace-promise-faith way.
The grace-promise-faith way is God’s way, but the law-works-merit way is the way of the flesh.
The one who doesn’t live grace-promise-faith way doesn’t negate his eternal security in Christ, but will live a defeated Christian life, for eternal security “kicks-in” immediately at rebirth, and each person of the Godhead guarantee their eternal security.
All-Embracing Guarantee
God’s guarantee of eternal and life is for all believers, whether they choose to live the grace-promise-faith way or ignore God’s word and live the law-works-merit way.
With regards to the Christian walk (sanctification) a believer either lives the grace-promise-faith way or the law-works-merit way.
And let us seek to live by faith and not by sight and to live the grace-promise-faith way rather than the law-works-merit way.
Gift of Grace
Prayer is a gift of God’s wonderful grace to His children, which is open access to Him. Access to the throne of God is a free gift of grace to all who trust in Jesus Christ.
One Great Saint
In the words of one great saint of God, he explains “in the spirit” like this:- It is through God’s dealings and God’s merciful grace that He combines our chastening and our prayer with His dealings in our human spirit, which is progressively and increasingly becoming more and more in union with the Holy Spirit and which is strengthened by the Holy Spirit, as He, (ie the Holy Spirit), utters through us – that which is according to the will of God – for we know not what we should pray for as we ought… but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans.8:26
Growing In Grace - STUDY
My grace is sufficient..2 Corinthians 12:9
Exercising Faith
‘My grace is sufficient”, is the truth of the Scripture, given to all believers.
“My grace is sufficient”, may be accepted intellectually or rejected in reality.
If scripture is not trusted as God’s word, His grace will not be sufficient, for God requires us to trust Him, and to just take Him at His work: for by grace you are saved, by means of exercising faith.
Authored by God
Grace for salvation; grace for sufficiency and the grace of Scripture is perfect.
Infinite God is perfect in holiness; wisdom; mercy; justice; truth; love and grace.
God’s Sufficiency
God’s grace is sufficient and it’s a truth of the Scripture given to all believers.
But the sufficiency of His grace, though accepted intellectually, is rejected in reality.
If scripture is not trusted as God’s Word, then His grace will not be sufficient.
to take Him at His Word: for by grace you are saved – by means of exercising faith In Jesus..
by means of exercising that same faith in Him, and Jesus told us through Paul:-My grace is sufficient.
Let us trust Him at His word and prove in our lives that His grace truly is sufficient.
And God IS able to make all Grace abound towards you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.2 Corinthians 9:8
GRACE – which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.2Timothy 1:9
Did you not cry out to Him:- 'Give me grace?' Did you never seek Him for a deeper faith? If this is what you truly desire, should you not consider how the jewels of grace are cut and polished? Should you not contemplate how the gold of faith is refined and purified?
His Refining Fire
Are these nothing but unconscious cries, to be tried in His refining fire..? An inner longing to be honed to His perfection, under the great Craftsman’s ‘tool’? Is not GRACE discovered through the crushings of life’s journey? Is not FAITH exercised as the storms of life assault our very foundations? Does not Faith flourish and Grace grow, through the Master’s sanctifying trials?
Growing Grace – Flourishing Faith
Grace when the sun is shining Lord,Grace when the sky is black.Grace when I get the unkind word,Grace then to answer back,Grace when I’m pushed into a nook,Grace when I get my turn.Grace when the dinner will not cook,Grace when I let it burn.
Grace when my duties all go wrong,Grace when they seem alright.Grace when it’s praise and grace through song,Grace when I have to fight.Grace when my dress is fresh and new,Grace when it’s worn and old.Grace when my purse is empty too,Grace if it’s full of gold!
Grace when the saved ones don’t act saved-And lay the blame on me.Grace when the grace I’ve asked and cravedSeems not to come from Thee.Grace thru the darkest hours – so long,Grace when the morn is nigh.Grace when I’m healthy, well and strong,Grace when I come to die.
“We … beseech you that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1
The grace you had yesterday will not do for to-day.
Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon.
Are you failing the grace of God there?
It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you; it is taking the grace of God now.
Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God.
Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need.
In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours - in all these things manifest a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a marvel to yourself and to others.
Let circumstances bring you where they will, keep drawing on the grace of God in every conceivable condition you may be in.
One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated without manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace.
Easter Reflections - STUDY
A Never-ending Story
God’s amazing grace began in eternity past and will continue into eternity future, and for a few brief seasons, His grace is poured out over the entire human race.
Six thousand years of amazing grace..
and His grace continually draws you and me: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus – that the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church, to the principalities and powers in heavenly places.
A Never-ending Gift
The death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus demonstrates God’s amazing grace.
It demonstrates God’s gift of SAVING, SANCTIFYING and GLORIFYING Grace.
It shows what He has done, (by paying the price for sin and breaking the power of sin and death) And so, I want to I want share one more example of this Amazing Grace..
a demonstration of God’s amazing grace, working through one of His children..
A Never-ending Testimony
She writes, “Amazing Grace: This hymn is one of my favourites because it speaks of Father God’s amazing grace.
I wanted to share with you what the truths written in this hymn means to me and how it reflects the Amazing Grace that has never failed to abound in my life.
How wonderful is Father God’s Grace.
It is music to my ears, there is no greater or sweeter sound than the assurance of Father God’s grace and the evidence of His grace in my life and the lives of others:-
Amazing Grace … how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
How precious is His Saving Grace, He saved me, I am born again.
Yet Father God’s grace was sufficient for me, it covered all my past, my sins, my hurts – and assured me of a sure, and certain hope for my future.
And I now see the hand of Father God in my life, from creation, through Jesus’ coming and resurrection to His saving grace.
when we don’t trust Father God in our lives and situations and when we don’t allow His grace to abound in our lives .
In allowing fear to ‘seize your troubled mind’ we allow it to seize our hearts, our faith, our lives, The wonderful part of Amazing Grace is the promise that Father God’s grace can relieve your fears, if you cast your cares upon Him – and if leave your worries and fears at the foot of the cross.
and yet I’m still learning to rely on His Amazing Grace to abound in my life and my trials.
Through many dangers toils and snares I have already come! ‘Tis Grace that brought me here thus far And Grace will lead me on
Battle-Scarred and Weary
I was born with my ‘dukes up’ fighting for my life and with Father God’s grace I won that battle – the first of many to come.
It’s only by maturing in my faith and by looking back on my life, and seeing Father God’s hand on my life and the evidence of His grace abounding in me and my life, that I come to a place of peace, pain-free and in the perfect state of grace.
For only by His Grace can I write these words.
Only by His Grace am I here to tell this story.
Only by His Grace have I come ‘thus far’ and I can only carry on by His Grace – only by His Amazing Grace
Crucified For Me
I believe that when our Lord Jesus Christ walked amongst us knowing full well what His fate would be that He also had to draw on his Father’s Grace, when for instance He was tempted by Satan in the dessert..
The clearest evidence I see of Father God’s Grace abounding in Jesus’ life is in the run-up to His death on the cross, in particular when He said ‘Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do’! Not only was He willing to die that horrible death on the cross for their sins and ours, but by His Father’s Grace, He was also able to forgive them, then and there – as He was crucified.
Forgiven and Free
No greater love,No greater forgivenessNo greater grace.
The truth of Father God’s Amazing Grace!
Amazing Grace – Amazing Love
… a story that continues to be lived out through His AMAZING GRACE…I encourage you to take time today… to read it through and to marvel at
It takes Almighty grace to get the next step when there is no vision and no spectator - the next step in devotion, the next step in your study, in your reading, in your kitchen; the next step in your duty, when there is no vision from God, no enthusiasm and no spectator.
It takes far more of the grace of God, far more conscious drawing upon God to take that step, than it does to preach the Gospel.
His very actions and attitude were filled with grace and truth. He would not destroy a bruised reed nor snuff out a flickering candle, and He humbled Himself before God and man as an example for us to follow.
It is firmly grounded in a secure confidence in God’s grace to supply all our needs.
Trusting Humility
A godly life rests in God’s sovereign grace and eternal power to perform all He says. It is rooted in obedience to God’s will and is founded on a spirit of trusting humility.
And we have the omniscient, omnipotent, eternal God indwelling our bodies… What amazing grace that God should live in me and that He should dwell in you.
He shivered with cold, having insufficient clothing to keep him warm – and yet He discovered that in all things God’s grace is made perfect in his weakness.
God desires to take up full residence in all those that believe in His name – the name of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and truth.
Faith and Faithfulness
Remember, it all depends on faith and faithfulness. Do not fall short of the grace of God by refusing to listen to Him. Take heed of Israel’s shortcomings and loss – and be warned. Remember – He will change your heart if you just change your mind. But you must first be prepared to change your mind, and if you are… just let Him know.
Luke 19:14. And throughout the gospel, there are little glimpses where Jesus was seen preparing and training His disciples for the dispensation of Grace – the Church-Age.
These six things were dealt with, so that we need no longer be in bondage through fear and that we may come boldly to the throne of grace. - Have we given a hearty assent to these things which the Lord Jesus did for us?
It is necessary that the truth conferred by grace should be known as a possession and the virtue of it apprehended, before there can be any walk in keeping with it.
Never water down the word of God, preach it in its undiluted sternness; there must be unflinching loyalty to the word of God; but when you come to personal dealing with your fellow men, remember who you are - not a special being made up in heaven, but a sinner saved by grace.
To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.Ephesians.1:6
I know this is quite likely to meet with words like, I just don’t understand … but appropriating our birthright and position in Christ is really very simple. It’s a move from a murmuring mentality for what you want – to grateful thanks for all the riches of God’s grace – you already have, in Christ. Murmuring and complaints are always linked with loss of fellowship and unbelief. Thanksgiving and confession is always linked with fellowship and trust in God.
It has not dawned upon them that at the heart of these very circumstances they are to find the Lord Jesus, find His grace sufficient, find the life more abundant. -L.E.M.
Accepted Time
How important in these closing days of the dispensation of grace, that we earnestly desire to become peacemaking, children of God. Now is the time we should be applying this grace to our lives with all diligence. Now is the time we should be peacemakers in a world of beauty marred by strife. Now is the accepted time – for tomorrow could be too late.
Purpose of Suffering
The process of sorrow and pain and disappointments and grievings, effects the sanctifying, sweetening, ennobling grace upon grace upon grace.
Grace that transforms us body, soul, and spirit into His likeness: That you may be wholly sanctified. 1Thes.5:23. The purposes of Christian suffering are manifold. The process of Christian suffering is the refining of the soul. The product of Christian suffering is a likeness to Jesus:- that Christ be formed in you - that Christ be formed in me.
to bestow on others His gentleness and grace; His compassion and mercy; His long-suffering and goodness; His love..
Purifying Process
But one by one through the purifying process of His sanctifying grace.. day by day through the grinding mill-stone of His love.. little by little the rough-edged rock is smoothed.
2 Opposing Natures
The more we feed one of these two bitterly opposing natures, the more it grows and develops – and the stronger it becomes the greater its capacity for good or for evil. The new life in Christ, we received at salvation, is the very life of Jesus Christ, that was breathed into us by God’s Spirit, so we could grow in grace and spiritually mature.
New Life in Christ
The new life in Christ should be nurtured, while the old sin nature must be subdued, and though all Christians are positionally sanctified, (set apart unto God), we must also grow in our Christian life to be practically sanctified – and it’s all by grace. Whether we are talking about our sanctified position or the sanctifying process that continues throughout life – our spiritual growth, our growing in grace, our maturing in the faith and the good works that God has prepared for us to do, are ALL by grace.
Lord of Glory
Behold the Lord of glory revealed by Man to men. Yet, His glory is shrouded, and He has no form or majesty that we should look at Him. Behold, He has no beauty that we should desire Him. His exceeding loveliness is veiled before His human brethren. His grace and glory is tempered before human gaze. No man has seen God in His pure essence at any time..
Witnesses and Watchmen
We are to stand as a witness, to bear witness of the Light. We are to proclaim the Word Who was made flesh, and dwelt among us. We are to point to Jesus the Saviour, Who was full of grace and truth.
The heavenly gate of grace is open wide to whosoever will trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God, for He is the Light of the world and grace has come thru Him.
Light of Christ
The light of Christ has been given to every single man who has entered the world. Not one member of the human race has ever been excluded from God’s gracious gift. Though now crowned with glory and great honour, Jesus tasted death for everyone. By God’s grace alone every man and woman has an opportunity to receive eternal life.
A Free-Will
God in His gracious kindness has endowed every person with volition – a free-will. All can accept God’s grace – but not all members of the human race choose to do so.
Bridge of Faith
In a world, (or in a man), that does not know the Lord Jesus Christ – He cannot reign as king, nor can He impart righteousness to those who do not believe in His name. Condemnation is removed from ALL those that trust in the Lord Jesus Christ – BUT ALL who reject God’s free gift of grace are already condemned – because of unbelief. There is a great divide between the two which can only be bridged by faith.
Chasm of Unbelief
Eternal life is one of many gifts that’s bestowed on all who believe in God’s Son, BUT ALL who reject the gift of grace are eternally separated from God – due to unbelief. There is a huge chasm between the two – which can only be crossed by faith.
No-one is condemned because of their sin, because Christ died for the sins of ALL. Those who don’t trust in Christ’s work on the cross have chosen to exclude themselves from the free gift of grace, that has been offered to them by their Creator God.
Eternal Life
This is eternal life that they might know Thee – the only true God and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent. It is that simple, and yet how many reject God’s grace. The shocking reason that men turn their back on God’s free and gracious gift of salvation is wrapped up in the notion that man can produce his own righteousness.
Christ’s righteousness comes from GRACE and is the ministration of LIFE.
Eternal life is the gift of God to all who believe – and grace upon grace is our portion.
Although Christ died for the sin of the whole world, not every member of the human race partakes of the amazing grace of God... simply because they do not believe in Him.
Grace and Truth
Grace and truth came to the world, for Christ died for the sin of the whole world, so that every man has been forgiven of their sins.
Clear Gospel
The Lord has made the gospel of grace effortless, very easy, and very accessible.
God made His gospel simple and clear – believe on the Lord Jesus OR remain condemned. The redemption message is clear – salvation is of grace… through Christ Jesus..
Grace of God
Let us carefully consider the immensity of the grace of God towards all who believe. Let us never take for granted the enormity of the life we have received – by grace.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
John and Romans
The two books of the Bible considered as the clearest and best explanation on how to be saved, are to be found in the gospel of John – and in Paul’s epistle the Romans. Both men, in their own unique writing style and language, explain that God’s gift of saving grace for all men, is simply by believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. John says that grace came through Christ and whoever believes on Him will be saved. Paul reminds us that salvation comes through faith alone – that it might be of grace. But one issue confuses and confounds many people – the issue of repentance.
By Believing
John wrote his gospel so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God – and that by believing we might have life, but he NEVER uses the word ‘repentance’. Paul in his letter to the Romans gives step-by-step instructions on how we are justified, sanctified and glorified by grace, through faith – but only uses the word ‘repentance’ a couple of times..
Integral Not Additional
If John and Paul clearly teach that salvation is the gift of God’s grace alone, by faith in Christ how can we reconcile the issue of repentance.
Grace Thru Faith
John and Paul taught that salvation is by God’s grace alone – through faith alone.
a change of attitude – a change of heart. An integral part of scriptural repentance must include believing on the Lord Jesus… salvation – a gift of God – by grace alone – through faith alone.
Work of Christ
If we don’t repent or change our mind – we remain dead in our trespasses and sins. When we do repent or change our mind about God’s free gift of grace, that is offered to all sinners who are dead in trespasses and sins we are born again.. and the Holy Spirit places us in Christ as part of God’s family – FOREVER. Let us never add to the amazing work of Christ on the cross when by His blood alone He paid the price for your sins and mine. But rather let us simply accept God’s free gift of grace – by faith alone.
Humility of Heart
In Hebrews the words ‘chastening’ and ‘child-training’ have deep roots.. ‘Chastening’ and ‘child-training’ have roots – deep in HUMILITY. Humility of heart is the Grace that graces all graces when chastening is concerned.
Humility is born from the Supreme Good – LOVE. Humility is the Garment of Grace. Humility is the Adornment of the Heart. Humility requires us to submit to the Spirit to search out our Secret Sins.
Humility knows it is dependent upon grace for all knowing and believing.
Non-Meritus
Salvation is the gifts of God’s grace to man and is accessed by believing His Word.
Faith has no room for human worthiness – but is based on Christ’s righteousness. It is not faith that merits salvation – but faith that gains access to God’s gift of grace.
By His grace and mercy, our will becomes the Father's will when we choose the Saviour.
On the human side, man is conscious of doing only what he actually does: he chooses as an act of his own volition to receive the grace God offers in Christ Jesus.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ.Galatians 3:26
These people believed the gospel of grace for their salvation and then returned to the old way of legalism.
Now this truth from God is a simple fact of our Christian life, but sadly many Christian revert to the old ways of the law – saved by grace through faith but living under law.
Justified by grace through faith but trying to be sanctified under the law.
Never forget the privileges of son-ship only come the “grace-faith-promise” way and cannot be acquired the “law-works-merit” way.
May we continue to build and be built, until we all come to unity in the faith. May we be fitly framed together – speaking the truth in love as we grow in grace. May we walk in humility and gentleness, patience and love.
Together we help the other parts grow, and edify the saints of God ,that are His – so that the whole body is healthy, maturing in grace and growing in His love.
Inflated egos that exchanged Christ garments of humility and grace – with hypocrisy.
Unity of the Spirit
We have the indwelling Spirit of wisdom and grace – the Spirit of power and love.
We have the fruitful Spirit of goodness and grace – of truth, of power, and of UNITY.
It is thus that we learn that the Spirit who has renewed our spirit must also sustain our new life; that we depend entirely on divine grace and strength, not merely to bring us to the Lord Jesus, but to keep us abiding in Him where He is.” -A.M.
Of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. (John 1:16)
We only come there by the way of discipline - discipline which takes the form of bringing us to an utter dependence, but which is not yet an emptying and a breaking down as an end in itself, but one which is accompanied by that grace of God - that graciousness of God - which, when we are empty, makes His fullness to abound.
The Church
God wanted to show forth His glory and grace to the world – through His chosen people, but Israel failed and was set aside for a time – for God must continue all He planned, and the Church has now been raised up to demonstrate the grace and glory of God.
Israel Restored
Israel was called and chosen and sadly they failed – but in His love and grace, Israel will be restored to her earthly calling as God’s people.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
in this world we will have tribulations but be of good cheer, He says, I have overcome the world.John 16:33
Salvation by grace through faith is certainly the most wonderful news that any sinner can be told but the Christian life is not an easy path to tread and all too frequently suffering and pain comes in its wake.
When suffering is a consequence of our own sin – we should go immediately, boldly and yet humbly to the throne of grace and confess our faults, knowing that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, to cleanse us of our unrighteousness and to return us into fellowship with Himself.
Reflecting Christ
And the more we gaze on His beauty and grace, the more our lives reflect Him.
The more we rest in His love, the more we discover His grace is sufficient.
Everything we need to live a Christocentric life is found exclusively in Christ, and we have been given the heavenly riches of God’s grace for we are in Christ.
When we abide in Christ, we have simply appropriated the riches of God’s grace – and the end result is a simple, beautiful, purposeful life that keeps Jesus central.
Both have been given the heavenly riches of God’s grace, for BOTH are in Christ.
It is the Father Who anointed us with grace upon grace and blessings upon blessing.
God’s Justice
God in His justice purposed that sin must be punished and the wages of sin is death. But God in His grace so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, to die... so that Christ would identify with man and become the propitiation for our sins – so that all Who believed on His name would not perish but have everlasting life.
God’s Grace
And so God, in Himself, knew before time.. the choice every man would make.
God in His grace chose us and in His grace sought us and in His grace He saved us. And God in His grace placed us IN CHRIST, that we should be holy for He is holy,
One With Christ
God in His grace has united us together as one – with Christ Jesus.
He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin. 1Corinthians 1:30 God in His grace chose us to be in union with Christ and in fellowship with Himself – not because of our own merit but by His amazing and eternal grace, and God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him – in love.
Eternal Redeemer
What grace that God should send His only begotten Son to become our Redeemer. What grace that the eternal Son of God should set aside His deity to be born as man and clothe Himself in human flesh..
High Priest
And there is even MORE- Jesus had to be like His brothers in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God, to make propitiation for the sins of His people. What grace that God should send His only begotten Son to be our kinsman-redeemer. What grace that the eternal Son of God should set aside His deity to be born as man and clothe Himself in human flesh – so that we could be redeemed by His blood.
Gift of Grace
We don’t deserve His forgiveness or salvation, but it is His gift of grace to us..
The legalism of the Jews was placed alongside Paul’s pure gospel of God’s grace and as a result, many were being sucked back into slavery under legalistic demands.
Microscope of Grace
Let us allow the truth of God to deal with our whole spirit, soul, as day by day we replace ourselves under His microscopic gaze of grace.
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Product of Saving Faith
Living by faith is a foundational fact of the Christian dispensation, and that means that we just believe what God has said in His Word..
and we can rebel or we can submit. We can remain a babe in Christ – OR we can mature in the faith. We can get stuck feeding on the milk of the word – OR we can start to eat strong meat. We can grieve and quench the Spirit’s work in our lives – OR we can grow in grace. All these are vital principles of the Christian life – and all these truths are foundational gospel facts and Jesus is coming back very soon – are you ready?
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, for by it the elders obtained a good report.Hebrews 11:1-2
And you are complete in Him, and of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the grace of the Father – for it pleased Him that in Christ, all fullness should dwell. “Consider” the place of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the esteem of the Father.
“My Father and your Father – My God and your God.” And of such fullness, we are made partakers, by the infinite grace of God..
Forgiven by the Lord
The gentle handmaiden of the Lord is in equal need of His grace and forgiveness, but once forgiveness is bestowed, ALL condemnation is eternally removed, forever: for there is therefore now NO condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.
How do we KNOW that she was humble of heart? Well, God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
Biblical Truths
Christ died FOR us – He died as our substitute – He paid the full price for all our sins. We died WITH Christ – we are identified with Him – He broke the power of sin in us. Substitutionary truths are linked with our birth from above – we are saved by grace. Identification truths are linked with growth in the Christian life – we grow by grace.
Gift of God
When Christ died as our substitute – it was by grace.
All we had to do was believe. Our identification with Christ is also by grace – and all we have to do is believe it. God has so designed salvation that it had nothing to do with our merit or works.
We are saved by grace, which is the gift of God – and all we do is believe. Our Christian life is also designed such that our works can contribute nothing.
We are to live by grace, as a gift of God – and we simply believe it to be true.
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! May it never be! How shall we who died TO sin still live in sin?Romans 6:1-2
Liberty of the Cross
Paul wants the believer to discover the liberation that he found in the cross of Christ. He longs that Christians truly understand the glory and wonder of God’s grace. Paul was thrilled to explain that all aspects of sin and death are dealt with by the cross. The cross of Christ dealt with both the sins we commit and the sin nature inherited from Adam.
Gates of Grace
The first 7 verses of Romans chapter 6 spell out the significance of being crucified unto sin. This short passage gives a bird's-eye view of a believer’s identification with Christ.
This precious portion of Scripture unfolds the advantages of grace – in logical steps.
And in a series of rhetorical questions, Paul gently guides us through the gates of grace.
Grace Abounds
Paul builds up his case by showing that the Law’s perfection caused sins to increase. Men’s inability to keep the Law demonstrated the amazing grace of our justification, showing that where sin increased, the grace of God abounded all the more.
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound all the more?
Gift of Salvation
Having demonstrated God’s amazing gift of salvation by grace through trusting Christ, Paul paraphrases a question he knows must be lingering in the minds of his listeners, “Shall we keep on sinning so that God’s grace may abound more and more?” Imagine that! Shall we revel in sin so that the grace of God can increase even more!
shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? May it never be! How shall we who died TO sin still live in sin?
there are in abundance with all of us, His rich grace abounds over all, and actually takes occasion from our very mistakes to shine out all the more brightly - though, assuredly, the mistakes must produce their own painful and humiliating consequences.
Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God.
We do not need the grace of God to stand crises, human nature and pride are sufficient, we can face the strain magnificently; but it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours in every day as a saint, to go through drudgery as a disciple, to live an ordinary, unobserved, ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus.
Eternal Root
MERCY and TRUTH meet and are linked together in His eternal embrace. RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE are joined in God’s profound love and grace.
PEACE would rejoice in forgiveness and grace.
Redemptive Grace
The Redemptive Love of God in the Person of His Son has eternally united Judgment and Love – has bound together Mercy and Truth, forever – has enabled Righteousness and Peace to embrace in gracious union.
Law and grace is inevitably distorted, without dispensational understanding.
Character of God
Doctrinal breaches explode into estrangements in the body of Christ. Legalistic thinking is adopted, which causes a gross distortion of the grace of God, but worst of all God’s character is distorted and twisted perceptions of Him abound – even the word 'dispensation' has itself fragmented into various conflicting meanings.
It gives great insight into the panoramic unfolding of God’s grace towards humanity.
The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in motive because he has been made good by the super-natural grace of God.
called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me (Gal. 1:15, 16).
“Christians in the main groan and strive and struggle largely on the basis of human effort where the grace of God, though acknowledged, is scarcely operative-only to come to grief.
Be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Tim. 2:7, ASV).
And we are in union with Christ – for we are saved by grace through faith in Him. We have entered a glorious state and are seated in heavenly places – in Christ, and the present work of the Spirit in us, is to conform us into the likeness of Christ.
Paul’s Teachings
Paul outlined in great detail these glorious positional truths to encourage our hearts. His desire was that we are united in love and understand the riches of God’s grace. He longed that we have complete assurance of the mystery of God – namely Christ: in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3 Paul’s epistles certainly are overflowing with much to rejoice our heart, but he also gives us some severe warnings, which encourage spiritual alertness.
Enemy’s Tactics
Our position is safe and secure – it is eternal and affords the riches of God’s grace, but we should not be complacent about the many dangers that stalk our path. We need to be aware of the many ways that the enemy desires to destabilise our faith. We should be aware that the enemy’s ploys to undermine the truth of our acceptance.
Spiritual Maturity
We are exhorted on many occasions to be maturely established in the faith. We are encouraged to press on to the high calling of Christ. We are entreated to gain spiritual perception and godly discernment. We are enjoined to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus.
His word is explicit as to how to spiritually mature and grow in grace.
Fruit of Christ
The natural life with its many preponderances must be laid underneath His grace. The self-life must die, so that our soul may be purged and sweetened in His... until its temperament, disposition and constitution is transformed into His likeness..
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God’s Principle
Bring up a child in the way he should go…is God’s principle for His own children.
He knows the way we should go and has set this eternal principle in our heart. He knows that only as His children submit to His leading will they be truly content, for He knows that only as our ‘Jehovah Jirah‘, will our needs be satiated – only as He is our soul Supplier – our sole Provider will we grow in grace.
It is only as we discover our need of His work – and will in us, will we grow. It is only then that we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, for without Christ we can do nothing John.15:5, but I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength.
Early Life
In the first flush of the Christian journey, the saved saint rejoices in God his Saviour, and God’s grace is experienced as prayers are answered – love starts to bud. And the believer’s early path becomes a way of joyful expectation and euphoric bliss..
others are told of the gospel of grace and others find rest in the same God of our salvation.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.John 5:24
Scriptural Harmony
The harmony in Scripture on the issue of eternal security is truly beautiful to behold, but when salvation passages for the unbeliever are confused with those on growing in grace and spiritual maturity, confusion is inevitable.
Prejudices on this issue can be summed with words like legalism, a distortion of the gospel of grace, carnality, and ignorance of dispensationalism.
Second Man
Just as sin entered the world through the disobedience of one man, and death came through sin, causing condemnation and separation from God to be the inherited status of all people – so also redemption came to the world through the obedience of one Man, resulting in the forgiveness of sins for all humanity – and light and life and hope and peace and renewed fellowship with the Father – to ALL who would believe on His name. It was divine grace that provided a second Adam to redeem the fallen race of man.
God sets me in nearness to Himself in the Lord Jesus; and as I learn my nearness to Him, I am prepared for the exposure of my natural distance from Him, and I am, through grace, morally apart and sheltered from it (Rom. 8:9), at the very moment when I see it.
forever separated – separated from the love and grace of God. They became powerless Satan-enslaved, conscience-smitten..
through the manifold wisdom of God. Creation alone would never have brought out the nature and character of God. There was infinitely more than the power and the wisdom reflected in creation. There was LOVE, MERCY, PATIENCE, TENDERNESS and GENTLENESS. There was HOLINESS, GOODNESS, GRACE and LONG-SUFFERING.
Identified With Christ
God’s gracious heart of love gave His only begotten and dearly beloved Son for us. God’s bountiful gift of grace provides a way for us to be clothed in His righteousness.
Perfect Pardon
God’s holy character and generous grace have secured for us His perfect pardon.
If we have committed ourselves to God thoroughly and really meant with the Lord that we want His full will and we do not want our own, and by His grace we will go the way as He leads and shows, whatever it costs, if we have done that and then situations have arisen which look terribly complicated and seem to contradict the faithfulness of God, what am I to conclude?
Growing In Grace - STUDY
But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.job 23:10
Divine Purpose
Paul had to come to realise that behind intense suffering, was as a divine purpose and Paul led the way for us all to understand that, My grace is sufficient.
In His grace, God knew that suffering would develop and mature Paul’s faith, which is more precious than gold in God’s sight.
God desires each of us to mature in the faith for our sufferings and trials are but for a moment – and He gives us His all-sufficient grace for all our needs.
Faith is tested in the smelting fires of trials, as the temperature of the fires are heated seven times hotter, and yet it is God Who gives us the grace to stand fast in the day of trouble.
As grace is poured out upon grace, so faith increases as a believer grows in grace and matures in the faith.
For it is God Who provides the sufficient grace to meet the accumulated pressure of life – and when we have been tried and tested, we will come forth as pure gold if we do not give up.
And the epistles of Paul, Peter and John guide us through the labyrinth of life, reminding us that in all things we are more than conquerors through Christ, Who loves us and gives us His sufficient grace for every challenge we may meet.
Church-Age Truth
The mysteries of the Church as the body and bride of Jesus Christ came from Paul. The necessity of grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone were all from Paul’s pen. The task of unveiling many church-age mysteries were also entrusted to this apostle.
Scripture Truths
In Galatians 5:6 we read that: in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.. while in Romans 5:16 we read: therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace.
Faith the essential key – the key to unlock our hearts to His grace.
We are saved by grace..
God’s wonderful grace – but it is through faith.
Yes, faith is the key to unlock our hearts to growing in grace.
God’s Grace
Faith does not shrink back through a furtive imagination or unfounded worry.
believing is the key to unlock our hearts to His love and His grace.
Men and Women of Faith
Those that chose to trust Him and believe His word became men and women of faith and they, like Job, found His grace to be sufficient and His character to be true.
Job 1:15 – until like Paul we can say…His grace is sufficient for me.
Grace and Truth
How we love to see the best in others – to overlook their flaws and weaknesses. How we want to excuse their little foibles and disregard their faults and failings.
Keys of Death
It is because He can say with authority and grace:- I am He that lives and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore and I have the keys of death and hell.
Free Gift of Grace
God’s wrath and condemnation for the sin of the world was poured out on Christ. All that man has to do to receive this free gift of grace is to believe on Jesus Christ – simply believing puts us in union with Christ and places us into the family of God.
Access to God
From the moment of our rebirth, we have direct access to the Father’s throne of grace.
the cross dealt with forgiveness of sin – but confession restores communion. When we discover we are out of fellowship with God we need to confess our sins. When we realise we’ve sinned we need to go straight to the throne of grace and confess – and when we do we are restored into loving fellowship with our heavenly Father.
The grace, faithfulness and justice of God forgave all your sin at the cross.
The grace, faithfulness and justice of God cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
Let us fly to the throne of grace the moment we find we have sinned against God – and find grace to restore and help us in time of need.
The Offer of Peace
Only a few short hours before, grace and truth flowed from His lips.
He had uttered some of the most astonishing words from the cross; His Precious Pardon, Forgive to His malicious persecutors; His Promise of Paradise – Today, to His penitent co-convict; His Amazing Love – Provision, to the woman who bore Him; His Anguished Outcry – MY GOD, as He was made sin for humanity; His Final Offer of Grace - I Thirst..
In His eternity, He planned that man would share eternal life on the basis of His grace.
Free Gift of Grace
God alone knows the end from the beginning for He alone is omniscient. Omniscience is beyond our understanding but omniscience is an attribute of God.
God foreknows the free-will choices that every man will ever make, and God will never coerce or override man’s volition regarding his choices. Salvation is a free gift of God’s grace to whosoever will trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Until we can accept how terrible sin is and its shocking and deadly consequences we can’t begin to appreciate or comprehend God’s amazing redemptive grace.
Grace of God
When we see sin as it truly is we begin to understand what God’s grace is., for now, in union with the Christ Jesus, we who once were far away have been brought near, by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Every unbeliever has a choice – to accept or reject God’s free gift of deliverance, and all who reject salvation by grace through faith in Christ, are condemned.
Every believer made the right choice – to accept God’s free gift of deliverance, for only those that trust Christ for salvation, by grace through faith, are saved.
But by His grace, God created a perfect plan to satisfy His righteous justice.
Too few realize that their death on the Cross separated them from the entire principle of law, and that their resurrection united them to the Lord Jesus, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
The law was applied to the natural man, that he might produce; grace is given to the spiritual man, that He might produce.Almost every believer makes the same mistake as the Galatian Christians.
If we are born into the Lord Jesus by sheer grace, surely He can manifest Himself in us on the same principle.
The idea many have of grace is that their conversion and pardon are God's work, but that now, in gratitude to Him, it is their work to live as Christians.
For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace (Heb. 13:9).
Thorough and intelligent establishment in the principle of grace concerning one's justification (re-birth) is the necessary footing for reliance upon the same principle for one's sanctification (growth).
And thus alone will we really honor the grace of God. -W.R.N.
The elder brother in Luke 15 did not object to his brother being forgiven, but it was unwelcome to him to see the wonderful excess of grace bestowed on him by the Father.
No; for this there is indeed needed very special grace.
And the way in which the grace comes is again that of sacrifice and surrender.
When He has accepted them, and set His stamp upon them, we receive them back, to hold them as His property, to wait on Him for the grace to daily use them aright, and to have them act only under His influence. -A.M.
We are not meant to be illuminated versions, but the common stuff of ordinary life exhibiting the marvel of the grace of God.
The tiniest detail in which I obey has all the omnipotent power of the grace of God behind it.
If I do my duty, not for duty's sake, but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience the whole superb grace of God is mine through the Atonement.
Natural Man
Natural man is incapable of any spiritual intercourse with the Spirit of God. This is a law that God dictated and God has His one way – His only Way; His only Truth; His only Life. Divine life imparted to a born-again soul is essential for communion with God. Divine life, (the free unmerited gift of grace from God) is the only uniting bridge.
if that unbridgeable gap is to be crossed – if the immeasurable gulf is to be spanned. But this first step to God is often halted a few steps down the path on the new-creation, and the spiritual newborn is halted in his spiritual life and spiritual growth. For just as the first requirement for the free unmerited gift of grace was by faith.. so too the ongoing wilderness walk through the plains and pains of this earthly life.
Grace of God
Pouring into the hearts of those that love Him - His own sweet spirit of gentleness and grace.
Image of God
This Lord Jesus Christ is the very image of the invisible, indivisible God. This Lord Jesus Christ is the effulgence of God’s glory and grace and love. This same Lord Jesus Christ searched me out to bestow on me the unimaginable. He lifted me up out of the miry clay and seated me with Himself in the heavenlies.
Our Lord trusted no man; yet He was never suspicious, never bitter, never in despair about any man, because He put God first in trust; He trusted absolutely in what God's grace could do for any man.
Never trust anything but the grace of God in yourself or in anyone else.
Gracious Benefaction
But God’s benefaction and His gracious provision to us covers more – so much more, for we are called by Him to be His children and to grow in grace –in Him. We are then commanded to be His soldiers and to enter into spiritual war. I may be in the early flush of youth or I may be advancing in years… I may be invalided on a couch of sickness or I may be in the heyday of health… I may be imprisoned in a lonely cell or free to roam the wide continents – but He has a plan for each of us, and He plants or transplants us as He sees fit. And He calls each of us to be faithful – in the place where He has planted us.
It needs patient endurance, even when I feel I am a failure or unimportant and it needs an understanding that the gracious gifts of our heavenly Benefactor are not of this world – and though He will certainly supply all our needs here and now, according to the riches of His grace – God is working with eternity in view. God’s supply is for both time and eternity.
Sufficient Forgiveness
Do you sometimes revisit those sins committed in the flush of youth? Do you bow your head in shame thinking that your sins were too grave to be forgiven? Do you strive; in your own way, to prove yourself to now be good enough? You foolish man – you silly woman, accept His forgiveness and be comforted. You pride yourself, that the depth of your faults exceeds the height of His Grace. Your sins, like grains of sand, are washed in the vast ocean of His loving absolution.
Sufficient Grace
What of that noblest of all suffering?
What if men revile and persecute you? What if others speak evil of you falsely, for His sake? You have a reward in time and in eternity. You will reign with Him in His kingdom in time (ruling with a rod of iron) but you will also be with Him for eternity (as an example in the ages to come of His astonishing grace.) Whatever the cause of your earthly sorrow – healing and peace comes from Him.
Spirit of purity and grace,Our weakness, pitying, see:O make our hearts Thy dwelling placeAnd worthier Thee.
It has often been said that inside the heart of every man is a God-shaped hole – a void that He in His grace secured within – a vacuum that He alone can fill..
O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,Whose robe is the light, Whose canopy space,His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.
Study - GOD, All I Need
Multifaceted Grace
Faith is a multifaceted gift of grace – and each is given a measure of faith. God is both the Founder of my faith and the Finisher of my faith.
Virtuous Grace
Faith is simply trusting in God, by means of the faith that He has bestowed on me.
Pleasing Grace
In this world, physical senses hold so much sway – yet we must live by faith, not by sight. Emotions can drastically influence our being – yet we must live by faith, not sight. All the norms of human trust are diametrically opposite to this life of faith. Sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, signs – all contribute to the way we believe things to be – yet we are to live by faith and not by sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, signs – for without faith it is impossible to please God – and I do so want to please Him Heb.11:6
Developing Grace
But how do you exercise your faith, I hear you say.
A Maturing Grace
It is only as I am prepared to decrease and allow the Lord to increase in my life, that faith in self will be gradually replaced by faith in Christ – and the faith in which I live..
Study - GOD, All I Need
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, Who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession… for we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
He enlightens the mind to see its wants – softens the heart to feel them – quickens our desires after suitable supplies.He gives clear views of God’s power, wisdom, and grace to relieve us – and He stirs up that confidence in His truth which excludes all wavering.
A Precious Grace
How dearly must I hold fast to all such tokens of His love for me – especially during those times of difficulty, temptation, discouragement and pain.
Eternal supply
Intimacy with our Saviour and Lord, is the most precious grace He has given us, for He is the well-spring of our life, both physical and spiritual.
The youngest Prime Minister of Great Britain retired at the age of 34 – but patience, is a grace that only develops through the gruelling school of life – and it’s only perfected as I become increasingly transformed into HIS likeness.
He will answer such pleas from all who desire to perfect this grace in themselves – and He knows just what to do.
Sin in all its ugly shades of black darkness, hangs shroud-like over humanity’s head – but thanks be to God that in His grace He has given the way to bring us back to Himself – through the blood of Christ – (incarnate God and perfect Man)
Grace is indeed a free gift, but at what tremendous cost.
Come unto me, ye weary,And I will give you rest.O blessed voice of Jesus,Which comes to hearts oppressed.It tells of benediction-Of pardon, grace, and peace,Of joy that hath no ending,Of love that cannot cease.
Yet in his wisdom, Paul admonishes us that:- bodily “exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things.” And in the leading of the Spirit, he again reminds us – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.”
Run the straight race through God’s good grace,Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;Life with its way before us lies,Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize.
The dictionary definition of ’tranquillity’ is quietness, peace, rest, ease and security – and how deeply the hurting heart desires this grace that God alone can provide.
Still Small Voice
Tranquility is a sister of Peace, and Tranquility kisses the grace of Gentleness. It comes not in the strong wind or the earthquake – nor in the volcano or fire, but quietly and peacefully in a still, small serene voice of calm. And that great, strong, manly prophet of God, Elijah, hid his face in his mantle – and I am sure that it became wet with his tears of awe and wonder. Let us discover this same sweet lesson that so many have learned before… Let us seek to be outfitted in the translucent garment of tranquillity.
you will lose your life (you will lose you soul) Luke.17:33 Should a believer choose the broad way he would be eternally saved, for eternal salvation is the free gift of grace to all who trust in Jesus as Saviour… eternally saved but choosing to live your own self-life and not His Christ-life.
Eternal One
Mercy and Truth meet and are linked together in His eternal embrace. Righteousness and Peace are joined in God’s profound Love and Grace. Mercy is disposed to Clemency and Pardon. Truth is linked with Justice and Punishment.
Peace would rejoice in Forgiveness and Grace – all have their roots in the Love, Tenderness, and Intimacy of the Eternal One.
ow apply the truth in your heart, and the truth will set you free. Rid your long-developed, mistaken perception of a split-personality God. The Old being one of aggressive justice and fierce, ferocious judgment – the New being one of gentle grace that hardly knows how to say ‘boo’ to a goose. You misrepresent your God. You speak falsely of your Lord and Saviour. You do not understand the yearning father-heart of your Father in Heaven.
This hope in the coming of Christ cleanses the soul of the sinner saved by grace.
Godly Instructions
And in Romans 12, Paul tells us how to live:- we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another – having then gifts, differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: If prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering.
to the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the BelovedEphesians 1:6
His Very Own
His very own, His very own,Wonderful grace in His Word is made known,Chosen by the Father,Purchased by the Son,Sealed by the Spirit, I’m His very own.
Story of Grace
Oh!
the riches of His grace - the wonders of His grace - the glories of His grace. We are recipients of the wonderful story of grace conceived in the heart of the Father. We were foreknown to the Father before the world was created and man was made.
Adoption as Sons
Through His love He predestined us to adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ.. and He did this according to His kind intention and gracious will – and He did this to the ultimate praise of the glory of His grace. Oh!
the riches of His grace - the wonders of His grace - the glories of His grace.
Work of Christ
God’s grace is founded on the work of Christ, the Son of God Who is God the Son, for His plan has provided redemption and purchased us from the penalty of sin.
All this is to the praise of His gracious glory and His glorious grace.
So that in ages to come we might manifest the riches, wonder, and glory of His grace.
the riches of His grace - the wonders of His grace - the glories of His grace.
Grace Upon Grace
Our sins are forgiven and we’re made alive – quickened into new and abundant life, and the supernatural grace of sanctifying grace cascades into God’s glorifying grace.
The surpassing riches of His bountiful grace are free, forever and in union with Him.
At the core of our faith beats God’s heart of grace that showers grace upon more grace.
His Creative Hand
We are the workmanship of His creative hand, and His grace is our great enabler.
We are the creative and skilful product of His sweet and loving intention towards us and His grace enlightens our mind, strengthens the will, and rejoices our inner being.
Our triumphant testimony is to resound with praises to the glory of His grace.
We are recipients of the greatest love story of the universe – and it is all by grace.
Oh, the riches of His grace: the wonder of His grace: the glory of God’s grace.
Depth of His Grace
Oh, that we and all believers might grasp, understand the depth of His grace. Oh, that we and all who are His body and bride might live to His glory and praise..
Thankful Praise
We are the recipients of the wonderful story of grace conceived in the Father’s heart.
the riches of His grace - the wonders of His grace - the glories of His grace,
In union with Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sin, according to the riches of God’s grace.Ephesians 1:7
But we can have redemption thru His blood according to the riches of God’s grace.
Cost of Redemption
Sometimes we overlook the enormous significance of salvation and its cost to God. But redemption and the forgiveness of sins are according to the riches of His grace.
Full Salvation
But because of the riches of God’s grace, we have redemption in all its many facets.
Because of the riches of God’s grace, we have salvation of the spirit, soul, and body.
All the riches of redemptive grace are uniquely united with the forgiveness of sins – for a holy God can’t look at sin... but as forgiven sinners, we are united with His Son.
Vital Trigger
This is a mystery that is beyond the comprehension of our limited understanding, for forgiveness is the vital trigger from which explodes the riches of God’s grace.
Riches of God’s Grace
But why would God allow His dearly beloved Son to be treated so cruelly and suffer?
It was according to the riches of God’s grace – for we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our offences, according to the riches of God’s grace.
and yet, by God’s grace, we have been called according to His greater plan.. (and incidentally..
although in His grace He has included us in His greater purpose.
Jesus Christ is the centre of the eternal purposes of God, and in His grace, we have been called according to that incredible, infinite, eternal, glorious plan.
Yes and Amen
In the meantime, in His grace – let us rest on the precious promises of God knowing they are all ‘yes’, and ‘amen’ in Christ – knowing that all things work together for good to those that love God..
Law of Life
The idea of flesh born of flesh and spirit born of God’s Spirit was inconceivable! The old law of death was having to be set aside and replaced with the new law of life God’s perfect Law was to be superseded by His perfect grace – which came by Christ.
Biased Perceptions
His fatherhood is often debased by the experiences of an imperfect earthly father. His steadfastness is frequently disbelieved – by the betrayal of spouse or friend. His commands are repeatedly translated into the demands of an imperfect Church. His grace is often belittled; His love often spurned; His gift treated with contempt – all because..
Planned Redemption
He knew man would choose to violate the sacred position to which he was called – and yet in His grace, God still chose to make man in His own image and likeness.
Tasted Death for ALL
By God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for ALL – every member of the fallen race of man, And as part of God’s plan to bring many sons to glory – God made Jesus (Who was made perfect through what He suffered) the leader and pioneer of our salvation.
God’s Peace
Yet Peace with God is a free gift of grace that is freely available to all who will put their trust in Christ for Salvation.
Peace is found at the foot of the cross, for peace is in a Person – and that Person is Christ Jesus, our perfect Prince of Peace. The peace of God is also a gift of grace that is freely available to every believer who has learned to walk the pathway of peace – for the peace of God which passes understanding floods into the hearts of all God’s children, whose mind is stayed on Him.
Eternal Plan
At first, we were called out of darkness into His glorious light. We were called out from the bondage of sin and death into the freedom of God’s Son, and throughout this life, we are witnesses to the amazing grace of God – and throughout this life we are being trained to carry out our part in God’s eternal plan.
Kinsman-Redeemer
But holy angels were not in need of a Saviour for they had not sinned, and fallen angels were not the subject of God’s grace, for man alone was made in the image and likeness of God so that God, in the person of Christ could be made in the likeness of human flesh. Christ did not take on the nature of angels nor was He made in their image or likeness.
Great Salvation
The Salvation that is given as a free gift of grace to all Who trust in the name of God’s only begotten Son, is a great Salvation that was given to man by God; announced to the world by angelic beings; confirmed by all Who heard and received the glorious gospel of Christ and recorded for our learning – to guide us into all truth and to give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
And James reminds us that it is the righteous man that availeth much. But a servant can be under the blood, and a recipient of His mercy and grace – but can have God oppose Him and frustrate His prayers, when in wrong standing.
God’s Grace
We think more bible-reading, prayer, financial giving or good works will gain us blessings, but somehow it seems to conflict with all that we understand about God’s grace.
Pursue Holiness
To try to sanctify ourselves ends up as ‘works of the flesh’ produced by our sin nature. It is by grace that we are sanctified, as we submit to the work of the Spirit within.
Rest in Christ
But how can striving towards godliness harmonise with the Spirit’s work in us? How can the diligent pursuit of sanctification be compatible with resting in Christ? How can striving towards holiness be rooted and grounded in the passivity of grace?
The earnest pursuit of holiness seems to be at odds with 'letting go and letting God'.. but unless our striving and pursuit of holiness is anchored in His grace, we will fail.
The pursuit of holiness is only achievable if secured by God’s transforming grace.
If love is not the stimulus for godly living, we will fall into the mindset of the world – for we love Him because He first loved us and saved us by His grace.
Riches of His Grace
When we begin to understand that grace is bigger than the total sum of our sins, the love of God will constrain us towards the diligent pursuit of sanctification.
When we start to realise that grace is vaster than the weight of our good works, the love of Christ will constrain us towards striving to a godly way of living.
When we comprehend that depth of the riches of His grace towards us, the love of Christ will constrain us towards the earnest pursuit of holiness... and so we will prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God..
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.John 1:17
Face of Christ
The Law was indeed given to Israel through Moses, but the unfailing love of God and His everlasting faithfulness is seen reflected in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ. The beauty of grace and truth is contrasted with the stark reality of the Mosaic Law, for the Law was given by Moses – but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Sparkling Jewels
The sparkling glory of the combined elements of grace and truth shimmer like two precious jewels – in stark contradistinction, with the dark backcloth of the Law.
The Cross
But God in His love and mercy sent grace and truth through the incarnate Word.. so that all that believe in His name would not perish – but have everlasting life. The expression of God’s grace is seen in the gift of His Son and His work on the cross, so that by believing on the person of Jesus Christ we may have life in His name.
God’s Grace
Just as sin ruled over all people and brought them death – so the marvellous grace of God now rules instead, giving us right-standing with God and resulting in eternal life – through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Law requires works, which could never reach the perfection required of God.
but grace and truth has come to us all through the lovely Lord Jesus Christ, so that by simply trusting in the name of Christ Jesus we might be given life – through His name.
Christ’s Name
All that Christ is and all that Christ has done is reflected in the beauty of His name. All that’s of grace, that’s been given to man – is on account of the merit of Jesus – for the Law was given by Moses – but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Gaping Gulf
The contrast between the pre-eminence of the Son of God with Moses, the friend of God is as gaping a gulf as the supreme excellence of grace and truth over the Law.
The immeasurable disparity between the infinite Creator with His finite creature is a measure of the inestimable supremacy of grace and truth over the perfect Law of God.
Truth + Grace
The Law of Moses, though perfect was given to man through a fallen member of a sinful race. Grace and truth, was the gift of God to condemned sinners, thru Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace without truth – would have rendered the righteousness of God as void. Truth without grace – would have rendered the salvation of man as impossible.
Love of God
What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us that He should shower on sinful man the grace and favour that we do not deserve and cannot earn- but in His perfect life the Incarnate Word of God, in His sinless body on the tree, met all the righteous requirements of the Law – to free us from condemnation so that we might have LIFE. The law indeed was given to Israel through Moses, but the unfailing love of God and His everlasting and faithfulness - is only seen in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Grace Through Faith
For by grace are ye saved.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; – i.e.by means of exercising trust.
For by grace are ye saved, and that not of yourselves. For by grace are ye saved, it is the gift of God.Ephesians 2:8
Faith in What
I guess we are saved by grace.
For by grace are ye saved through faith in Him (trusting in Christ Jesus – with no add-ons) and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.
Grace Alone
Scripture was written nearly 2000 years ago.
Almost without exception, you will discover some little “add-on” to grace.
If there is the slightest addition to grace, it fails to be by grace alone.
“Add-Ons” To Grace
Some additions to grace are easily discernible: “you must believe and……x.y.z”.
Some adjuncts are clearly related to grace + works, which is not grace but law.
Distortion of Scripture
One problem with a wrong understanding of grace is a distortion of Scripture.
The word of God is from God, and His word is truth and life. God’s method of grace as written in Scripture is perfect, but grace is frequently distorted by man’s interpretation. God’s character as outlined in Scripture is perfect, but God’s character is frequently distorted by man’s interpretation.
Understanding of Grace
Our understanding of grace will influence the way that we live our lives and our perceptions of God’s character will determine our conduct. If our understanding of grace is incorrect, so will be how we perceive God.
If our perception of God’s character is wrong, so also how we understand grace. How vital that we take time to come to the correct understanding of grace.
We need to identify any false perceptions we may have built up in our thinking if we’re to get back to true biblical teaching on grace and God’s character.
Influence in Life
Our concept of God and the idea of grace will always influence how we live.
A believer living in worldly carnality hasn’t understood God’s grace.
For by grace are ye saved it’s the gift of God:.
Maybe he fears that God has a big stick to beat him. But by grace are ye saved, it is the gift of God. Our concept of God and idea of grace will always influence how we live.
Correct Concept
How important to have a correct concept of God, and His marvellous grace. The correct concept of God is clearly defined in scripture.
The correct concept of grace is clearly outlined in God’s holy word. Exegesis and explanation can range from the excellent to the abysmal, but all have their imperfections and the result is a plethora of denominations with their own pet doctrine and exposition.
Search the Scriptures
Almost without exception you will discover some little ‘add-on” to grace, deceiving many into a life of fear; works; legalism.
grace PLUS.
The consequence is generations of Christians that have a distorted view of God, but God’s grace and His character is clearly laid out in Scripture and we need to believe what Scripture says.
We need to search the Scriptures to really find what is said about grace.
The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect (mature), establish, strengthen, settle you (1 Pet. 5:10).
But when we begin to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, we are able to face up to the awful facts concerning the old man and his condemnation at the Cross.
But He graciously leads us by a circuitous route, in order that our apprehension of His grace may keep pace with our growing self-knowledge. -C.H.M.
Showers of GraceGrace, grace and more grace is what is showered on all that believe in Jesus Christ. Grace for salvation, grace for this life, grace to mature, grace in the ages to come.
We should understand that all grace emanates from the infinite goodness of God.
We should appreciate that grace affects and influences every part of our lives.
Benefits of Grace
We should recognise that grace gives solidity, steadiness, strength, security, and safety.
We should know that it is God’s grace that imparts peace and hope and removes all fear.
We are been imparted with the fullness of God’s grace – in time and into eternity, for we have all received one gracious blessing after another: the fullness of His grace from His abundance. John 1:16
Saving Grace
Oh, it is natural and right that we glorify in the abundance of God’s saving grace.
It was grace that picked us up out of the world and by grace paid the awful debt we owe..
for by such grace you have been saved through faith, this does not come from you; it is the gift of God.
Continuing Grace
Too often we limit the grace of God to salvation from the penalty of sin – alone. We often forget that salvation was the start of our eternal journey and not the end, for grace is poured out throughout life and grace continues into the ages to come.
Freedom of Grace
We are saved from the penalty of sin, which is death – eternal separation from God. But we are also saved from the destructive and enslaving power of sin in our lives: for sin shall no longer be master over you and have dominion over you..
for ye are not under the restrictions of law, but under the freedom of grace.
Provision of Grace
God’s provision of grace is given in love and breaks the power of cancelled sin. Grace sets us free to live and move and have our being – living and working in Him.
Once we are saved into God’s family He bestows even more grace upon grace.
Sufficient GraceGrace and truth came through the Lord Jesus – as does love, joy, peace, and hope, and we have access to all the grace of Christ..
His grace is sufficient to deal with every situation and circumstance of life.
His grace is available for every eventuality that seeks to overwhelm us in life.
Accessing Grace
Paul found the key to accessing God’s grace in all the twists and turns of his life.
Paul tapped into the abundant supply of God’s sufficient grace, which is in Christ.
Paul discovered that in his labour for the Lord – his supply of grace was sufficient: It is by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace to me was not ineffective.
Instead, I worked harder than all the others—not I, of course, but God’s grace that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
Grace Alone
Paul knew that it was only by God’s grace that he’d been regenerated and made new.
It was His grace alone that called, sanctified, justified, pardoned, and adopted him.
And he knew that his office as an apostle of Christ and minister of God was all by grace.
Eternal Grace
He knew his eternal abundance of life was not due to his own merit or hard toil..
it was by the free, undeserved favour and sovereign riches of God’s grace alone. And so it is with us, for it is all of grace – the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Riches of Grace
When we labour for Him in love, God’s grace is all we need – grace working within, for it is God that works in us to will and to do to His glory – God’s in-working grace.
It is God’s grace that saves; God’s grace that sustains; God’s grace that secures... for the immeasurable, inexhaustible riches of God’s grace extend throughout eternity.
Wonderful Grace
One day we will go to be with the Lord as joint-heirs with Christ – by His grace. One day we will be conformed into Christ’s image and see Him as He is – by grace. One day we will rule and reign with Him in His kingdom – by His wonderful grace.
Examples of Grace
One day we will be examples of God’s grace to the angels and heavenly powers. One day salvation will be complete but His grace will extend into the eternal ages – today we live by faith but then we will see Him as He is – and it is all by grace.
God’s Grace
And abounding and abundant grace has been showered over the heads of the Church. Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her so that He might make her holy by cleansing her, washing her with water of the word Ephesians 5:25 – and it is all by grace – God’s grace upon grace.
Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law but under grace (Rom. 6:14).
Grace forsaken is freedom forfeited.
All harmony of truth is shattered when there is the slightest commingling of the principles of law and grace.
Grace alone now reigns through Christ to the glory of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
“By the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace, which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Cor. 15:10).
there are in abundance with all of us, the Lord's rich grace abounds over all, and actually takes occasion from our very mistakes to shine out all the more brightly - though, assuredly, the mistakes and failures must produce their own painful and humiliating results.
If we had only to learn what we are, we should surely be cast down, and sink into despondency; but His object in giving us a knowledge of ourselves and of His grace, is to give us an expected end.
The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you mature, establish, strengthen, settle you (1 Pet. 5:10).
But as for the apostle, despite such a fall, God’s grace is never irrecoverable – for His tender kindness and loving-mercies toward us are new every morning.
Lukewarm Christianity
There are a great number attend churches and chapels, where blessings of grace should abound.. yet men are not fed, they are sent empty away.
He reveals His plans to us by His grace and His love, for all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. 2Tim.3:16.
Grace of God
God in His grace has given us a little part in planting and watering the seed, but it is the Spirit of the Lord that draws all men unto Himself: so then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but it is God who gives the increase. 1Cor.3:7.
Words of Truth
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:6. And in Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Many have been misled by thinking that by reading the Bible you become like Christ - transformed; but you will find diligent students of the Word, who may never say anything incorrect in doctrine, yet who never seem to grow in grace and walk in spiritual reality.
All blessings of this dispensation of grace are wrapped up in a Person, and, by means of the Word of God, we make spiritual progress as our hearts learn to find everything in Him - the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. -C.A.C.
to understand the gospel of the kingdom, and the gospel of the grace of God – to understand the old creations in Adam and Jacob and the new creation in Christ.
Hope in Christ
It was God’s purpose to redeem us through the blood of Jesus and to forgive our sins, and He purposed this heavenly blessing in accordance with the riches of His grace.
He brought us out of darkness into the glorious light of the great gospel of Christ, for we are God’s handiwork and are created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God in His grace has prepared for us to do in advance.
Incarnate God
His love is measureless and scoops into its skirts boundless mercy and eternal grace. His immeasurable holiness acts in absolute righteousness and unquestionable justice. The fullness of God has been manifested in the self-revelation of Himself, in Christ. And in Him are hidden all the treasures of God’s eternal wisdom and knowledge.
If we are left here a little longer we shall need the grace, mercy, and forbearance of the Father in a thousand ways, but all that will be needed in the future to keep us from ourselves is small compared with the stupendous cost at which divine love forever secured us. -C.A.C.
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Pleasing Faith
Without faith it is impossible to please God, and He longs that we trust Him.
Precious Promise
Peter wrote: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness – through the knowledge of HIM that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:2-4.
In the Reformation there was, through grace, a great deliverance.
In the present day (1867) the truth is lowered to the measure of man's need; hence if the need is met, which grace does, the convert makes little or no advance; he rests in the satisfaction of his need, instead of being directed to the scope of God's thought, which only begins with his need.
Deep Grace
What a depth of love the Lord had for all His own.
Wrath of God
John knew these children were sinners, both in practice and by nature. He knew the blessings of forgiveness and grace of God were freely open to all, but he also knew the only sacrifice for sin rested on the spilt blood of the Lord Jesus. John knew He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities – for the wrath of God was poured out on Christ to pay that price for all sin.
Riches of His Grace
Time and sense as we know it with all its constrictions and pressures will be changed. The years that the locusts have eaten, will be replaced with the riches of His grace.
Grace of God
It was only His tender-mercy and loving-kindness Who conceived the cross – the cross to which we can flee to as a city of refuge and a citadel of shelter.
Patience:- that gift of grace, you so earnestly desired.
Growing in Grace
If we could but recognise that problem, betrayals and needs are His mountains – strewn in our way to develop in us those prayed for graces and desired virtues – those that Christ Himself displayed in the uphill path that He chose to take.
His Joint-Heirs
We are His People according to the riches of His grace and His glory. We are His Body.. the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. We are His Building – in whom He is doing exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Household of God
We were quickened by the grace of God. We were made one by the blood of the Son. We were given access by one Spirit.
God’s Building-Blocks
God’s building-blocks of grace and glory are erected in the amazing book of Ephesians. We move from one marvellous level of grace and glory to the next glorious peak. We are permitted to fine-tune the incredible truth of who we are in Christ. And it is all by God’s grace, through faith in Christ Jesus.
When God looks at you and me, He sees Christ’s righteousness – not our impurity – and the amazing thing is that it is all by GRACE.
And the astonishing thing is that is all and only by GRACE.
Position in Christ
We were no longer foreigners to God but were brought close to Him through Christ.. and you know what… it is by grace – by grace alone and only by God’s grace. And if ever this fails to knock us speechless, we need to look again at our position in Him.
it is ALL by God’s GRACE.
All By Grace
We became God’s child and centre of His household and His holy habitation. His children and His home; His sons and His temple; His heirs and His Bride. We have been apportioned an eternal inheritance and became one with the saints of God – and you know what….
it’s grace – all Grace – it’s all, and only God’s GRACE.
2-Way Identification
God’s grace united us with His death.. making His death full payment for our sins. Our faith identifies us with Him now.. making His sacrifice efficacious on our behalf. This is full identification with Him. This is a two-way identification… I in Him – and He in me. He identifies with me – a sinner worthy of eternal death.
God’s Answer
God in His great love for the world answered this universal longing and inner need. The incarnation of His only begotten Son was His precious answer to this inner ache. And though God in His grace sent His Son Who was the exact image of the invisible God to come and live and walk amongst us for 33 years – how few really understood.
Thus it will be a sharing of life, through which others will be born and will grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3:18).
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.2 Corinthians 13:14
Definitions of GraceGrace is often defined as God’s unmerited favour – but grace covers so much more, God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense is another truism – but it falls far short of the truth.
There are many such helpful acrostics that have sought to explain the grace of God:-
Acrostics of Grace
Genuinely Redeemed And Cleansed Eternally
Ditties of Grace
Some use little catchy ditties or rhymes to remind themselves of God’s grace: Given by God mercifully, Riches in Christ bestowed freely, Atonement sacrificially, Christ in us the hope of glory, Evermore undeservedly.
Letters of Grace
Often a sermon on salvation is beautifully woven into the initial letters of GRACE, G – Salvation is a Gift of God – a Good Gift that is Granted to allR – Salvation is Redemption – Received by faith, Reuniting us with GodA – Salvation is Accepted by God’s love, Available to All, Accessible through faithC – Salvation Comes thru Christ Crucified Who paid the Cost at the CrossE – Salvation Ends in Eternal life and is an Everlasting gift – and an Escape
Songs of Grace
Sonnets and songs have been written to rejoice in God wonderful saving grace. Talks and testimonies reminding us that it is all about God’s unmerited favour to us.
Familiar Concept
Grace is a familiar concept to believers but over time has lost some of its dynamic. The all-encompassing nature of grace eludes any genuine, all-inclusive definition.
Grace has its roots in the infinite nature of God and its fruit in His eternal attributes.
Grace is founded on the sovereignty of God and shows forth His unconditional love. Grace is God’s over-abounding provision, not only in the physical but in the spiritual. Grace not only restores what was lost in Eden but adds to it an unknown expanse.
Strombeck’s Definition
Grace was once defined by Strombeck as: “the unmerited abounding provision of the unrestrained operation of God’s infinite love through Christ Jesus on behalf of man – especially he who depends on Him.”
Common Grace
God’s common grace is extended to saved and unsaved alike – all humanity..
Special Grace
But there is a special grace for those that have accessed salvation by grace, through faith: Strombeck writes the following: Grace is God’s provision to bring into being, sustain and perfect His new creation in Christ.
As grace came by Jesus Christ – only those who receive Him as Saviour are ‘under grace’.
Riches of God’s Grace
Let us reflect on the riches of God’s grace towards us. Let us meditate on all that has been poured out on we, who are his children. Surely through time and eternity, we will be praising God for His indefinable grace.
Power from God
All things hold together by His grace and the strength of His mighty power alone:- including the foolish little actress, the misguided poet, and the atheistic philosopher.
We cannot grow in grace while feeding our ego with a false self-image – we must die to self if we are to live for God.
The perfect Law of God, bequeathed to Israel through the prophet Moses, is branded ‘a ministration of death’ – before this Light of men Who sheds grace and truth on all.
When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals I can accept, instantly the stupendous Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a right relationship with God; and by the supernatural miracle of God's grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done.
Galatians 4:19 But unlike Israel, his labour is for Christians – for fellow believers to grow in grace.
Grace Versus Law
The Galatians were labouring to cover themselves in their own righteous works, and Paul was labouring to explain the consequences of them living under the law.
Paul toiled to bring them to an understanding of the glory of grace versus works.
Paul toiled to show that sanctification as well as justification was gained by grace – but they were toiling to sanctify themselves by returning to the works of the law.
Grace not Works
But the grace is God is made of non-effect when WORKS are substituted for grace. The grace is God is made of non-effect when the LAW is substituted for grace. The grace of God is made void – for when we live under law we are not under grace.
Growing in Grace
The labouring of which Paul spoke was for Christians to develop and grow in grace.
Paul did not labour for himself. Paul laboured for the Church – for the church of God to grow in grace during this dispensation of the Church.
Paul toiled to tell the church to believe God’s word, for by grace you are saved.
Sanctified by Grace
Paul knew that we are not only justified by grace but also sanctified by grace. The Galatians had been saved by grace – but were trying to be sanctified by the Law.
Labouring Today
We too must grow in grace and the knowledge of God until Christ is formed in us, and then we too must labour for others – until Christ is formed in them.
For we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, and we are sanctified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, – and we will be glorified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone: for whom He predestined He also called, and whom He called he also justified, and whom He justified He also glorified. Romans 8:30
The fact is forgotten that He, while living under, keeping, and applying the Law of Moses, also taught the principles of His future earthly kingdom, and, at the end of His ministry and in relation to His Cross, He also anticipated the teachings of grace.
The Gospels are complex almost beyond any other portion of Scripture, since they are a composite of the teachings of the law, of grace, and of the coming kingdom. -L.S.C.
Power is in the Spirit; thus grace, not law, is the way of growth.
Sin shall not have dominion over you, because ye are not under law, but under grace.' -F.W.G.
They only establish the full, immutable authority of the law, who declare that the believer is under grace, and therefore cannot be cursed by its just and holy curse. -J.N.D.
God’s Way
Show us Thy way O Lord. Let us walk in Thy paths. Lead us into Thy truth and teach us Thy grace. All is well! God is doing wonderful things. But allow your eyes to be opened to see Him.
The Wrong Way
For 'Self' blocks the channel of grace, and Self attempts to take on the responsibilities that God alone can secure.
Grace is the Father's favor to man according to His own heart, and for His own glory.
If the need of man were the sole measure of His grace, then man only would be thought of, the work of the Lord Jesus would be simply for man, and the power of God expended merely in rescuing man and securing his relief.
When the advantages of grace do not call forth praise to the Father, when He is not prominently before the soul, as the source of everything possessed, then the gifts take the place of the Giver in the heart, and must soon lose their vigor and value like flowers cut away from their roots.
Any aspect of life or conduct which is undertaken in dependence on the energy and ability of the flesh is, to that extent, purely legal in character, whether it be the whole revealed will of God, the actual written commandments, or the exhortations of grace.
Dependence on the arm of flesh is consistent with pure law; dependence on the power of God is demanded under pure grace. -L.S.C.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Beloved, you have been called unto liberty..Galatians 5:13
Liberty or Bondage
Paul was deeply concerned that false teachers were leading Christians back from the glorious freedom of the gospel of grace to the shackled bondage of the law.
Our liberty in Christ, that comes by grace through faith, dominates the pages of Galatians as point-by-point Paul warns of the serious consequences of legalism – of deserting the liberty of the gospel of grace for the shackles of a works-based ‘gospel’.
Grace 0r Law
The perfect Law of Moses was nothing more than a tutor teaching us that sinful man could never reach the perfect standard required by a thrice-holy God.
It demonstrates the futility of trying to achieve the perfection required by the Law, which would end in despair, were it not for the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, whereby Christ met all the demands of the Law on behalf of all who believed on His sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection.
The purpose of the Law is to lead us to Christ, but grace takes us from being children to mature sons.
It tells us we are of age because now we are under grace; now we are not under law; now we have unconditional union with Christ – now we are called “sons”.
Being under law keeps us as little children but grace takes us from being little children to maturing sons.
Under law we are children but under grace we are sons.
Under law our rights are limited but under grace, our position is one of having reached the age of majority.
Under grace, we have received unconditional union with Christ and we are called “sons”.
Christ has done all for our initial salvation by the “grace-promise-faith” way.
As sons and He does all for our ongoing salvation by the same “grace-promise-faith” way.
Life of Grace
Once we have been saved by grace, we are to be sanctified by grace; to grow in grace, and to mature in the faith – to live our lives “grace-promise-faith” way.
But if a believer chooses to revert to the “law-merit-works way” we regress to childhood and cannot grow in grace, because when we are under the terms of the law have removed ourselves from the terms of grace.
Infants or Sons
We were all made children of God through faith (justification – initial believing in Christ) and we should be living as sons of God through faith (sanctification – growing in grace).
Paul is telling the Galatians that they should be growing in the grace of Jesus Christ, but despite their position in Christ and union with Him – they reverted to infancy!
Faith or Self-Merit
Paul explains that because they didn’t continue in the “grace-promise-faith” way, they returned to the old ways rather than remaining in the new way.
They replaced the new “grace-promise-faith way” for the old “law-merit-works” way.
Once a man has been saved by grace, why return to the chains of the Law?
Legalism and seeking to merit God’s favour by producing good works in ones own flesh is an impossibility for God is only pleased with one thing – the finished work of Christ, and that is apprehended by believers who live the grace-faith-promise way.
And Paul’s epistles are full of warnings about not returning to this way of the Law – the “law-merit-works” way, and his letters are dripping with instructions on how to live by grace – how to live the “grace-faith-promise” way.
So having been saved by grace through faith, let us, therefore, live our lives by grace through faith.
John 7:46. He observed His glorious character His compassion and His grace. Oh yes, Philip knew a lot about the Lord Jesus – but as yet he did not know Him.
God Incarnate
He did not know Him as the One that was revealed of the Father. He did not know Him as the Divine glory, full of grace and truth. He did not recognise the radiance and life that streamed from Him. He did not know that: this is My beloved Son in Whom I Am well pleased.
His Grace
His grace is poured over us in great abundance. His holy correction is administered to us with infinite tenderness, but we need to take time to get to know Him. May the deep desire of each of our heart be: Lord, make yourself KNOWN to Me.
It is akin to a seed: the life of the Lord Jesus within must grow; and it would be against the laws of nature and grace alike if we expected from the babe in Christ the strength that can only be found in the young man, or the rich experience and stability of the fathers.
Even where in the new convert there is great singleness of heart and faith, with true love and devotion to the Saviour, time is needed for a deeper knowledge of the old man and sin, for a spiritual insight into what the Father's will and grace are. -A.M.
The more the believer abounds in the riches of the Father's grace, the more unsearchable and inexhaustible he finds them to be.
If ministers and teachers of God's Word would set saints free and establish them in the Gospel, let their preaching and teaching be based upon the sixth and seventh of Romans, the central theme of which is our union with the Lord Jesus in death and burial; and our resurrection and ascension with Him into newness of life; where not the law, but grace, reigneth; where not the letter but the Spirit, moveth the heart and life of the believer.
But living a life of righteousness can only be lived by faith – dependence on God, and of course, faith has no merit on our part, for it is ALL by God’s grace.
Godly Living
Godly living – a righteous life, is a life that demonstrates dependence on God – an unfailing dependence on the grace of God in every area of life and living.
A righteous life is one that has come to rest entirely on God’s sovereign grace.
Faith is trusting God in His infinite grace and wisdom to do what is best for you.
All through life, God has to show us our own utter sinfulness and need, before He is able to lead us on into realms of grace, in which we shall glimpse His glory.”
Coates describes it so well: “Many of us have probably known what it was to rejoice in the grace of God without having apprehended very much the true character of the flesh.
In such cases the grace of God is taken up in a self-confident way; there is very little self-distrust or a sense of weakness and dependence.
It is essential that we grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, for three reasons: (1) that our Father may be glorified; (2) that the Lord Jesus might be manifested in us; (3) that the Holy Spirit might have a suitable instrument through which to win and establish others.
It is a marvelous grace that we should be conformed to the image of God's Son.
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Tim. 1:9).
A Study:- Man’s Nature and Destiny
Image and Likeness
The triune God created man in His own image with body, soul, and a spirit, and in His grace God gave fallen man a threefold life-experience with his Creator:- salvation, sanctification, and service, and it is all through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Divine Love
This love is not the frothy romance of novels – nor the passion of a paperback. It speaks of strength and stamina, pain and long-suffering patience. It speaks of heartache and endurance. It speaks of deep disappointment, and yet an abiding forgiveness. It speaks of love that never fails, despite the grossest betrayals. It speaks of tenderness, regardless of the most ruthless duplicity. It speaks of forbearance and grace, in spite of deception and disloyalty. It speaks of the deepest affection – a love that never gives up – that never ever fluctuates, no matter what. It speaks of His precepts and promises through poetry and prophecy.
My Father, in His grace, has come in and ended my history in the flesh, by the Cross, and now by the Spirit I am brought into association with His Son at His own right hand in heaven.
How strengthening it is, to know that He is at this moment feeling and exercising the same love and grace towards me as when He died upon the Cross for me. -J.N.D.
I have got away from grace if I have the slightest doubt about God's love for me.
If the consciousness of what we are in ourselves, has any other effect than, while it humbles us, to increase our adoration of what our Father is, we are off the ground of pure grace.
The immediate effect of such consciousness should be to make our hearts reach out to God and to His grace as abounding over all.
By Grace Thru Faith
By grace, God has given us a share in all the essential essence of Jesus Christ.
By grace, the Spirit placed us in a position of union with Christ that will never be broken. By grace, we are identified with His righteousness because He identified with our sin.
By grace ,we share in Christ’s righteousness, His son-ship, His heir-ship, His destiny – and nothing in heaven or earth can remove us from this position of grace, for we are eternally and forever secure in Him.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Spiritual Communion
The Apostle John delights to remind us that as children of God, who have entered into eternal union with Christ Jesus, we also have the right to enjoy intimate fellowship with the Father on a daily basis.
He observed his glorious character His compassion and His grace. Oh yes, Philip knew a lot about the Lord Jesus – but as yet he did not KNOW Him.
Eternal Grace
His divine love is close to each of us perpetually, His eternal grace is poured over us in great abundance, His holy correction is administered to us with infinite tenderness.
The only way for us to come into all that the Lord means - not only into what we have seen but into all that He has purposed - is to be desperate, to be men of violence; to be men who say, By God's grace, nothing and no one, however good, is going to stand in my way; I am going on with God.
It gladdens the heart to hear the new convert speak of the blessings he has received, and of his new-found joy in those blessings; but we can often see very distinctly that he is wrapping all these benefits of grace round himself, and we feel pretty sure that he will have to learn some lessons presently that will take the shine out of him.
Man’s Redemption
The beautiful chorus that rang through the night sky – that was being sung by the heavenly choirs of rejoicing angels, must have been a strange sight – for angelic beings are not the favoured recipients of God’s amazing grace.
Redemption, we read, was the gift of grace, that was offered to the human race – so that whoever will believe on the only begotten Son of God will never perish, but have everlasting life.
They believed that this infant truly was the promised Messiah, and they glorified God for His grace and mercy as they humbly returned to their duties..
Should not we worship and glorify God for His grace and mercy as we humbly set about our daily duties day by day – sharing the good news with others that we meet… by the way?
The energy and the power which was manifested in Jesus will be manifested in us by the sheer sovereign grace of God when once we have made the moral decision about sin.
Many truly converted persons are more occupied with themselves, and in trying to improve their own condition, than in seeking to learn the grace of God.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
But Paul discovered: My grace is sufficient, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness.
Wisdom in God’s Word
While ever we live in this fallen world of sin and suffering we will face mounting pressures, but we have the written word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit of God to guide our path and to guard our ways and Christ has promised that His grace is sufficient.
Never forget that God’s word is life and health and wisdom and truth and His grace is sufficient, for Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path – forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heave
Grow in Grace
We are saved by grace through faith but we are also to grow by grace through faith. The Spirit resides in the heart of all believers but as we grow, He dwells in our hearts.
And like initial salvation that is also through faith, Christian growth is also by faith – for every aspect of Salvation is God’s gift of grace, through faith.
Breadth of God Grace
The breadth of God's grace reaches to embrace all who are saved by grace through faith.
The breadth of His grace encompasses all the redeemed of Christ - the saints of God – Jew and Gentile; young and old; male and female; all people, climes, and tongue.
Length of God Grace
The length of God's grace extends from reaches of eternity past into the ages to come.
The length of God’s grace spans from the foundation of the world into eternity.
In love.. so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Depth of God Grace
The depth of God’s grace delivers whosoever will from the depravity and evil of sin.
The depth of God’s grace excludes none that call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for God’s love stoops to the pit of death to encompass all who trust in His only Son.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us – even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
Height of God Grace
The height of God’s grace reaches into heavenly places where we are seated with Christ. The height of God’s grace is found in Christ Jesus our heavenly Lord and King.
has raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus – far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come – so that in the ages to come He might show forth the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Distorted Views
Some lay particular weight upon His love, but ignore His justice. Some lay particular emphasis upon His justice, while disregarding His love. Some go overboard with grace, and are drawn into licentious living. Others focus upon the law, pointing an accusing finger at so many other people. Some believe that God requires certain rituals or He cannot not accept us. Others believe they are under God’s wrath because of pre-christian indiscretions.
Since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.2 Peter 3:17-18
Sufficient Grace
I think not – important though it is to recognise the signs of the approaching “day”, we shouldn’t accept the inevitable by allowing it to submerge our witness and walk.
The greater the troubles of this age, the more manifest is His glorious, sufficient grace.
Grace upon Grace
As the mystery of lawlessness increases, so the mystery of godliness multiplies - grace; more grace; much grace – grace built upon more grace. 'For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.' John 1:16 'For where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, Romans 5:20 -pressed down; shaken together and running over.' Luke 6:38 We are to be lights in this darkest of age.
Grow in Grace
But – praise God this dear apostle, Peter, continues with the next verse. He explains in simple terms how this is achieved… 'but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Peter 3:18 We grow in grace and mature in the faith when we fix our eyes on the Lord, and the mature believer is the one that will not be overwhelmed by life’s circumstances.
to prepare us for ultimate maturity and though we are accepted in Him, we need to be conformed into His likeliness. And so God has built His universe upon certain unchangeable principles and precepts -life principles -relational principles -business principles -national principles. As with the dispensation of Law, there are specific of principles for the age of grace… for we are not under the law, but under grace.
He wrote:- Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2Cor.12:10. Paul the apostle to the gentiles learned this important lesson, of our need of God, and He expresses it in the following words :- My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.
Gift of Grace
God’s condition for salvation was to believe – believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation was His free gift of grace to everyone, who would believe in His beloved Son. And one thing that happens to a believer is that he becomes a new creation in Christ.
The new heavenly order was not to be imposed on all humanity but given as a free and everlasting gift of grace to all who received God’s chosen, anointed federal-Head - for as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become… children of God – even to those who believe in His name.
the promised life of grace upon grace is a free gift to all who receive Christ Jesus, but He must be received.
He must be accepted for He is the minister of God’s grace.
We are to eliminate everything in our lives, and living, that grieves the Holy Spirit, recalling the riches of God’s grace – for we are sealed until the day of redemption.
If there were true apprehension of the work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross - that He so bore the judgment on man that all the man who had offended against God has been judicially removed to His infinite satisfaction, and that He who saved us from death is now our Life - there would be a wonderful testimony to the grace of God.
The Reformers failed because they did not see that as faith alone could save, and place man outside himself in the Lord Jesus, he must not return to that which through grace has been crucified.
It is true that there is the hunger to be devoted, and to be like the Lord Jesus, long before one's acts and manner corroborate the hunger, and make it a fact; but the more the hungers which grace has generated in your heart are given a place, the sooner will they become experiential facts; and the more the Lord Jesus has His throne within you, the more you will rejoice in Him, and have no confidence in the flesh' (Phil. 3:3).
I know so little of the Lord Jesus,' one may say, and this may be true; but every grace that is in Him is in every saint, though not developed.
The unwearied care of our Father for us, His patient grace, His gentleness, His leading us on from the world nearer, in spirit, to Himself, indicate what should be the character of our love's activity towards one another.
Let us seek grace for any fiery furnace in the light of the explanation, that it is neither what is of Christ that is being tested in us, nor any good within ourselves, but that what is not Christ should disappear, that it should be Christ, only Christ.
We are about to come face to face with the riches of Christ’s amazing grace.
God’s GraceGrace was in the heart of the Creator when God set the ransom price for man’s sin. Grace was in mind of God when God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Blessed be the God and Father – Who made Christ sin for our sake.
Gift of Grace
Nothing that is in ourselves could ever qualify to be the beneficiary of God’s grace. Reconciliation with the Father is the free gift of God’s grace to those who believe. Salvation and all the blessings that accompany it is only given to those who believe: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ – and thou shalt be saved.
Our Saviour
And that free gift of grace to believers opens the floodgates of God’s rich blessings. All who trust God’s Word are blessed to call God’s Son – OUR Lord Jesus Christ.
Could it be possible that God would so love an individual as to give His only Son to die for him and still love him to the extent of following him with the pleadings and drawings of His grace until He has won that soul into His own family and created him anew by the impartation of His own divine nature, and then be careless as to what becomes of the one He has thus given His all to procure? -L.S.C.
God’s Grace
Nevertheless God causes His Son to shine on the evil as well as the good. He sends His rain on the just and the unjust alike for God is very, very good..
The ongoing outpouring of the riches of God’s amazing grace from that uniquely special occasion, on all believers, has been through the beautiful ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Spirit of God
He is the Spirit of truth and of love – He is it Who illuminates the word of God. He is the Spirit of power and peace – He it is Who convicts and converts the soul. He is the Spirit of grace and joy – and He is the Spirit of righteousness and hope.
Total Righteousness
And His gift to all who trust on His name is a justifying righteousness:- regeneration; sanctification; glorification; a new creation in Christ, and the grace of God and peace with God, and faith and hope and love and joy, and the indwelling Spirit and a heavenly inheritance – and eternal life: for He washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
The Second Man
Dominion over God’s beautiful earth was lost by the first man, to a rebel angel, Satan – but God in His grace and mercy pre-ordained that a second Man – the Man Christ Jesus would become the last Adam, Who would regain the crown and reestablish the riches and glories of the kingdom that was forfeited to the enemy of God, by the first Adam.
Power of Sin
And glory to God for the power of sin was also broken in our lives and we have been set free from the dominion and mastery that Satan holds over the race of human-kind, for we no longer live under the requirements of the law – but have gained the freedom of God’s grace.
Perhaps the most precious promise there, is that we are accepted in the Beloved. Nowhere in Scripture is His glorious grace more evident than in this little book – or we are like Mary highly favoured.
Grace of God
It was His grace that was given to the Lord’s human mother and it is the same grace – given to us who believe on His name – His body, His church, His darling, His beloved bride.
Not so much a distinctive character of the calling, the mystery, which is His body – but a special feature and fact of the overwhelming nature and purpose of grace - That we should be holy..
That we should be without blame before Him – in love – in grace.
Holiness and blamelessness is provided entirely by grace. Grace is conferred only through the work of the Saviour.
Amazing Grace
Just as the justified sinner is made righteous through God’s good grace, so the sanctified saint is made holy and righteous through God’s good grace. And it is all; All, ALL, ALL through God’s amazing GRACE.
Such a seeing, a grasping, an apprehending and being mastered by the Greatness of the One to Whom, by the grace of God, we have been united, called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ.
His obedience secured for all who believe, the manifold riches of God’s amazing grace.
Too often we regard obedience as rules and regulations limiting our freedom, but when filtered through the purity and grace of God, it delivers His life and light.
Spirit of Wisdom
Having revealed to Christ’s Church the eternal riches of God’s grace towards them, Paul begins to intercede for all the saints in His powerful prayer of prayers.
that they grasp, understand, believe and appropriate the many riches of His grace - that the Spirit of wisdom opens their heart to see their incomparable inheritance.
Riches of Grace
This potent prayer of Paul was inspired by the Spirit to teach and edify all the saints.
It is God Who wants all His children to know and understand the riches of His grace..
This is a prayer for you and me... that we know more fully the bounties of His grace - that we come to understand the staggering riches of God’s grace towards us all.
Unveiled Inheritance
We are to know more fully the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.. not only the actual inheritance that is held in trust, but its considerable GLORY - the riches of grace, peace, hope, and love, that are ours to live by in the present, and its full and final and unveiled inheritance, when we see Him as He is.
divine mysteries that are unlocked to our understanding – by grace through faith..
to know the surpassing power that is ours through the ministry of the Holy Spirit - to know the matchless riches of God’s grace and glory that are ours, by believing.
Spirit of Wisdom
Having revealed to Christ’s Church the eternal riches of God’s grace towards them, Paul begins to intercede for all the saints in His powerful prayer of prayers.
that they grasp; understand; believe and appropriate the many riches of His grace – that the Spirit of wisdom opens their heart to see their incomparable inheritance.
Riches of Grace
This potent prayer of Paul was inspired by the Spirit to teach and edify all the saints. This is not only a plea from Paul – but exposes the Father-heart of God Himself.
It is God Who wants all His children to know and understand the riches of His grace..
This is a prayer for you and me – that we know more fully the bounties of His grace – that we come to understand the staggering riches of God’s grace towards us all.
Unveiled Inheritance
We are to know more fully the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.. not only the actual inheritance that is held in trust, but its considerable GLORY.. the riches of grace, peace, hope, and love – that are ours to live by in the present, and its full and final and unveiled inheritance – when we see Him as He is.
divine mysteries that are unlocked to our understanding – by grace through faith..
to know the surpassing power that is ours through the ministry of the Holy Spirit – to know the matchless riches of God’s grace and glory that are ours, by believing.
He longed for God to open their understanding of the riches of His grace towards them.
and the more we love Him the deeper our love becomes – and we know Him better – and then we start to understand the abundant riches of God’s grace towards us.
The over-abundant riches of His grace towards us are eternally immeasurable.
Exceeding Grace
Amazing though these revelations through Paul to the church are – there is more! We are His body and He is the head, and Christ is the fullness of His body - the church.
There are insufficient superlative words to describe the riches of God’s grace to us.
He seems hardly to take a breath as he pours out God’s exceeding grace towards us.
Paul simply wants to teach us to know and to understand what these riches are - that we may KNOW the exceeding riches of God’s grace towards us, his children.
Paul yearns that we appropriate the multiplied riches of God’s grace in our life – today.
All-Sufficient Grace
Paul has shifted our perspective from hearing about God’s truth to experiencing it. It is moving from knowing we have peace with God – to receiving the peace of God. Oh!
I don’t mean basing faith on emotional feelings which can fluctuate to and fro – but a trust that God provides sufficient grace no matter what we are facing in life.
Paul concluded that “in everything…commending ourselves as bond-servants of God” 2.Corinthians 6:4 After an all-inclusive address in2 Corinthians 6– Paul finally reaches the end of himself too – as “three times” he called on the Lord and thrice begged Him to remove his thorn… and three times he heard:- My grace is sufficient… My grace is sufficient… My grace is sufficient for thee… for MY strength is perfected in YOUR weakness”
After the believer enters into life by faith, he wonders why it was so difficult for him to see that it was all of grace - the humble reception of a finished work.
What grace, that we should be picked up from the dirt and seated in heavenly places, and together all believers are being built-up into a spiritual Temple.
Spiritual Temple
What a privileged group of people we are – that we should be called God’s children. What showers of love has been bestowed on us, for we are united forever with Christ. What grace..
Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come.
Grace to you and peace from the seven Spirits Who are before His throne.
Grace to you and peace from Jesus Christ….Revelation 1:4
Christ’s Peace
He not only bestows on us peace WITH God as we nestle in His forgiveness, that glorious ‘new birth’ peace with God the Father….and endows us with the peace OF God, which protects and guards our hearts and minds… but also by His grace, He lavishly supplies us with His OWN peace… the peace of God that surpasses understanding – the peace of Jesus….
One of the true tests of one's spiritual growth is in one's influence: affecting others that they not only begin the Christian life but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
We may often have a measure of the power of the Spirit, but if there is not a large measure of the Spirit as the Spirit of grace and love, the defect will be manifest in our work.
We are not according to our Father's pleasure, nor are we in simple restfulness as to our acceptance, if we do not enter by faith into the new position to which He in His grace has placed us.
Gift of God’s Grace
God could not expose His gift of grace more than what is captured in these pages. God could not shower His heart of love more abundantly over sinners saved by grace.
His Eternal Plan
God’s majesty, might, and matchless grace is displayed for all who will look and live. His eternal plans, which He purposed in Christ, is mapped out for all who have eyes.
His purpose and plan, grace and glory, might and majesty streams through its pages.
Covenant theology, which has molded the major theological conceptions for many generations, recognizes no distinctions as to ages, therefore can allow for no distinctions between law and grace.
At rebirth, we are babes in Christ and have to grow in grace and learn obedience.
We are positionally complete-in-Christ but conditionally we have to grow in grace.
Position is instantaneous. Condition is a process – and it is ALL by grace…
Since then you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God and let us grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ... for in Christ we all are “quickened,” “raised up,” and “made to sit” together with Christ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
They who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:17).
Law and grace are separated by the infinite chasm of the Cross.
Grace gives heavenly position immediately, which ultimately produces right conduct.
Ye are not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14).
He has been made to sit together with Christ in heavenly places in order that, having received an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, he might reign in life by one, even the Lord Jesus.
Every born-again believer is freely given salvation by God’s grace – through believing, and the consequences of this is everlasting life and eternal union with Christ.
But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of forgiveness to many through this other Man - Jesus Christ.
But even greater is God’s wonderful gift of grace and His gift of righteousness - for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, the Lord Jesus Christ.
But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
So as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death – now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 5:12-21
Morning Prayer
As I open my eyes in the morning, I pray ‘Lord, open the eyes of my understanding. Thank You for this new day – may it be a day that I grow in grace and glorify You.
Daily Grace
I thank Him for my life, my home, and the grace that He showers on me daily and in troublesome times I shoot out an arrow of prayer into the throne-room of God.
The other, prayer as infinite grace of God, lifting us up into His fellowship and love, and then when He has thus brought us to Himself, bestowing upon us the blessing we need.
Battle of the Ages
This battle of the ages has been raging for multiplied thousands of years, and in God’s wisdom, the church are partners, with access to His throne of grace. Should we not with veiled face contemplate this unfathomable, entrusted privilege?
Heralding Trumpeters
Envision the astonishing arena – as trumpets are handed to 7 heralding trumpeters. The final instrument, which enfolds the seven bowls of the judgment of God’s wrath, on a Christ-spurned, God-hating world that has rejected His free gift of grace.
In His grace and wisdom, God anointed us as participating partners in His purpose.
Those who accept God’s free salvation, by grace through faith in Christ, are saved.
Grace Thru Faith
Predestination is based upon God’s grace, which is accessed by faith in Christ alone.
Predestination is based on grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone – period.
NEVER let it be said that God predestined unbelievers to the lake of fire, for that is a lie of the enemy. But those that refuse salvation by grace through faith choose their own destiny – and that is the truth of Scripture.
Grace Thru Faith- study [24]
Period of Preparation
There must be a long and deep period of preparation, in the man and woman of God, if that life is to shed abroad the attributes of the Lord Jesus in thought word and deed..
It’s All of Grace
God’s “good work” in us is begun through failure.
This includes our strongest points, which continues on into His success – by His performance, and not ours. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. There is no question but that we all began in sheer grace. There is no question but that we must continue in sheer grace and there is no question that will arrive on the very same basis: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
They received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Believer’s Journey
Rebirth into the family of God is the first step on the journey of a lifetime that requires us to grow in grace and spiritual maturity.
Let us receive God’s Word and examine it with all eagerness, so that we may grow in grace and mature in the faith.
The Apostle Paul said, 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.
Even when we were dead in sins, God has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved)Ephesians 2:5
A combination of love, mercy, and grace has been showered on us in great abundance.
BUT... the minute we place our trust in Him the whole perspective of our universe changes. We are made alive by God’s grace – spiritually alive – simply because we believe.
Saved by Grace
Even when we were dead in trespasses and sins God quickened us; He made us alive; He gave us spiritual life together with Christ, and raised us up to heavenly places and gave us every spiritual blessing.
Never forget, you are saved by grace and all you did was trust Jesus as Saviour.
The more we understand His grace – the more we are filled with wonder love and praise.
Therefore we should not be in bondage to sin, for he that hath died (and that is everyone who is in the Lord Jesus) is justified (or released) from (the power of) sin' (Rom. 6:7); and we are now under grace, which does not demand righteousness of us, for the Lord Jesus was made unto us righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).
The Holy Spirit's leadings comes with a sense of peace and quiet, even if they point in a really difficult direction which only the grace of the Father can enable one to follow. -C.G.T.
Eternal Significance
God made peace with us by grace, through faith in the one perfect sacrifice for sin, and we are entrusted with a holy office – entreating the world to receive salvation.
Do we understand the shocking consequences of rejecting His eternal gift of grace?
Amazing Grace
What unparalleled condescension; what divine mercy; what astonishing wisdom.
What a thrilling privilege; what amazing grace; what incredible love; what a God!
Moment by moment we understand that His grace is all-embracing. God does not deal with man according to his sins, He does not reward us according to our iniquities. Psalm 103:10
The fruit of God’s Spirit are to mellow into gentleness, goodness, and grace.
Root of Hope
But hope is not an optimistic outlook or positive thinking. And hope is not a vain desire, an empty wish or self-induced feeling. Hope is the believer’s grace that is founded upon certain stable facts. Hope has its roots entwined in the truth of God’s holy Word. Hope has its foundation firmly set on the Rock of our Salvation.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace (2 Thess. 2:16).
The marvels of conviction of sin, forgiveness, and holiness are so interwoven that it is only the forgiven man who is the holy man, he proves he is forgiven by being the opposite to what he was, by God's grace.
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye always [not sometimes] having all sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work' (2 Cor. 9:8). -E.H.
There is no grace in delighting in the presence and favor of the Father when they are resting consciously and continuously upon us; for this rejoicing comes from sight and feelings.
But there is precious grace in that delight which is not dependent upon His favors, nor upon our enjoyment of them; but which is wholly dependent and has its source in the Father's explicit Word, and His eternal faithfulness. -C.H.M.
When circumstances seem impossible, when all signs of grace in you seem at their lowest ebb, when temptation is fiercest, when love and joy and hope seem well nigh extinguished in your heart, then rest, without feeling and without emotion, in the Father's faithfulness; abide in the fact that He loves you infinitely, and even now is working in you faithfully; and honor Him, and put the enemy to flight by taking to yourself the words of Job: Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.' I have prayed for thee' (says the One who ever lives to make intercession for us) that thy faith fail not.' -D.T.
Yet here too we see the wonderful grace of God.... It does seem that even Paul, surrounded though he was by all the other apostles, had to go a lonely way, because this revelation was to him something so personal.
Grace and Truth
It seems that just as God has set laws in the universe – like laws of motion or gravity. God has openly set in the scripture very specific ‘laws’ that relate to the believer.
ot the Law of Moses, for though perfect, the Law given to Moses kills. Perfection can never be reached by the efforts of sinful man, that Law points to Christ, for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The Law is a teacher to point us to Christ – to show us the way and to point to truth. But many in that period of Law found GRACE in the eyes of the Lord.. for many in that period of Law BELIEVED the Word of the Lord. And many were made righteous in Christ, as recorded in Hebrews chapter 11.
Justification and Sanctification
It is also vital also to rightly divide between justification and sanctification. 1) Justification – the salvation of the spirit : born into the family of God. 2) Sanctification – the salvation of the soul... living as a child of God. 1) Justification – born again once and in eternal union with Christ forever. 2) Sanctification – growing in grace throughout life.
a passing of the baton from Peter to Paul.. change of God’s focus from Israel to a focus on the Church.. change from the dispensation of Law to the dispensation of the Church – a change from the gospel of the kingdom to the gospels of God’s grace and glory.
See Romans; Corinthians; Galatians – justification; sanctification; glorification – and we discover that the church is not under the Law but under grace.
and the gospel of grace is unlocked by Paul, for all who are His body, the Church.
as the gospel of the grace of Christ starts to be unfolded – and the gospel of the glory of Christ through Paul and others is also unfolded.
To go back to the Psalms for proper Christian experience is to lose the savor of grace and to breathe legalism; it is to climb down from heaven to earth.
No doubt I shall find lovely confidence in the Lord in respect of His government of this world, the comfort of forgiveness, the happy confidence of integrity of heart, and remarkable prophecies of Christ; but where shall I find heavenly hopes, or my union with the glorified Lord Jesus, or even the out-flowings of divine grace, as manifested in His person on earth, or the blessed affection which flows from hearts acquainted with these?
And never forget that our place before the Father is His gift, and a gift worthy of the Giver; not a gift according to the measure of our worth but a gift intended to display the exceeding riches of the grace of the Giver.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
O wretched man that I am!
Chapter 3: all men are guilty before God and righteousness only comes by grace, through faith in Christ.
Chapter 5: the glories of trusting Christ, contrasting the old life under law with the new life under grace, and Chapter 6: as slaves of Christ we are no longer slaves to sin and death.
Mountain Top to Valley
And a crescendo of hope and excitement builds as we pass from the ministration of Law and death to the ministration of life, freedom and grace.
In chapter 2 we hear of His saving grace, but recognise our own evil and unrighteous heart.
In chapter 3 we discover God’s plan of salvation, which is grace alone by faith alone in Christ alone – and we are saved and praise God, worshiping Him with grateful thanks.
grace alone by faith in Christ alone, and in chapter 5 we discover His promises are yes, and amen in Christ.
He begins to see that behind all failure is a divine purpose; behind all problems is a heavenly objective; behind all sufferings; irritations; and trials there is a godly reason, which is to show us that: My grace is sufficient.
Indeed, God wants to teach us through our Romans 7 experience that behind every life experience is a divine purpose to demonstrate that: God’s grace is sufficient and that without Him we can do nothing – but I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me the strength.
Waiting Patience
Like Christ, our race of life is marked out by God, and each day is scheduled by Him. Christians are to draw on His grace alone – to run with patience the race set before us: for those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall rise up with wings as eagles.
The Lord Jesus was not passive; the Apostle Paul was not passive; nor is the believer passive who seeks to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).
The Lord keep you in the freshness of faith in Himself, going forth in His work, not undertaking more than He gives you grace for.
Under the Mosaic law-system, love for others was to be in the degree in which one loved himself; under grace it is to be in the degree in which the Lord Jesus has loved the believer and given His life for him (1 John 3:16). -L.S.C.
Often this is called growing in grace, maturing in our spiritual life – discipleship. Christian discipleship is misunderstood today but is closely linked to sanctification.
Justification
Many teachers consider discipleship as integral to the initial stage of salvation… making discipleship a requirement of salvation – an add on to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ..” But salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
It is a beautiful, free gift of grace, which is extended to all who trust on Christ Jesus. It is only the believer in Christ that can be sanctified and set apart unto the Lord – BUT not all Christians are prepared to progress along the path to spiritual maturity – not all Christians grow in grace, and many simply remain in spiritual infancy all their lives. Only believers can be set apart to God – but not all will identify with the cross of Christ. Only believers can grow in grace – but not all will take up their cross and follow Him. Only believers can become TRUE disciples of Jesus – but not all believers will become disciples.
God’s Gift
Salvation involves what God gives to us – His own life, not what we give to Him, for Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Grow in Grace
Throughout our Christian life, a process of progressive sanctification takes place.
Often this is called growing in grace – maturing in our spiritual life – discipleship. Let us be those that come after Christ and love not the things of this world. Let us be those who carry our own cross and come after Him. Let us be those that forsake all that we have – to become His disciple..
He shows us that salvation is all by God’s grace, which came through Jesus.
When anything is added to, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” it is not of grace.
Adding to Grace
When man is required to add something to the cross of Christ, it nullifies His work, but many, many ministries today are adding to the simple gospel message of GRACE. If we are told we are to believe AND do something – it is adding to Christ’s cross. John tells us that as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God – even to them that believe on His name… believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
By Grace – Thru Faith
To have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to believe what God has said about Him.
‘Believing’ is all one has to do to be saved, and credited with Christ’s righteousness, but many, many ministries today are adding to the simple gospel message of GRACE.
Faith Choice
Believing is man’s one and only response to the grace that is a free gift of God - for by grace and grace alone are you saved.
Salvation is by grace.
Salvation is the free gift of grace that is given to all who believe on Christ. Paul tells us that believing is a faith choice – that is might be of grace. It means we choose to believe that God’s gift of grace is by believing on Christ. Righteousness is our portion because we trusted what God has said in His word. It isn’t believing on Christ for salvation PLUS doing something else.
But baptism is not required for salvation which is by grace alone. Water baptism may be a result of being saved – but not a condition of salvation.
Being born again is not believe and be baptised – but believe on the Lord Jesus. Paul tells us that if it is not by faith – then it is not of grace.
This complicates the simple message of salvation by grace alone – through faith in Christ.
Act of Consecration
This beautiful act of consecration may be a result – but is not a condition of salvation Paul tells us that if it is not by faith – then it is not of grace. A carnal believer will certainly suffer loss of rewards – but never his eternal salvation, which is always and only by grace – through faith – in Christ.
Some people add works of the flesh, works of the Law – self-imposed rules or Church regulations and a variety of ‘add-ons’ to the basic gospel of salvation by grace – through faith in Christ Jesus, while others insist on actions relating to eating or drinking – places of worship or times and seasons – spiritual fruit or gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Free Gift of Grace
It’s sad when believers are put under bondage, simply because the truth of the free gift of salvation – given to us by God’s grace, through believing on Christ has been misapplied.
This is the point – after a moment of saving grace follows a lifetime of sanctifying grace – before glorifying grace.
to grow in grace.
Transforming Grace
Sanctifying grace transforms a believer into the likeness of Christ.
Sanctifying grace uses every hardship, every disappointment, each pain and failure.
Maturing, sanctifying grace takes ugly scars from the cross of your life and beautifies them – but the measure of how you meet your trials, is the measure with which you will gain – and you can only meet them victoriously in Christ, as Christ lives in you.
You can only meet them by grace… through faith … in Christ.
Living By Faith
This is the sanctifying grace that we can choose to pursue..
Our hope for freedom from the power of sin is not Christ plus my efforts,' but Christ plus my receiving.' To receive victory from Him is to believe His Word that solely by grace He is, this moment, freeing us from the dominion of sin.
Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt (Rom. 4:4).
True Trust
Today there are multitudes that believe in Him for saving grace – and praise God, and hallelujah – many are born-again through belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul’s Words
Let us stand before His throne of grace and say with Paul.
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 in me. 1Corinthians 15:10.
Grace of God
Through the grace of God, we can be perfected in love and practical in our faith.
Through the grace of God, we can love and trust and do exploits for the Lord.
Through the grace of God, we can stand firm right up to the time of His return – for we must all guard against God’s agape love in our hearts wearing thin.
as I seek to discover the awful truth about my own faults and failings, I need to turn to the Spirit of grace and truth and cry out as did King David:- Search me and know me, cried the man after God’ s own heart, cleanse me from my secret faults – my sin, know my heart: Try me, and Know my thoughts.” Psa.19:12
There is a time when we must sweep our books aside, when we must shut ourselves up from the voices of men, when we must get quiet with the Lord and listen, and more, we must seek to cultivate, by the grace of God, the ear that is always open to the Lord even when all the other sounds are around us.
It is nowhere admitted in Scripture that a servant can be merely the herald of the light of God's grace; that is, that he should only have the joyful side of service.
We are to grow in grace. But how does sanctification take place, and in what way does sanctification happen? Well, being sanctified means that we are set apart unto God – growing spiritually.
Only our new life, has been made alive by the imputed life of the sinless Lord Jesus. His sinless, righteous life has been given, by grace, to ALL who believe on His name.
All By Grace
When we were positionally sanctified at salvation, it was all by God’s grace. We had no part to play in our positional sanctification – all we did was to believe.
And though we do have a part to play – it is by grace alone and not human merit.
Free-will Choice
All sanctification and spiritual growth in our lives is by God’s grace alone, and all we have to do is to submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. But not all believers are being sanctified in a practical, progressive manner – for being “set apart unto God,” is a free-will choice – a decision of the will, we all have to make.
Seal of God
The seal of God whereby we were sealed of the Holy Spirit is the gracious act of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at the point of saving grace..
God’s Grace
It was by God’s grace we are saved and by God’s grace we are sealed.
He sought us and saved us and sealed us by grace – through faith in Christ.
It all comes back to grace. It all comes back to Christ – for in Him is all grace.
Blood of Christ
The seal of God, whereby we were sealed of the Holy Spirit, is the gracious act of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, at the point of saving grace whereby God Himself marked or sealed every believer with the indwelling Holy Spirit, by giving every Christian the permanently, indwelling Spirit of God as the pre-payed earnest of our inheritance in Christ – and which confirms us as His own purchased possession – bought with the price of the blood of Christ.
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Jesus – All in All
Jesus is the Source and Sound - the Wellspring and Completion of our faith.
The other carries in it wake discontentment: despite showers of blessings on our heads Remember that every day that passes is a gift of grace from God to you – every new day is complete with His new mercies, Where would we be without His mercy and grace?
You can read about it in My Story or just listen to a narration of Amazing Grace, and you will understand why she and I can both proclaim that …
Amazing Grace
Jesus is indeed our Source and Sound..
which is passed to all humanity, but God in His love and grace has provided a solution for the old sin nature, in Adam – and the solution is to be taken out of Adam and placed into Christ – by faith: for as by the one man’s disobedience (Adam) the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience (Christ) the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19,
Placed in Christ
When we were born again, we were placed in Christ – baptised into His body. When we were born again we were moved from being 'in Adam' to being 'in Christ.' When we were 'in Adam' we were imputed with Adam’s old sin nature, but when we were reborn 'into Christ' we were imputed with His righteousness. Sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:14
By Grace Through Faith
It is by grace that we have received forgiveness of our sins. It is by grace that we have been delivered from the power of sin . Remember:There are 2 fundamental SIN problems, but BOTH are dealt with at the cross of Christ. It is by grace through faith in Christ that we appropriate forgiveness – of SINS. It is by grace through faith in Christ that we appropriate deliverance – from SIN.
God begins by giving our hearts a sense of the blessedness of the grace in which He has called us, that we may be awakened and enhungered to pursue the knowledge of all this with purpose of heart and prayerful study. -C.A.C.
Our Father loves us too well to allow us to rest in anything or anyone short of Himself - not even Christian fellowship, or what people call the means of grace.' He wants to be so known by us that He becomes the deep eternal spring of satisfaction and joy for our hearts. -C.A.C.
After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.(1 Peter 5:10 ESV)
If I am not going to give it up and leave, I must come to some spiritual enlargement; I have to know the Lord in a new way, to have more grace, love and patience.
You either grow in grace or you will backslide into carnality.
Christian Spirituality
And nearly a hundred years ago, Norman Harrison put it this way:- “It remains for the spiritual man to prove the reality and worth of his spirituality, by laying hold of all his resources in Christ.. by giving them practical expression in day-by-day living. And in a day when the Christian life claims but slight attention.. or even respect, from the world – what a call for spiritual stalwarts, fully-developed, determined by His grace, to demonstrate the beauty, power, and practicality of the Spirit-life – to an unbelieving, even scoffing social order.”
Stunted Growth
Growing in the faith and maturing spiritually has a number of associated terms, Sanctification - Salvation of the soul - spiritual maturity - growing in the faith - growing in grace.
Spiritual and Carnal
A spiritual Christian is the one that is growing in the faith – maturing. A carnal Christian is the one that is not growing in the faith – not maturing. A carnal Christian can also be called a fleshly believer... born again but not growing – born again, but not growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
Growing in Grace
Unless a child of God is “ready to grow” – he’ll never reach “spiritual maturity.” Growing in grace – maturing in Christ, is sometimes called “consecration”.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, and teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Not knowing one another after the flesh does not mean that all that realm will cease to exist for us, but it does mean that we shall look beyond that realm and we shall steadily seek grace and the help of the Holy Spirit to cultivate and develop a determination to look through what we are by nature to what there is of the Lord Jesus and of the Holy Spirit in one another, and to keep our eyes upon that.
How important to reflect on His Word, knowing that His mercy is everlasting, His grace is new every morning and His truth endures from generation to generation.
God had only partially revealed Himself to Adam in the creation, but He had not as yet revealed the deep secrets of His nature; His character; His grace.
There was holiness, goodness, grace and long-suffering.
If we realized how privileged we are to have even a very small part in the things of God, and how it is all of His Grace, surely we should be very grateful that we could just have the remotest connection with Him.
STUDY in PRAYER
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews.4:16
Throne of Grace
Unlike Israel, whose high priest alone could enter the holy of holies once each year, we have unlimited, continuous, and abiding access to the throne of grace, let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
That we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes – but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him Who is the Head, even Christ.Ephesians 4:15
Command to Grow
Peter exhorts us to grow in grace and: as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby, 1 Peter 2:2 while Paul reminds us to: speak the truth in love, so we may grow up into Him in all things.
Ephesians 4:5 God wants us to become spiritually mature: so grow in grace, and grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18.
Fellowship God
However all the apostles of Christ beseech us to lay aside sin; to confess our sins; to grow in grace and to walk in the light, so that we can prevent our growth from becoming stunted and enjoy sweet fellowship with Father.
God’s Grace
Paul’s epistles give descriptive details of the riches of God’s grace towards believers. He details over and again our position in Christ – our privileges and our possession. He desires that our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is firmly fixed on truth and not on the philosophies of man.
I can only remind you again of what a large place that has in the Word of God: be strong, be strong in the Lord in the strength of His might, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
the same Spirit of grace that rested on Christ… rests upon you and is in you:- the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of wisdom; the Spirit of understanding; the Spirit of counsel; the Spirit of might; the Spirit of knowledge – the Spirit of the fear of the LORD.
And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me.2 Corinthians 12:9
God’s Grace
Like each and every gift of grace, His strength is ministered to each of us according to our need. We have no need of a bank deposit of $upply, No spiritual battery from which to draw our spiritual £trength. His supply is a continuous flow, received by faith as need requires. Life is divided into days – and day after day after day, He provides and supplies the strength. Down through the weeks which flow into months and years, He continues to provide ‘Strength for the day and bright hope for the morrow!’
Godly Suffering
Indeed, His grace multiplies when the burdens grow greater: for My grace is sufficient for thee.
Mysterious Privilege
All God’s children can participate in some incomprehensible way – through this unfathomable gift and mysterious privilege of – “All Prayer” Should we not fly to the open-access of the throne of God’s grace and plead... LORD teach me to PRAY.
Wise Words
C.A Cotes puts it this way:- “Many of us have probably known what it was to rejoice in the grace of God without having apprehended very much the true character of the flesh.
In such cases the grace of God is taken up in a self-confident way; there is very little self-distrust or sense of weakness and dependence upon Him.
The drawing is done by the supernatural grace of God, and we never can trace where His work begins.
God does not ask us to do the things that are easy to us naturally; He only asks us to do the things we are perfectly fitted to do by His grace, and the cross will come along that line always.
All-Sufficient God
For God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9 – God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory, in Christ Jesus..
He needs no time, no heat, no light, no grace, no joy, no love – no life… God needs nothing.
Willing Submission
The astonishing thing is that God in His self-sufficient wisdom and grace, has chosen to condescendingly work in and through His servants.
a little faithful flock. Many are called to be sons of obedience but few choose to answer the call. Many Christians prefer a legalistic life to a life of spiritual faithfulness and grace. Many believers prefer a carnal life to a life of surrendered obedience and faith.
but when obedient faith is exercised in the spirit of humility and grace, God works through ANY-one.
But grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.2 Peter 2:18
We are to grow in grace, which means being transformed into His likeness, by means of the Spirit.
to grow in grace.
But growth only takes place as we submit to the indwelling Spirit and He appeals to our God-given volition, to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18.
Under Grace
Paul reminds us that in this church dispensation: you are not under the law, but under grace, Romans 6:14 and warns us:- do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God..
to put all sin away, which is achieved by living, walking and growing in grace – by becoming more like Jesus.
Grace Alone
We are saved by God’s grace alone and not by human effort.
His grace is diametrically opposite to much man-made religious teaching.
And once saved by grace through faith, we are to live by grace, walk by grace and grow in grace – in spirit and truth.
All believers have a responsibility to grow in grace – as we are command in the Word.
Grow in Grace
We are to feed daily on the Word and like newborn babes, we are to desire the sincere milk of the Word.
And as we mature, and grow in grace we will progress to the strong meat of the Word.
May we who have ears to hear what the Spirit says in His Word, listen carefully to all that He says – and to apply it in our lives, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Both the forgiveness of sins and deliverance from sin are gifts of grace to all believers – and we appropriate both forgiveness and deliverance by faith in Christ's sacrifice.
He has saved us by grace and has promised to keep us throughout our life – by grace.
“Being justified freely by His grace…” Romans 3:24
The Gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the revelation which it brings is not palatable.
Depth of Grace
The dimensions and depths of His grace are incalculable.
Limited Perception
Yet so many limit His goodness to their own earthly experience. They choose to view His love and grace to the limits of their understanding – to view it to the extent to which they themselves understand love. And they refuse to recognise His love if it is not what they expect – if it is not proffered in the way that they want or imagine.
Compassionate Grace
Yet Jesus says, The smoking flax I will not quench.
His Grace
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, Who inhabits eternity and Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Principles
The principle of consecration – is that God might use that one as a sign.. a sign of His immeasurable grace in the ages to come – to principalities and power – a sign of His grace right now – in this corner of the field where He has planted you.
Legalism is a destructive enemy of the Christian life – in opposition to God’s grace.
Legalism is the antithesis of grace – placing you back under bondage and slavery.
Enemy of Grace
The voice of legalism is accusational and critical and tramples the gospel of grace.
It adds to God’s grace by charging us with its own brand of legalistic justification.
We are not under law but under grace.
Law, legalism, rules, and regulations are enemies of grace and need to be identified. Law is adding something – ANYTHING to salvation, for we are saved by grace alone.
For we are saved grace…(through faith) and not of yourself so you won’t boast.
Salvation is God’s grace…(by faith) and is not to do with our merit so we can’t brag.
God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave us in Christ Jesus.... (2 Timothy 1:9 ESV)
Sufficient Grace
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;To added afflictions He addeth His mercies –To multiplied trials, He multiplies peace.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.His power no boundary known unto man;For out of His infinite riches in Jesus.He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
Those who accept the free gift of Salvation, which God freely gives to all who trust in His Son as saviour, (by grace through faith) revere Christ as God manifest in the flesh.
The secret of a Christian is that the supernatural is made natural in him by the grace of God, and the experience of this works out in the practical details of life, not in times of communion with God.
It is as our hearts are under the sway of that grace which is ministered to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, and as we are knit to Him in affection, that we touch and taste a new life, and are severed in heart from all that constituted the life of our old man.
To be weighed down by evil in a Christ-rejecting sin-sick world. To be able to stay and to stand in such a school of discipline - to be able with His grace, to say.. The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it - is this not faith at its highest success? Is this not faith at its crowning pinnacle?
Time of Training
David sought comfort in his Psalms - knowing God's promises are sure and Paul gloried in his thorn - knowing that His grace is sufficient. Present circumstances which press so hard and wound so deeply..if surrendered to the Lord..
Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God (Ps. 76:10; 2 Cor. 4:15).
Word of Grace
Fear not, were the first words of grace, spoken to that little band of shepherds – shepherds on a lonely hill in the little town of Bethlehem.
The teachings of grace are perfect and sufficient in themselves.
What an indignity religion puts on every Person of the Godhead alike, on the grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ, when it drags souls back to the dread distance of Judaism. -W.K.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain (Gal. 2:21).
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory – glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.John 1:14
Perfect Law
The perfect Law was engraved on stone but is unable to beat with a heart of pure love. The faultless Law cannot empathise with our weakness or understand our difficulties. The letter of the Law may be perfect, but is insufficient to reveal the Father’s love. The ministration of law came through Moses, but fullness of grace came via Jesus.
Enriching Grace
The elements of the Law placed men under bondage, for the letter of the law kills, but the personification of grace gives abundant life – a life that’s enriched by grace.
The glory of God’s grace is the glory of the only Son Who is begotten of the Father.
Glory of God’s Grace
The ministration of grace can never fail, for Jesus Christ is infinite, and He is perfect. He is perfect in His Being and Work; His Word and His Ways.
His grace can never fail. The glory of Christ is beautifully seen in the essential attributes of the living God. His glory is interwoven with His handiwork; His skill; His wisdom and His kindness.
Face of Jesus
The glory of God’s grace is a lantern that illumines the whole of Christ’s character. His Grace becomes a platform, upon which every perfection of Deity stands, and the fullness of the glory God’s grace, is reflected in the face of Jesus Christ.
It was grace in its fullness that caused the Godhead to look down the corridors of time and purpose an eternal plan that would redeem a sinful race of humanity from sin.
Fullness of Grace
It was the fullness of grace that conceived of the plan of salvation that purposed that He’d plead the hopeless cause of unregenerate man and undertake to pay its price. It was the person of Christ Who demonstrated the fullness of grace on Calvary’s cross and out of His fullness have we all received grace upon grace upon much more grace, for in Christ is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily – the fullness of all grace.
God’s Plan
Grace was not a modification of the original plan of God for man when He realised that the Law was a ministration of death.
The Law was designed to point people to Christ. God did not have to send the Lord Jesus Christ as the Word made flesh, to modify the original plan He had purposed for man… Grace was God’s plan from the beginning.
Grace and Truth
The fullness of God’s grace was in the heart of our gracious God when He purposed, before the foundation of the earth, that the WORD would become flesh and dwell among His people, so we could see the glory of God’s grace, reflected in the face of the lovely Lord Jesus – glory as of the only Son from the Father – full of grace and truth.
There has to be a very great deal of overlooking, a great deal of generosity, grace has got to triumph by reason of the exalted spiritual place: the elevation of our position in the heavenlies.
These cities must rule, grace must predominate in the heavenlies.
It looks as though grace will still be necessary to bear with all things that go wrong.
Be clothed with humility - for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble. 1 Peter 5:5
But how the Lord Jesus demonstrated this grace of humility through His earthly ministry - Even from His lowly stable birth; His status as a refugee in Egypt; His gracious attitude towards His earthly parents; His long years of hard toil in a common, little carpentry shop.
Lonely Road
Should not we, who seek to know Him more and more, follow in His path - HIS path of humility; HIS walk of suffering; HIS trail of rejections and pain? Should we not submit to the penetrating eye of the Holy Spirit in our life - asking Him to identify pride and self-interest, that so readily tracks our earthy walk? Should we not seek Him, where He is found – on the lonely Road of Humility? Should not we seek to cover ourselves with humility as Jesus did – covered with the cloak of humility; clothed with the garment of grace.
When did we become so unwilling to share the truth, and to receive it in love from dear friends, who desire our safety and benefit? Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.
God’s Pleasure
If we do not discern certain states of grace, and choose them – in Him… if we do not nourish them in our hearts in the power of His Holy Spirit, they never become fastened in our nature or behaviour.For we must choose of our own freewill to do of His good pleasure – not our own. Every advance step in grace must be preceded by first apprehending it.
The eternal Son became the incarnate Word and the very body of our Lord Jesus Christ became the residence of God – the Temple of the Lord – and the apostle John tells us that they saw His glory, as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
There are none who are excluded by God from the good news of His gospel of grace.
This is the good news of the gospel of grace which centres on Christ’s finished work on the cross – and the fact that He rose from the dead to accomplish our full salvation.
Isaiah 43:10-11. Israel was to tell of God’s saving grace and turn the gentile nations back to Him – for God desires that ALL people know and love Him as Creator, Saviour and Lord.
The Witness of the Church
The witness of Israel was to be replaced with the witness of the Church – for a time. The gospel of the kingdom was to be replaced with the gospel of grace – for a time. The promised kingdom was to be postponed – until the whole nation of Israel repents.
Church Dispensation
Israel’s gospel of the kingdom had to be postponed during the church dispensation – and the Church proclaiming the gospel of grace became God’s witness to the world. But the day is coming when Israel will once again be God’s witness to the nations. The day is fast approaching when the gospel of the kingdom will again be taught.
Gospel of Grace
Today we live in the church age when the gospel of grace is taught to the nations. Today God is continuing to do His work through the body of Christ – the Church..
Man often grasps at the grace, the I will bless of God, and fails to comply with the demand thereof - Get thee out.
The call of God to some fuller and higher acceptance of truth and ministry; of testimony and witness; of surrender and experience, will undoubtedly come by one or another of the Divine forms of visitation to such as the Lord wishes to lead in grace.
Christ’s Early Life
But God is not mocked by man nor angel and the Holy Child was born and for 12 years He grew and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was on Him.
Unique Person & Work
The two natures of Christ is a simple concept and yet it contains a profound reality. Without the two natures of Jesus Christ humanity has no Saviour and no Salvation, but by faith in the unique person and work of Jesus Christ – as Son of God and Son of Man we are given the free gift of life – eternal life – abundant life – by God’s grace.
But no matter how beautiful or expensive a gift may be, it will wax old and deteriorate, and it is all too likely to be replaced in time by something else that piques the interest. But Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians writes of the indescribable gift that God in His grace gave to humanity – a gift with eternal consequences, that will never age nor lose its value – a perfect gift of grace and beauty that can never be replaced.
It’s suitable for all occasions no matter what the time – and for all persons whether bond or free. God’s unutterable gift of His Son multiplies into a plethora of additional gifts, which explode into an astonishing display of God’s amazing grace and unconditional love. Spiritual death is removed and the new life of Christ is breathed into our dead spirit – we were dead in our sins, but made alive in Christ.
broken the power of sin in our life and will one day remove sin’s presence – forever. The curtain of separation has been torn from top to bottom granting access to the throne-room of grace and we’re covered from head to toe with the armour of God, for we are clothed with Christ and one with Him – His body, His church – His bride.
We are the temple of God with the permanently indwelling Spirit of God as God’s deposit of grace. We were foreknown of God and chosen by Him – sealed and adopted forever, Amen. We were showered with the riches of eternal life – endowed with God’s spiritual gifts. We were baptised into Christ – made peace with God and given the peace of God. He started a good work in us and prepared good works for us to do in His strength – and then in His grace rewards us for the work He carried out in our lives – what grace. Thanks be to God for His unimaginable gift!
Jesus, Who was made lower than the angels for a while, is now crowned with glory and honour for He suffered death, so that by God’s grace He tasted death for everyone. Thanks be to God for His inconceivable gift!
Peter orders us to know and grow in our knowledge of Him….and in grace, in 2 Peter 3, and Jesus instructs us that to know that God is life eternal, in John 17.
Manifold Wisdom
Oh yes, the church that is His body will be used to show His grace to angels: to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the Church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, to the glory of God… and to the praise of His Holy Name.
Unlimited Glory
But this does not increase the grace of God – for His grace is infinite to start with. It cannot add to the glory of His Name – for His Name is already infinitely glorious. All that is connected with this mortal life has gross and distressing limitations. The limits and boundaries that are forced on the human creature are frustrating. Limitations that flood in from without and limitations that well up from within.
And those that are in Him have been bequeathed the limitless riches of His grace.
Infinite Grace
Why has God designed this life to be one of hardship and sorrow? Is it not so that in learning obedience, He can bestow on us His infinite grace? Christ was the first to go through the process of a life of obedience: for the joy that was set before Him, (infinite joy), He endured the cross.
He demands nothing from this world, but in the life of the Lord Jesus he contributes to it, of the grace that nourishes and comforts him outside it. -J.B.S.
God’s Condemnation
The whole world came under the condemnation of God because of one man’s sin. Adam’s disobedience resulted in the human race being born under condemnation. It was sin that was the cause of man’s condemnation and the wages of sin is death. It was necessary for God to cover man’s sin with the blood-soaked fleece of a lamb, for in His heart God purposed to send a Saviour – Who could pay the price of sin. What grace was being shown to man when God purposed to save His fallen race.
God’s Grace
But grace was in God’s heart when He purposed to give His Son as a ransom for many, Christ was to come bringing with Him grace and truth for all condemned by the Law. His perfect life and sacrificial death was to break the power of sin, resting on man, His death on the cross was so that man could be released from ALL condemnation.
Abounding Grace
As time passed, mankind rebelled against their Creator God and so the Law was sent. Paul says the Law was given so that the offence might abound..
His ways are perfect and this was simply another demonstration of His grace. The greater mans’ sin became the more valuable and precious was the sacrifice for sin. The more sin abounded, the more grace would be poured over the head of humanity.
What grace the Father showed to man, that His Son was to die to save a fallen race.
Love, Justice, Grace
The Law condemned ALL - for none can keep the righteous requirements of the Law, yet grace set aside God’s Law – to break the power of condemnation on all men.
God’s grace dictated that He would give His only Son to pay the price for all sin.. and the ONLY requirement of man was to believe that Christ died for their sin – and the ONLY way to be free from condemnation was to believe on Jesus Christ.
What grace God showed to man, that Christ Jesus has paid the penalty for humanities sin.
Free Gift of Grace
But what of those that of their freewill have chosen not to believe in Christ Jesus?
Man is not condemned because he sinned, but because he did not believe… because he did not believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God. Jesus Christ warned the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees that they would all die in their sins, for though outwardly righteous, their hearts were riddled with unbelief. The Lord Jesus wept over Jerusalem for in rejecting Him they rejected His grace, and in rejecting His grace they placed themselves under condemnation.
Today the work of the Spirit is to conform the saved Christian into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ – for we are not under the Law but under grace.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
This is love for God: to obey His commands – and His commands are not burdensome.John 5:3
God’s Time Periods
Why was Paul so insistent that believers did not return from grace to law?
And what is so important about the age of grace for Christians today?
Next was the era of Law, followed by Grace – with the Millennial period yet to come.
Age of the Church
The Greek word for “law” is “nomos” and also means ‘rule’ or ‘instructions’ and since Calvary, believers have been in a specific period of time called the Age of Grace.
Rules for the Church
Some Christians mistakenly adhere to Israel’s Law, but Paul argues that: we are not under law but under grace, Romans 6:14. and yet we are not exempt from a godly code of living, which Paul calls: the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus Romans 8:2. and which is seen in Romans 8.
Command of God
Only as we live by grace and allow the Spirit of Christ to live in us and through us..
God entrusted into our mortal frame His light and His love – by grace through faith..
He set ablaze in us, the candle of the Lord – by grace through faith in Him.
His Wonders
We can bear witness to Him in so many ways as the Spirit of Christ leads and guides. We can proclaim the wonders of His grace through the way we live and the way we act. We can tell out the glories of the Lord in thought and word and deed and song.
slow to anger and of great goodness; a God of grace and truth and abounding in great goodness; a God Whose mercy is everlasting – a God Whose love is eternal.
All who take time to study the disposition and character of Christ discover Him to display perfection throughout His lifetime and grace in all circumstances of His life.
Exemplary Grace
His grace towards those that were poor and despised was exemplary and His loving involvement with the debased of society became a reason for some increasing hostility. He was gentle as a dove, and wise as a serpent – yet always spoke the truth in love.
Grace and Truth
He knew when to act and when to ignore and could empathise without compromise. He knew when to speak and when to remain silent – when to act and when to ignore. He could combine graciousness with truth and He could integrate mercy with justice.
Right Relationship
All these people were in right relationship with the Lord and each of these characters displayed a characteristic that pleased the Lord – a godly disposition that was precious in His eyes – a quality that is dear to the heart of our God. God laid His hand on each of His people in a unique way and God took time in each life to develop in each one a peculiar and distinctive quality that was a dim reflection of His own perfect grace – one that would be seen in the face of Jesus Himself.
The great characteristic of a saint is humility - Yes, all those things and other evils would have been manifested in me but for the grace of God, therefore I have no right to judge.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
He also reminds us of our future blessed hope and the expected return of our Lord – and it is all connected with the grace of our wonderful, loving, gracious God.
Titus is a man that understands that the grace of God touches every aspect of our lives – for it is the grace of God that offers us the gift of salvation, we so richly enjoy,
Expanse of Grace
It is God’s grace that warns of the dangers of unrighteous living and worldly lusts. It is the grace of God that trains us into righteous living and worthy, godly conduct. It is His grace that bestowed upon us our Blessed Hope and the riches of His glory, as we wait for the glorious appearance of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Many Faces of Grace
Too often we box God’s grace into saving grace and limit the expanse of its worth. It is grace that saves, sustains and sanctifies and it preserves, protects and perfects us. It is His grace that affects our growth in grace and teaches us to live godly in Christ. It’s grace that provides for all our needs and grace that may withhold our dear desires.
Riches of His Grace
It is grace that imparts understanding and grace that equips us with discernment. It is grace that instructs and guides us – and grace that teaches and trains. It is grace that corrects and reproves us and it is grace that chastens and chastises us.
It is grace that accepted us in the Beloved and crowned us with the riches of His grace – and it’s grace that has seated us together with Christ in heavenly places – in Him.
Examples of Grace
It is grace that called us to be His children and gave us an inheritance as sons. It is grace that made us heavenly ambassadors and has planned every step of our life. It is the grace that will make us examples of His grace in the ages that are to come. It is grace that ordained us to every good work and grace that equips to do it.
and one fundamental truth is that grace is the precursor of all that God is doing.
Grace is rooted and established in the tri-unity of the eternal Father, Son, and Spirit.
Grace is the sum and summation of the infinite attributes of the three-fold Godhead.
Grace of God
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
God uses all the facts and realities of life to humble us before His throne of grace, and through our self-analysis or introspection, we discover our efforts are in vain..
Gift of Grace
The mystery of our faith was a truth that emanated from the heart of God.
How gracious is God – for the people that walked in darkness were given the light, and those born dead in their sins can become sons of God, by grace through faith. Great is the mystery of godliness for the earth shall be filled with His glory as the waters cover the sea.
God the Father
God in His wisdom and grace designed the plan of salvation before the world began. God in His love and mercy purposed to save humanity before we were even created.
God the Father by His grace, loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes on Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and bye, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute.
We discover God’s infinite love, justice, mercy and grace.
Righteousness of God
By God’s grace we saw the truth of His infinite love towards us, in that while we were still rebellious sinners and at enmity with our Creator – Christ died for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him..
May He give us grace to endure whatever the trial may be, along whatever line of metaphor, the wind, the blaze, supreme heat, or pressure of His hand, all of which is to get us into a place where we cannot be moved, where hell cannot shake us, where His power is made manifest as triumphant over all the power of the enemy.
Forgiveness – God First Act
These were the first words spoken by the Lord Jesus on the Cross. Forgiveness was the first thought on the mind of the crucified Saviour. Forgiveness was the first response of God to sins committed in the Eden. Forgiveness is an unfathomable grace that is deep in the heart of God.
Purchased, in Love
What awesome grace to be purchased, in love, by God and so become His child. What an honor to be brought into His kingdom from a life of slavery to sin and Satan.
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:6
Grace and Wisdom
In His grace and wisdom, He will take the harrowed heart that questions Why, and He will answer it in His way – and in His time – to His glory – and to your benefit.
May it not be well to pause and consider whether God's mightiest and most fruitful works in nature and in grace are not done hiddenly, quietly, unobtrusively, and – in many cases – done before anyone knows about it?
Now may the Lord give us the grace to take our share in the sufferings as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, to be strengthened with the grace that is in Christ Jesus, to bear the testimony of the Lord.
Humility and Grace
It is such a heart that he dresses with humility and grace., not to shatter into despair, but to melt and remake into a heart like unto His heart.
Spirit of Brokenness
This is the heart that is healed by His touch and mended by His grace and mercy.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
If we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged1 Corinthians 11:31
God has set one singular requirement for spiritual growth, which is by grace through faith..
Interlinked Attributes
But sanctification, grace, growth, faith et al, are all interlinked, and a wrong course in one will inevitably influence all the rest.
Unchanging Truth
If we add or subtract from God’s gospel of grace, it influences fellowship and growth.
Christ’s sacrificial death opened up the way for all who believe on His name, to approach God’s throne of grace and enjoy sweet fellowship with the Father.
All we have to do is name our sins, and by His grace, He will forgive our sins and restore us back into fellowship with Himself.
License says you do as you please for the more we sin the more grace is displayed.
When we sin we need to confess our sins and then trust His word and accept His grace – for if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness – and to restore us back into fellowship.
Is the Letter to the Hebrews on any other ground than the ground of Grace?
But I am pointing this out, that this letter is written in the day of Grace; and it is a day which brings into view not some new Christian system, nor the formation of a new Christian tradition, but a spiritual condition, without which everything else is as nothing.
Justifying Faith
And through faith, we understand that justifying faith is simply believing God – trusting in His saving grace.
Law and Grace
Under the Law, we read in Habakkuk that the just one was to live by his own faith.
Under grace we read in Galatians that the just shall live by faith: the faith of the Son of God, for the Spirit of Christ lives in us, as we yield to His child-training.
If the Spirit of God has given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He only does it when His Spirit is at work), you know there is no criminal who is half so bad in actuality as you know yourself to be in possibility.
God's Spirit continually reveals what human nature is like apart from His grace.
Consider His Grace
Consider His good temper, for He said: “suffer little children to come, and forbid them not, and then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put His hands on them, and prayed”.
Paul takes love – the grace of all graces and in three short verses, he passes it through the magnificent, crystal prism of God’s own light-refracting it into the blessed rainbowed-spectrum of His pure love.
Poverty of spirit and humility of heart is the first grace proclaimed in His sermon, and one by one humility bubbles and streams through each subsequent blessing – as beatitude by beatitude, you can trace this thread of Godly grace: “Blessed are they that mourn…” “Blessed are the meek …” “Blessed are pure in heart..” Blessed are they that mourn... “Blessed are those that hunger after His righteousness ..”
True Humility
Poverty of spirit and humility of heart is a key that opens the gate to God’s grace. Poverty of spirit and humility of heart is what God seeks in each of His own.
These three sparkling gems unite into the unique gift of God’s grace – SALVATION.
One Gift of Grace
Salvation is ONE and yet salvation is THREE – for we were saved at a single point in time:- (justified) We are being saved through the passage of time:- (sanctification) and at a point in time, known only to God, we will be finally fully saved:- (glorified). There are not 3 salvations, but ONE gift of grace that is accessed by faith, in Christ, God’s ONE gift of salvation has THREE elements – 1) justification, 2) sanctification, and 3)glorification.
eternal separation from God. Salvation in this verse is given the term justification – for we are justified by grace.
Sanctification – PRESENT
In 1 Timothy 4:16 Paul is seen reminding Timothy to persevere in the things of God – which will ensure SALVATION both for himself – and for all who hear him teach. Salvation in this verse is given the term sanctification – for we are sanctified by grace.
All His children are positionally sanctified – but not all are being practically sanctified. The final element of Salvation by grace is the glorification of our bodies, and when this third element of salvation is complete, we will be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.
Salvation here relates to glorification – and we are also glorified by grace. The apostle John gives a rare look at a verse glimpsing all 3 elements of salvation.
We’re justified by grace; sanctified by grace and glorified by grace – through faith in Christ, and these 3 sparkling gems unite into God’s unique gift of grace – SALVATION.
All By Grace
We come to the Lord Jesus – for salvation (which is all by grace. We live in the Lord Jesus – for sanctification (which is all by grace). We work for the Lord Jesus – in service (which is all by grace)
Every day will provide some opportunity for you to learn spiritual ascendancy; some occasion for you to bring in the value of your relationship with the Lord; to put to the test the resources which you have in Christ; to grow in grace; to know victories.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives 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. Galatians 2:20
Grace-Promise-Faith
There are two paths believers can follow in their Christian life, either grace or law, either faith or works, either promise or merit, either God’s way or man’s way.
We are not only saved by grace we should live our lives by grace, for sanctification is by grace as well as justification.
The “grace-promise-faith” way is described in Scripture as a ministry of life: the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Jam.2:10. Paul warns that living man’s way means that: the grace of Christ has become of no effect unto you: for whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Gal.5:4.
A Christian living the “works-merit-law” way, will find death, failure, and misery, while one living the “grace-promise-faith” way will have life more abundantly.
Normal Christian Life
There are God-given principles for the ‘normal’ Christian life in Scripture, which are all founded on grace and Paul sets out the grace-walk within his epistles.
Paul describes the serious consequences of living the “works-merit-law” way while outlining the tremendous advantages of living the “grace-promise-faith” way.
The “works-merit-law” route, as opposed to the “grace-promise-faith” route.
But sanctification by grace is founded on God’s grace alone.
Law is man’s work, founded on the man’s merit and accessed through law, while grace is God’s work, founded on the promises of God and accessed by faith.
Law is called a ministry of death and its source is the old sin nature, (the flesh), while grace is described as a ministry of life, and its source is the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
A believer that chooses self-merit is a debtor to keep the whole law, while a believer that chooses God’s grace is free from the law of sin and death.
The believer who lives under the law is under condemnation, while the one who lives under grace is not under condemnation
Cleansing Confession
A believer who chooses to live under the law’s self-merit instead of God’s will is still a child of God, although for a time has fallen from grace.
Any believer who has strayed along the “works-merit–law” path and its ministry of death can be restored to the “grace-promise-faith” way and its ministry of life for, His mercies are new every morning – great is His faithfulness.
Pre-cross Israel lived their lives – ”under Law” Post-resurrection Church live their lives – “under Grace,” and the generation of believers that lived both sides of the cross are unique.
It is a history of the transition from Law to Grace – from Israel to the early Church.
Apostle to Gentiles
And God called Saul of Tarsus to be Paul – the apostle to the Gentiles: But when God, Who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me, so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles... I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.
Just remember –
A man’s conduct is always determined by his view of God… and behind it all, is the Divine Purpose to show us that “My Grace Is Sufficient..”
God’s Commands
And He commands us: Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation. Live by faith and not by sight and don’t get embroiled in signs and wonders. We live under grace and not under the law.Be faithful in the place that God has put you. Be faithful to the point of death. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.
Our work begins where God's grace has laid the foundation; we are not to save souls, but to disciple them.
Salvation and sanctification are the work of God's sovereign grace; our work as His disciples is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God.
God brings us to a standard of life by His grace, and we are responsible for reproducing that standard in others.
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. 3:8).
Acts 17:10 God in His grace and love for us, permits His light to shine into our hearts. In two Peter chapter one ver nineteen, we read:- He gives us a more sure word of prophecy, where-unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2Pet.1:19
Light of God
The dawning of the light may be gradual change or a sudden transformation, but all the unfolding of His truth in our hearts – is due to His mercy and grace. He transfigures our experiences, as we pass from darkness to light. He has given us His light in our hearts – the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, Whom the Lord Jesus was sent into the world to be WITH us and IN us – and Who, has been given the responsibility of guiding us into all truth.. as we submit to His leading – as we surrender every area of our lives to Him.
Focus on Obedience
We are imputed with Christ’s righteousness, which directs our focus upon obedience. We are sanctified by grace and obedience is the root and fruit of sanctification.
True Satisfaction
Were florid path strewed with diamonds and gold and the finest of silken thread... were buildings constructed of the most delicately carved marble and oaken beams... were panniers of the most delicious fruit and sweetmeats to grace the richly plenished table... were brimming baskets-full of delicate blossoms to perfume the breezy air – the heart would remain deeply dissatisfied were God excluded from the scene.
Sufficient Grace
But Paul and Job both discovered: My grace is sufficient..
My grace is sufficient. My grace is sufficient for thee… for my strength is perfected in your weakness” 2Corinthians 12:10. It looked to Paul that these five things would terminate his apostolic ministry.
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6
It Takes Time
There is no quick way to grow in grace and become spiritually mature.
Growing in grace requires failure as well as success, inactivity as well as service.
Remember…
There is no quick way to grow in grace and become spiritually mature.
Acts is an overlapping bridge-of-time during which evangelistic responsibility is being passed from the old dispensation of Israel to the Church – in the age of grace.
On and on we discover the Jews were the target-audience for the gospel message – not the gospel of grace which was given to Paul, but the gospel of the kingdom.
They continued proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom – not the gospel of grace.
Church Doctrine
It shows how the early focus of church evangelism – was exclusively to the Jews, but God in His grace raised up Paul the apostle to reveal His plans for the church. May our hearts and minds be open to the Spirit’s leading concerning the book of Acts. Without Acts, Christianity could have morphed into an unorthodox sect of Judaism – but the teachings and doctrines for the Church – were given to us – through Paul.
and a wonderful liberation floods the soul of those saved by God’s gift of grace..
Growing in Grace
He desires all His children to grow in grace and to walk in spirit and truth. God wants us to develop a spiritual walk, which grows into a closer walk with Him. But after the first flush of Christian joy, we can leave our first love and fall from grace.
We can't lose our salvation but we stray from a spiritual walk into a carnal walk. We can leave our first love of Christ and be enticed back to the ways of the world – or we can fall from grace, trying to please God through our own good works.
Walking the way of flesh, worldly living and legalistic good works all deny God’s grace. But He desires His children to grow in grace and to walk in spirit and truth.
All-Embracing Word
The word ‘salvation’ is one all-embracing word that unites a variety of concepts; redemption; rebirth; justification; security; sanctification; growth; maturity; foreknowledge; election; predestination; righteousness; glorification; grace; reconciliation; new-life-in-Christ; new creation; adoption; saved by grace; born-from-above; baptised into Christ; accepted-in Him; citizens of heaven - and more.
Together they sing a symphony of salvation, in praise of the riches of God’s grace.
Brands of Glory
Each aspect of salvation has its own particular brand of glory and magnificence, and each needs to be studied and understood for the riches and truth it contains. Yet together they combine to demonstrate the enormity of God’s grace towards us.
Detail of Truth
Each facet opens up one aspect of God’s grace..
Facets of Salvation
The crux of the matter is that every aspect of salvation is dependent on God’s grace.
Some limit God’s grace to the simple act of being saved – when it underpins ALL.
All facets of Salvation are by the power of God and because of the grace of God. All God does in redemption, rebirth, justification; and sanctification is by grace.
All His foreknowledge; election; predestination sealing and adoption is of grace.
All By Grace
All the security, growth, maturity, righteousness, and glorification is by grace.
and heavenly citizenship is grace.
The works we do and the fruit we produce as well as the gifts we receive are all by grace.
And our final glorification; reward in heaven and heir-ship with Christ is God’s grace.
Not Man’s Merit
Redeeming, reconciliation, sanctification, and maturing in the faith is ALL by grace.
Indeed, God will not accept any aspect of Salvation any other way than by GRACE.
God’s Standard
The saving of believers is all by grace and requires complete dependence on Christ. The sanctifying, maturing life can only be lived effectively when dependent upon Him. But too often instead of yielding to the power of God, we strive in our own strength.
Grace Alone By Faith
Better to swallow our pride and revisit Scripture, and find out God’s perfect plan..
for every facet of salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.
Each aspect of salvation embraces its own particular message of biblical truth - but from start to finish Salvation is God working in us – and it is all His grace.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly lusts so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in this present age-Titus 2:12
Our Teacher
The law of God is a schoolmaster to bring the unsaved man and woman to Christ, but once we are saved it is the grace of God that becomes our teacher and instructor.
Some are concerned that an over-emphasis on God’s grace provides a license to sin..
and yet the scripture teaches that grace trains us to turn our back on godless living.
Our Guide
Grace is a teacher that shows us the error of sinful pleasures, and worldly passions.
Godly Living
By GRACE we were saved – when we first trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour.
By GRACE we are to live... as we abide in Christ, rest in Him, and trust His Word...and it is GRACE that teaches us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.
It is grace that trains us and to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and passion.
It is grace that enables us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.
It is grace that lets us live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way, in the present age.
Children of Grace
All who have received a new life in Christ, BY grace, must be trained THROUGH grace. Grace brings to our understanding the great love and goodness of God towards us.
It is by grace we are forgiven; saved; sealed – clothed in Christ’s own righteousness.
It’s by grace we grow in grace and are accepted by God and seated in heavenly places.
It’s by grace we are made children of God and joint-heirs and inheritors with Christ.
Riches of God’s Grace
We have been given the riches of God’s grace and glory – and are complete in Christ.
Should we not acknowledge His amazing grace and unconditional love towards us?
– for when we do, grace will start to teach us and to train us in godly living.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, It trains us to renounce ungodly living and worldly lusts so that we might live sensible, honest, and godly lives in this present age.
However, with progress in grace we find them to be as clear and logical as the truth of justification.
The marvel of divine grace is that not only has everything according to the heart of God been secured for me through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but that I, a child of Adam, should be, not only in peace with God where I was under His judgment, but that I am transferred from Adam to Christ, and I am to have Christ formed in me now.
I am born of God - of new and divine origin - a new creation to be here on earth now where I was a child of Adam, in the grace and beauty of Christ, led by His own power to stand for Him; daily more and more transformed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord' (2 Cor. 3:18).
Heavenly Home
And yet our feet are dusty – polluted with the sin and filth of this world, for we are ever yet journeying towards our heavenly home. The Father is there and seated on His throne of grace. At His right hand is seated the Son of His love – the Man..
the perfect Man; the Man Christ Jesus.. seated on the throne with the Father. The family, redeemed out of every nation and clime, are gathering, as angels gaze on in wonder – as grace upon grace is realised.
Through grace, we are not in the flesh, but in Christ, yet the flesh is in us; but our part is to reckon it as having been, before God and to faith, judicially put to death in Christ crucified, thus setting us free to be so constantly occupied with the triumphant Son of God, as to find all our resources, all our strength, all our springs, in Him. -H.H.S.
The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect [mature], establish, strengthen, settle you (1 Pet. 5:10).
One of the most damaging things in the realm of God's work, a thing which eventually leads to shame and confusion and much sorrow, is Natural Soul-Force projected by strong-willed, determined, aggressive Christians who have not come to a spiritual sense where they are able to discriminate between stubborn indomitableness, personal determination and resolution, and which is altogether another thing: spiritual grace in endurance, perseverance, and Divine in-strengthening.
Let Paul talk to you about the Lord's wonderful grace to continue.
The Father will not give you humility or patience or love as separate gifts of grace; He has given you the Lord Jesus, and if you simply trust Him to live out His life in you, He will be humble, patient, loving and everything else you need.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Oh foolish Galatians…after starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?
Grace OR Works
Scripture contrasts two ‘ways’ a believer seeks to live the Christian life.
Paul outlines both options in his epistle to the Galatians: 1) the grace-promise-faith way and 2) the works-merit-law way.
The grace-promise-faith way is 100% achievable and done by God for man.
There is probably no more important message to the church today than this, for most believers having started their Christian life by grace through faith, revert from grace back to the law, by trying to live their life for God.
Blessings abound for those humble enough and courageous enough to seek to live their life the grace-promise-faith way.
Paul’s Challenge
Paul challenges those given initial salvation by grace through faith with these words: are ye so foolish, having begun in the spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? He is saying, having begun ‘the grace-promise-faith way’ are ye now made perfect by ‘the works-merit-law way?’ Many believers aren’t properly schooled in these two contrasting ways of living the Christian life and fall into the works-merit–law trap.
God’s Way OR Man’s Way
The grace way is sanctification God’s way.
The grace-promise-faith way is the ‘spiritual’ route.
All believers are born-again the ‘grace-promise-faith’ way, for salvation is simply: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved – by grace thru faith, which is a done deed.
Faith Not Works
Believers make a choice to either live God’s way, which is the ‘grace-promise-faith’ way, or man’s way, the ‘works-merit -law’ way.
To grow spiritually is the responsibility of each believer, but like justification can only be achieved the ‘grace-promise-faith’ way.
Living the ‘works-merit -law’ way is not living under grace, but rather falling from grace. It is living under a pot-pourri of legalism, carnality, and dead ‘fleshly’ works.
Grace-Promise-Faith
Grace abounds to those that are both humble and courageous enough to walk the grace-promise-faith route.
There is so much more to explore about living by grace in the book of Galatians, which step by step brings us from persistent failure and self-effort, into a victorious Christian life, which is only possible by God’s grace – through faith.
Grace Thru Faith - STUDY
Questioning Heart
Have you ever looked back over your life and just wondered..
and the gospel of grace is shouted abroad – and others come to know your God.
We read in Ephesians 1:5-6 ‘Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved,'”
Our Father would be free to favor us with far more of His riches in Christ Jesus if we would keep more in mind that grace is unmerited favor - so that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy (Rom. 9:23).
Growing In Grace - STUDY
Christian Desire
Many Christians desire union and communion (or fellowship) with our Lord Jesus, but feel they do not enjoy it as they desire.
The indwelling of the Spirit
Fellowship with the Lord should be the experience of all believers as we grow in grace and submit to the Spirit’s work in our lives, as He seeks to conform us into the likeness of Christ, but this is not always the case.
One nation was in view when the Law of Moses was in force on the earth; the individual is in view during this age of grace; and the whole social structure of mankind will be in view when the kingdom is established on earth.
The soul that turns back upon itself to learn God's judgment about it, and what His dealings with it are likely to be, is not leaning upon what the Father is - is not standing in grace.
Neither our joy nor our peace is dependent upon what we are to Him, but on what He is to us - and this is grace. -J.N.D.
How happy then to know that I belong to the place where He is; and that through grace I am made suited to Him in that new place; so that I set my mind and affections there, as the place where my deepest joys are to be realized. -J.B.S.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?Galatians 3:1
I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothingGalatians 2:19-21
Rules of Grace Life
Living by grace is the antithesis to the way that man has learned to live in this world.
The life of grace can only be understood if one has learned how to live by faith, and then apply it.
They live the “law-works-merit” way – rather than the “grace-faith-promise” way.
A Liberating Truth
These Galatian Christian believed the gospel of grace and then returned to the old ways of the law.
Every believer has been saved by grace through faith and placed in union with Christ; baptised into Christ’s death and was identified with Him the moment they believed.
They had learned the liberating truth of grace but then reverted to a Christian life under the law.
A Teachable Spirit
To live our Christian lives by God’s “grace-faith-promise” rules, rather than the more logical “law-works-merit” rules requires us to live by faith and not by sight.
As we explore these scripture passages, may we exhibit a teachable spirit, so that we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So that we walk the “grace-faith-promise” way (or fly the IFR way) rather than slipping into the “law-works-merit” way (the VFR way)
When the devil puts you into an elevated place, he makes you screw your idea of holiness beyond what flesh and blood could ever hear, it is a spiritual acrobatic performance, you are just poised and dare not move; but when God elevates you by His grace into the heavenly places, instead of finding a pinnacle to cling to, you find a great table-land where it is easy to move.
Growth in grace is measured not by the fact that we have not gone back, but that you have an in sight into where you are spiritually; you have heard God say Come up higher, not to you personally, but to the insight of your character.
God makes us pure by His sovereign grace, but we have something to look after, this bodily life by which we come in contact with other people and with other points of view, it is these that are apt to sully.
Not only must the inner sanctuary be kept right with God, but the outer courts as well are to be brought into perfect accord with the purity God gives us by His grace.
A Worthy Calling
Our initial salvation when we were born again is a gift of grace – received by faith. Our Christian walk as we grow in grace is also a gift of grace – received by faith. And as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him, so we will reflect our Lord – and we will walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called.
STUDY in PRAYER
Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.Hebrews 4:16
This daily ‘nipto’ – maintains fellowship with God and access to His throne of grace.
Continuous Cleansing
Intercession begins on bended heart and yet it reaches to the throne of God, but intercessors need a cleansed, humble heart to come boldly to the throne of grace.
God’s Foreknowledge
In His omniscience, God knows in advance every person that will choose to believe. God’s grace is extended to everyone and all we have to do is to believe in Jesus. And God has plans for everyone, who freely chooses to trust in Christ as Saviour. God foreknew all who would drink of the waters of life and become His child, and before the world was made He had plans for all those – who would believe on Jesus.
Grace through Faith
Well, every part of salvation is a gift of God’s grace that is accessed by faith. God does it all and we contribute nothing – all we had to do was to freely believe. Once we believed that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God Who died to pay the price for our sins…..
We too are to live the sanctified life as He did if we are to grow in grace and mature.
Church Age Baptism
As church-age believers, we are baptised by the Spirit into Christ the moment we believe that Jesus is our Saviour and that He died for our sin and rose the third day. We are to grow in grace and become true followers – true disciples of the Lord and water baptism is a beautiful outward demonstration of a beautiful internal change.
God in His mercy, sought to manifest Himself fully in the last days, through Christ, God in His grace towards us, opened our understanding of Himself, through Jesus.
Paul discovered his great learning and stunning personality had its roots in evil self, and that he, of all men, needed God’s tremendous, wonderful, amazing grace.
Now that is grace… God’s tremendous, wonderful, amazing grace.
God has an eternal purpose in all of life’s trials and troubles – an unbroken, uninterrupted, unparalleled purpose from eternity to eternity - that in the ages to come God might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
He left His Father’s throne aboveSo free, so infinite His grace—Emptied Himself of all but love,And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free,For O my God, it found out me!
The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the Divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so.
Unique Visitation
Abel was accepted through a bloodied sacrifice – Peter by the shore of Galilee. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord – Paul found His grace was sufficient. The shepherds were led by a host of angels – the Wise Men followed a star. And on and on – each encounter different, distinct, dissimilar from the other.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
Debtor to the Law
A Christian either lives under the Law, which means they have: fallen from grace, or they live under grace which means they are free from the bondage of the Law.
A Christian living under the Law is still saved, but fallen from grace, how sad.
Every born-again Christian has a choice: to live under the whole Law OR to live under grace, but they cant live under Law and grace at the same time.
Age of Grace
Romans, Galatians and much of the NT detail the error of this thinking.
Christ’s death, burial and resurrection ended the period called the age of law and introduced the age of grace – the Church dispensation.
It is called the law of Christ – the royal law – the law of liberty and yet today there is a lot of confusion about law and grace.
Living under grace is not a free-for-all license to do what you please.
The law was given by Moses: but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Let us search through the epistles of Paul to discover how to live our lives under grace – how to abide in Christ – how to submit our lives to the Spirit – how to live our lives in spirit and truth: until it is not I that lives but Christ that lives through me.
It is just the beginning of the process, in you, and so day by day, by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit, grow in grace; grow in understanding; grow in love and grow in wisdom..
Words of Christ
We read of the Lord Jesus that His speech and language was so very gracious. His words were filled with truth but they were also caring, kind and full of grace.
They should edify and encourage. 'Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.' Colossians 4:6
Worldly Words
And as children of God, we are all to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord.
Our words are to be wholesome; sensitive; truthful; thoughtful; wise – spiritual... 'let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear'.
Full of Grace
But we must not impede the Spirit work in another by the things that we say.
We should not speak the truth in contempt or anger or self-righteousness. We should speak the truth in love – words seasoned with salt and full of grace.
All this can be if we will go the way of this man, and say, “Yes, this has gone on long enough and it has to end, and to end, so far as my giving diligence is concerned, at once, and I do most truly by the grace of God take a deliberate and definite faith action and faith attitude toward the Lord Jesus for my complete deliverance and the setting of me upon my feet for His glory, for His praise!” I think there will be an issue, and I think it will be — “he, leaping up, stood upon his feet, praising and glorifying God.” May it be so with every one of us.
witness to the Light – witness to Grace. Grace and truth came by Jesus, the light of the world, and John testified of Him. John was sent to witness of Christ – the light to men, Who was full of grace and truth.
Christ’s Witness
John, whose name means: God is gracious, bore witness of Jesus: God is salvation. John was to point to the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world. John was a witness to the grace of God – that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. John was sent as a moon to reflect the Son – the only true Light of the world.
Sacrifice for Sin
Though acknowledged by the Lord Jesus as the greatest of all men born of women. John was the one who testified that he must decrease – but Christ must increase. John was not the Light, but he witnessed about the true and only Light of God. John did not bring Grace, but he was to testify of the One Who was full of Grace. John could not forgive sins, but pointed to the Messiah, the only Sacrifice for sin.
Gospel of John
But the Baptist was not the only man called ‘John’ that witnessed of the grace of God.
The true Light that lights ALL men had come into the world – full of grace and truth.
The Saviour had arrived - the Light and Life of men… full of grace and truth.
Witness to Grace
The Baptist’s message in John had its focus on the fullness of the grace of God.
He is proclaiming the fullness of grace that alone comes through the person of Christ, For from His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.
The witness of grace, proclaimed by John, emanated from God’s infinite love and grace.
Embryonic Gospel
John’s witness of grace was more than restoration of life for the descendants of Adam.
He was presenting the embryonic gospel of grace, which was to be more fully revealed by the ministry of the apostle Paul – to include the Church as the Body of Christ in Union with Him – a new creation and joint-heirs of God’s Son – a heavenly citizenship and the indwelling Holy Spirit as a down-payment from God the Father – our Abba.
Repentance and Grace
Abraham was a highly esteemed prophet and honoured as the great father of faith. Moses was the great prophet – reverenced by the many religions of the world, but John the Baptist is the greatest of all the prophets that have been sent by God.
His witness was to both Jew and gentile – a double message of repentance and grace. The LAW of Moses was given to REVEAL sin... but GRACE through faith in Christ REMOVES sin.
to bear witness about Jesus:- the Son of – God; the Messiah of Israel; the Light of the world, Who was full of grace and truth, that ALL might believe – through Him.
Growing In Grace - STUDY
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
They can live the grace-promise-faith way or they can live the works-merit-law way.
Right Choices
Remember, there are two paths a born-again believer can follow in their Christian walk: either the grace-promise-faith way or the works-merit-law way; either by grace or works of the law; either by promise or the works of the flesh; either by faith or by merit; either by living a spiritual life or living a carnal life; either by walking in the spirit or walking in the flesh; either by walking in newness of life in Christ or by walking by means of the old sin nature in Adam.
Let us seek to please our heavenly Father, by walking the grace-promise-faith way.
Is it not a deep unspeakable gratitude for the grace of God?
We only worship in the measure in which we appreciate the grace of God.... You remember that a favorite way to Paul of opening his letters was with three words: Grace, mercy, and peace, be unto you.
Wonderful grace, grace that could never be explained; boundless mercy; and peace with God.
It was the prayer of deep worship for the grace of God, and that must have a place in all true prayer.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.2Corinthians 12:9
Sufficient Grace
Remember this principle as you face the fiery trials that beset you. Remember that sufficient grace and new power comes from the Lord through conflict. Remember Christ’s life was developed and honed and made perfect through suffering..
Finger of Grace
Those times when the days seemed dark, do not influence His acceptance of you.
He has the finger of His grace upon your life and has engraved you on His hands, but like a wise parent with a temperamental child, He waits and waits and waits.
It is possible, and very humiliating, to be awakened to the fact, though we have had a measure of zeal for the Lord, that we have barely known the things we should have known, nor the behavior that is becoming to us in this marvelous day of grace.
The latter is not easily learned; the former is the fruit of light; the latter is never acquired but as there is practical grace and love - the activity of the Lord Jesus' nature in me by the Spirit. -J.B.S.
Paul was acutely aware that nothing in this world can endear us to God, other than being covered by the blood of the Lamb, and clothed in the righteousness of Christ, which can only become ours by God's grace - through faith in His only begotten Son.
He is the incomparable Rock upon which we are to build and He is the Rock of ages from Whom we have been hewn - and having been saved by grace through faith in Him, we are also called to live by the faith of the Son of God Who loved us and gave His life for us.
A faith that believes God - a faith that trusts His Word - a faith that walks in spirit and truth - a faith that in grace and humility whispers: not I but Christ.
Paul reminded them that they were called to be holy and enriched by the grace of God - and he also reminds us that our God is a God of comfort, especially in those times of trials and difficulty - for God is always in control and His grace is always sufficient ..
God is faithful - and not only has he already delivered us from the consequences of sin and eternal separation from Himself, by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary's cross..
Though we were dead in our sins, at enmity with God and eternally separated from Him, in His grace and love He stooped down in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ and rescued us from slavery to sin and the eternal death sentence under which we were all placed.
His words were not designed to exalt his person; position or status, for his collective writings emphasise that our great salvation is only because of the amazing grace of God and His unfathomable mercy, that saved us through faith in the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These saints remained constant in their love and loyalty towards the Lord, and were those who were maturing in the faith, growing in grace and aware of their privileged position in Him.
As Paul progressed through his letter, he laid out in our most wonderful birth-right, which is ours as a free gift of God's grace.
In chapter 2 he tells us we have been saved by His grace; quickened and made alive by God; seated in heavenly places with Christ and made nigh by the blood of the Lamb.
His prayer for his readers is that God's grace and peace would flood their hearts in the fullest measure.
He urged them to fix their hope completely on the grace they received when they first heard, believe the glorious gospel of grace, and understand their salvation was through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Peter was calling them, and us, to love others as Christ loved us - with a sacrificial love, that can only come from a heart that has been saved by grace through faith in Christ - a heart that is in fellowship with the Father, through a cleansed heart that is walking in spirit, and in obedience to the truth.
God’s offer of salvation, by grace through faith in Him, has lasted many thousands of years, but a day of deep darkness and righteous judgement is coming on the whole earth, when His wrath will be poured out on a God-despising, Christ-hating sinful world – and unbelieving Israel, along with all the godless nations of the world, will reap the dreadful rewards of their gross apostasy and satanic behaviour.
Once we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, we are to grow and mature in our Christian walk.
We are not to simply remain with the initial joy, in believing that we are a sinner for whom Christ died, but are to grow in grace, so that our joy may become full.
We are to progress into a deeper relationship with the Lord, and to develop a more secure faith in Christ's sufficient grace, in every circumstance of life.
We are to grow from being a baby Christian, whose main-focus is the importance of repenting of our pre-salvation sins and bathing in the joy of being saved... into becoming a mature believer, where we develop an abiding fellowship with the Father, by walking in the light of His glorious truth, and being continuously cleansed, through His sufficient grace - as we rest in our Saviour's love.
God has given us His sufficient grace, so that we may live as Christ lived - in spirit and in truth, but we are to appropriate all that is ours in Him..
Just as we who are saved by grace through faith were crucified with Christ and identified with His death, so we who are saved by grace through faith are risen with Christ and identified with His resurrected life - for in Him we are born into newness of life. Because He died we are saved by grace through faith.
Because He lives we too will live and receive His resurrected life as a free gift of grace through faith.
And Romans is a book that systematically and logically takes us into a fuller understanding of God’s plans and purposes for salvation, for redemption, sanctification, glorification and all that accompanies the riches of God’s grace towards us, who were once dead in trespasses and sins, but have now been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
There is no excuse for unbelief, for now, as the prophets foretold, through the command of the eternal God, His message of salvation by grace through faith in Christ is made known to all nations everywhere, so that they too might believe and be saved.
The fields were white with harvest and as long as he had life in his body, Paul knew he could proclaim the good news of the gospel of grace to those who were dead in sin, and preach the Word of truth to babes in Christ and mature men of God, and so we read his thoughts - I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better, YET he admitted, to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
People living at the time of the cross experienced both pre-cross and post-cross teachings and had to go through the painful transition from Law to grace - as they moved from a dispensation based on the Mosaic Law to living in the post-cross Church age.
The Word of God not only tells us of our salvation by grace through faith in Christ as Saviour, but the Bible tells us the end from the beginning, and our faith is built on the witness of the apostles and prophets of God.
He came in the likeness of mortal flesh, lived a humiliating life, died an obscene death and was hated and scorned by those He came to save - because it is not His will that any are condemned but that all come to faith in Him - What amazing grace.
What astonishing, beautiful, glorious grace.
But cults and creeds, religions and denomination near and far, minimise His atoning work, deny His eternal deity, accredit others as 'co-redeemers' with Him and replace the glorious gospel of grace with another 'gospel'.
His grace is sufficient for every eventuality we may face.
His resurrection from the dead imputes His resurrected life into those that are His - for His eternal life is a free gift of God's grace, through faith in Him.
As members of Christ's body, it is by His grace we are saved - through faith in Christ, and it is also by grace through faith in Him that we are to continue to live our lives.
But ungodly men who refuse to accept Christ's payment for their sin, as a free gift of God's grace, will be punished and judged according to their works - which can never be good enough for a holy God - for there is none good, not even one.
A life with a passion for Christ gives rise to a life of victory, where the power of faith and the sufficiency of His grace, overcomes the difficulties of life and the sting of death.
He wrote to remind them of the hope of rewards at Christ’s return.Paul’s epistles are filled with wise instruction on how to live the sanctified life of a normal Christian, and often include the name of other brothers and sisters in the faith, who laboured with him, in spreading abroad the gospel of grace.
Moment of chastening will always be transformed into a lifetime of grace.
However, whether they are the result of the actions, attitudes and indifference of others beyond our control, God's anger lasts but for a brief moment but His grace and favour is everlasting.
The whole of Psalm 50 is a song that shows forth the greatness of God, His never-ending righteousness and His long-suffering grace but it is also one that is a severe rebuke to His people Israel, for their disinterested complacency and hypocritical attitude into which their external acts of sacrifices had fallen.
Without Christ, the deep darkness of man’s inner soul remains blinded to the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, which points to Jesus as the true light, Who alone lights the hearts and minds of many who believe on Him.
Two thousand years ago, heavenly light shone out of the darkness, and by God’s grace, the beauty of His light and life has shone into our hearts, and given us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.
His word is a lamp to our feet and a guiding light along our pathway, for by grace through faith we have been made children of the light, and are called to walk in the light of His love, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful, yet simple, universal declarations of the good news of the gospel of grace, is found in the book of Joel..
and unless the good news of the gospel of grace is proclaimed universally, men and women, boys and girls, rich and poor, Jews and Gentiles alike, will remain dead in their trespasses and sins.
salt in a putrefying world, God's witnesses to those that are lost in their sins, a testimony of God's grace to those who are dead in their trespasses and a messenger of hope, to those that are without hope in the world.
Let us pray that God would send out labourers into the harvest-fields of souls, that need to be saved by grace through faith in Christ..
And what a comfort for Christians in this dispensation of grace, to know that the promises that God has made to the Church in connection with our own, heavenly inheritance are equally steadfast and sure... for the Word of God can never be broken.
from the curse of the Law to the freedom of grace - and points out that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, and not by personal merit or through works of the flesh.
Paul made it very clear that Israel plainly understood that the Lord required godly righteousness-by grace through faith and not man's fleshly righteousness-by works of the Law..
But Paul also goes on to rejoice that in His goodness and grace God's offer of salvation continues to be extended to Israel and that His punishment for their sin will not remain forever.
Let us reflect on that pivotal point in history, where the love of our wonderful God and the grace of our beautiful Saviour was so perfectly demonstrated in the intertwining of this duel sacrifice for us - FIRST) a compulsory sacrifice for sin and SECOND) a voluntary burnt-offering out of love.
May the lives we live be a testimony of the riches of God’s grace towards us, and may we reflect the beauty of Jesus in the words that we say and the things that we do.
Israel may have stumbled but by God's grace they did not fall, and as a result of their terrible transgression - salvation has come to the Gentiles - Hallelujah!!
We who were dead in trespasses and sin and without God in the world have been brought near to God because of Israel's transgressions, and by grace through faith in Him, we have been made children of God; forgiven of our sins, made part of the Body of Christ, been in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit and received eternal life as a free gift of God's grace. Hallelujah!!
And so for a season (i.e. during the church age - the current dispensation of grace), Israel has been set aside - but as a result of their transgression, salvation has come to the gentiles.
In his later years the apostle John was often called 'the apostle of love', for this fiery son of thunder displayed such a gentle grace in his twilight years.
saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus - all had their sins forgiven through His shed blood and all had been given eternal life as God's free gift of grace.
All John's 'little children' were saved by grace for simply believing on the only begotten Son of God for the redemption of sin and life everlasting - all had their sins forgiven: for His name's sake.
What glorious grace it is to know that the forgiveness of our sins does not have to rest on our own merit or good works - but is secured on Christ's finished work on the cross - for His names sake.
Too many Christians have not come to the glorious freedom offered in the Word of God, by the God of grace because they have a wrong perception of God Himself.
But too many Christians have not come into the glorious freedom offered in the Word of God, by the God of grace because they have a wrong perception of God Himself.
His grace and strength is sufficient... for He is the all-powerful God.
We should remember that when faced with tremendous difficulties and dangers we have the sentence of death within ourselves so that in our helplessness we would not trust in ourselves but in Christ, Who rose from the dead; provides us with His sufficient grace - and in Whom we have been made a new creation.
He is a God of incalculable grace, infinite wisdom, and amazing kindness.
Despite their failure in Eden, God in His goodness, grace, mercy, and kindness, made a covenant - the Adamic covenant.
By God's immeasurable mercy, inestimable grace, eternal wisdom, and unlimited kindness, their faith was credited to them as righteousness.
The man and the woman were saved by grace through faith in God's Word.
Let us never forget that like Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham, Daniel and Peter - James and John, we have been saved by grace, through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God's unimaginable mercy, incalculable grace, infinite wisdom, and amazing kindness - not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast.
His desire was that he would be enabled to speak the mystery of Christ to lost sinners, and to tell forth the wonders of His glorious grace toward us.
Not only did it contain news of Paul’s current circumstances… but he knew that this faithful servant of the Lord would edify the saints, and encourage them to stand firm in the faith and hold fast to the truth of the glorious gospel of grace.
Despite the Corinthian Christians being saved by grace through faith in Christ, Paul had some serious concerns about their ungodly conduct, their spiritual immaturity, their argumentative behaviour and their abuse of spiritual gifts.
Step by step, Paul guided these confused Christians through the gospel message of grace - that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture and that he was buried and was raised from the dead, according to the Scripture.
Like Jesus we are to raised spirit, soul and BODY. If Christ had not been raised from the dead, then everything about the glorious gospel of grace, and our faith in the Lord Jesus would be false and worthless!!
All who have been saved by grace through faith in Him, have been promised that their earthly, perishable body will be raised a heavenly, imperishable body..
Immorality is to be judged and godliness is to be pursued, without inflicting any legalistic demands or promoting any liberal laxity.. that could bring the grace of God into disrepute.
those saved by grace through faith), and that on whomsoever that Stone shall fall, will be ground to powder. (i.e.
God in His wisdom and grace gave us this important picture of world domination, through a succession of evil empires dominated by Satan, to purify our hearts and strengthen our faith.
God in His grace has opened our understanding so that we will not fear what is coming on the earth, but trust in His unfailing love.
God in His grace also put it in the heart of King Cyrus to return the holy articles, that had been plundered from the Temple of the Lord, for we read… also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the Lord. God has made known the end from the beginning from ancient times, has revealed what is still to come. ‘My purpose will stand,‘ says the Lord, ‘and I will do all that I please.’
From start to finish the book of Galatians outlines the deep concern that the apostle Paul showed for the Christians in Galatia, who having been saved by grace through faith in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins..
They chose to turn from the law of grace back to Law of sin and death..
It seems incredible that they willingly returned to the shackles of sin and the bondage of the Law, from which they had been fully pardoned by grace.
If salvation is gained any way, other than by grace through faith in the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ then Christ died in vain!!!
It is incredible to think that this gross apostasy was taking place only a short time after Paul had taught them the truth of the glorious gospel of grace - and yet this situation was not unique to this church in Galatia..
These dear believers had come to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus, but had turned from the truth of the gospel of grace to the beggarly elements of the Law..
We are declared righteous by faith in the only begotten Son of God for the forgiveness of our sin and we are to continue to LIVE by grace through faith..
Most people seem to know that the only way to be saved is by grace through faith in Christ... but we are also to live by faith and to grow in grace.
We are not to be saved through Christ alone and then live our lives in our own strength or by participating in an increasing array of rituals, rites, festivals, feasts, seasons, ceremonies and laws - but by grace alone through faith alone in Christ ALONE.
This would be the time the Lord would pour out His Spirit of grace upon His chosen nation.
He explains how the faithful remnant will mourn deeply over rejecting their Messiah, when they realise their sin, but that in His grace, the Lord had made provision for their sin to be forgiven; the nation to be restored and their land to be cleansed.
Time is short and every day is a day when the gospel of grace can be shared with Jew and Gentile alike.
May we be increasingly aware of the days in which we live and take every opportunity to tell others that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ before this terrible time of tribulation.
They were a young Church, who were growing in grace, maturing in the faith and making steady progress in their Christian walk.
May we be diligent to tell others of the good news of the gospel of grace and rejoice with them in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we cast our crowns before HIS feet.
They did not understand that the Law of God, the Prophets of Israel, the Psalms and the Feasts-days were all pointing to Christ – and that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”, had set them free from “the law of sin and of death”.Today, as in those early days of Christianity, there is still much confusion about the “gospel of God”, and there are many attempts to add law to grace and works to faith.
ALL believers, whether circumcised Jew or uncircumcised Gentiles are one in Christ, and lay claim to the same spiritual circumcision – a true circumcision of the heart, because we are ALL saved by grace through faith in Christ.
May it never be that I would boast in anything, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but we are a new creation – and may peace be on all (Gentiles) who will walk by this rule, and may MECRY be upon “the Israel of God”.What grace..
There is no need to have confidence in any physical, fleshly identification with Israel – for we have been spiritually identified with Christ Himself – and are ONE with Him.What grace that we who were once “Gentiles-in-the-flesh”, and called “the Uncircumcision” by the ones who are called “the Circumcision”, are NOW called “the true ‘Circumcision”, because of our faith!Before our salvation we were at enmity with God, outside of Christ, aliens to the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the Promise.
We are not called to make the world a better place, but to share the good news of the gospel of grace, so that men, women, boys and girls may be saved out of the world - by grace, through faith in Christ.
Having been justified by His grace and made children of God, we are to reflect the love and kindness of Christ to others... but we are not to seek out arguments or respond to factious and contentious people.
Grace demands that we do not assume someone to be a fractious man or a religious 'nit-picker' with their first quibbling comment.
But we read that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
But we discover that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
Why was it that NOAH alone found grace in the eyes of the Lord?
because God in His grace searches the heart, and He could see that Noah trusted Him..
Without faith it is impossible to please God, but Noah's faith pleased God and so Noah, found grace in the eyes of the Lord and His faith was credited to Him as righteousness..
Paul was certainly filled with joy knowing that there were many who were continuing his work and preaching Christ from a sincere love of the Lord and a desire to tell forth the glorious message of Salvation by grace through faith in Him - but he also rejoiced over the ministry of those whose motive in preaching was rooted in envy and strife.
and may we never allow wrong motives or fleshly attitudes to influence the calling that God has laid on each one of our lives - rather let us rejoice that the good news of God is being proclaimed to lost souls who need to hear the glorious gospel of Salvation - by grace through faith in Christ.
It is as he seeks the Lord that he starts to rehearse the many wonders, power, grace and glory that have been displayed in his own life and the lives of countless others, who have trusted Him as saviour and believed in His promises of grace.
May we take to heart the serious consequences of sin and remove every element of it in our life, which may cause us to fall into sinfulness, and may we also be ready and willing to share the good news of the gospel of grace with those who remain dead in their sins – and warn them of the terrible consequences of hell, and God’s unquenchable fire – which awaits all who have not trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
But we who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, should recognise God's Word as the most precious tool in our Christians arsenal, which provides all we need for life and godliness.
It gives guidelines on growing in grace and in maintaining godly intercourse with our fellow believers.
Nevertheless, we are promised Christ's sufficient grace, because we are in union with Him and His strength is perfected in us as we depend upon Him.
as the furnace tries silver - to cut deep into our fleshly nature and polish off all the fleshly dross that contaminates our new-life in Christ - so that by grace through faith we will not murmur, but humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God,..
Jeremiah began his ministry knowing that no one would heed His message of grace and he lived his life being ridiculed and persecuted by his own people – and yet despite this heart-breaking situation, Jeremiah would proclaim, the Lord is GOOD to those who wait for Him – to those who seek after Him.
These words of comfort were given to Israel after Isaiah's repeated warning of approaching punishment if they did not repent of their evil ways, nevertheless... the Lord is a God of comfort and grace.
He never goes back on His Word nor does He grow weary - and in His loving-kindness He gives grace to the humble and renews the strength of those that wait upon Him, by faith.
And He has promised that His grace is sufficient for us, no matter how weary we may become, for His power is perfected in our weakness.
God's grace is sufficient for every circumstance of life.
His grace is enough for all who place their entire trust and confidence in His mighty strength.
His grace is enough for every eventuality in life and His provision comes through faith in His beloved Son.
He will provide strength to those who can admit to their own disability - for His grace is sufficient in all situations of life.
During his incarceration in a Roman prison, Paul met with Onesimus, who believed the gospel of the grace of God and was wonderfully saved.
No matter what our station in life there are many lessons that each one of us can learn from this little letter to Philemon. What a joy to know that no-one is excluded from the good news of the gospel of grace - for anyone can be saved through faith in Christ. And yet it is also important to be aware, that although sin can be forgiven, there are always consequences for our wrongdoings and our responsibilities must always be addressed.
Men were saved by grace through faith, just as they are today, BUT the people were required to work the works of God and the keep the entire Law, to earn God's blessing.
God in His grace, made provision for man's redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7 systematically sets out the need for God's former administration through Israel, (the Dispensation of the Law), to be superseded with the next dispensation through the Church (the Dispensation of the Grace of God). For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness, for the Law made nothing perfect. With the advent of Christ, the Law was fulfilled on behalf of all who believe, bringing us a better hope and a better High Priest, through Whom we draw near to God.
Jeremiah reminded the faithful remnant of believing Israel..(and also those of us that are saved by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord), of the wonderful fact that the Lord, examines the heart, and give to each what they deserve, based on what they have done, by faith - I, the Lord search the heart. I, the Lord test the mind of man.
Since he was about to become God's appointed ruler over His people Israel, Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge so that he would be enabled to rule with integrity and grace - for who can rule this great people of Yours? was Solomon thoughtful response.
And God in His grace sent Jesus to be the image of the invisible God, Who existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.
God in His grace has shown us many things, through nature, through our inner conscience.. and through His God-breathed Word..
And in His grace God gave us an enquiring mind and the capacity to investigate, to learn and to search out the truth - so that we can make sound judgements and give wise counsel.
We, on the other hand are finite creatures, who are incapable of being all-knowing, like our omniscient God. But in His grace He allows those that are prepared to search for Him with all their heart to discover a treasure trove of truth that is hidden beneath the surface of Scripture..
and in some cases are concealed within the physical, created realm - but we are reminded that we will find out truth, grow in grace and increase in wisdom as we search for Him with all our heart and soul and mind and strength - for it is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
so that we may grow in grace, mature in the faith and discover the hidden things of God - for secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things He has revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all that He commands.
But in His grace He has also shared many of the deep things of God with those that are in Christ Jesus ..
but God in His grace has also revealed much to us by His Spirit - for His Spirit searches out all deep things of God and shows us the hidden secrets of the Lord, that are hidden within the Word of truth.
which are only given to those that have spiritual discernment through the indwelling Christ - for the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned, but he who is spiritual, discerns all things - by His goodness and grace.
God continues to save us from the power of sin throughout our Christian life, and God is going to save us from the presence of sin when we stand before Him in glorified bodies - and it is all by grace.
We were not adopted into God's family due to any merit that comes from us, but because in eternity past, He purposed to save us - by grace.
And those He predestined He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified - by grace.
called to be set apart unto God - called to live a godly life that is well-pleasing to Him, because this is His will and purpose for all who are born from above - and it is ALL by grace.
God saved us and called us to live a holy life and He did this, not because we deserved it, but because this was His plan from before the beginning of time - and He did to show us His grace.
It was sin that caused the judgement of God to be finally poured out on a God-rejecting world, who did evil continuously in His sight – but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and was rescued through the judgement - until finally, God’s multi-coloured-mercy came shining through the dark clouds of destruction, in the form of a beautiful, multi-hued rainbow.
It was sin and rebellion that caused the judgement of water, but it was mercy and grace that caused the Lord to set His bow in the clouds as a covenant between God and the earth – that He would never again destroy the world with water – and God’s Word can never be broken.
The rainbow is a simple, visible sign of God’s covenant of grace to His creation, that is recorded in His written Word, and when we see a rainbow in the sky, it is certainly a cause of comfort… it occurs when the white light of the sun falls onto droplets of water, refracting into the glorious display we love to witness after the storm-clouds have thundered past.
Let us praise our covenant keeping God for all His loving-kindness and tender mercies to us and to all men and let us live by faith in the Son of God, who loves us and gave Himself for us by taking upon Himself the judgement that we deserve, so that His multi-coloured-grace can shine in our hearts throughout all eternity.
And here, in his last known epistle, Paul writes to encourage Timothy to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and to serve Him faithfully... relying on God's sufficient grace alone, which only comes through union with the Lord, as we abide in Him and He in us.
Paul not only wrote to strengthen and encourage young Timothy, but to spiritually hearten and motivate many others believers to hold fast to the truth of the gospel of grace, and to faithfully preach the unchangeable Word of God, in season and out of season..
We are blessed to be children of God because Paul, Timothy, many witness, faithful men and others have shared the good news of the gospel of grace, down through multiplied centuries of time.
Despite the many false Christs, false prophets, ravenous wolves and relentless attacks by the enemy on the Christian Church, the pure gospel of grace has reached our ears - for faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
There is One God, Who gave One Saviour to the world and ordained one way to be saved - by grace through faith in Him.
Christ met this Samaritan woman on His long, three-year trek to the cross, when His shed blood would become the means of grace and the hope of glory for her..
and ordained that the one and only way to be saved was by grace through faith in HIM.
and a resurrection unto death for those that have rejected God's gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ - and we need to know that there is a God-ordained order in the resurrection..
knowing that every day that passes is a day of grace when lost souls may come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus our Saviour.
We do not have to grovel for meager scraps at the bench of an unbelieving judge, for we have free and open access into the throne of grace and the riches of His love in Christ Jesus - so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
The amazing gospel of the grace and glory of Christ that removes condemnation from all who are saved by grace through faith in Him, is the same gospel of truth and righteousness, which places all who have not believed in the only begotten Son of God under God's eternal condemnation and an everlasting separation from the Creator Who made them.
We are not called to walk the same ancient path to which Israel was called, but we are required to be faithful to our calling; to walk in spirit and truth as outlined in the word of God - to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and to mature in the faith that we have been taught.
Should not we who are saved by grace through faith in Christ, recognise the deep significance and consequences of the God-breathed content of His Word and take it to heart in these perilous days?
And although the written Scriptures, the Messiah and God's plan of redemption was to come through the Jewish nation, God in His grace knew that for a time Israel would have to be set aside, due to unbelief.
He tells of our redemption by grace through faith in Him; of reconciliation with our heavenly Father and of our glorious transfer from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.
so that we may manifest the grace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost in our lives - today and throughout the rest of our time on earth.
What a long-suffering and gracious God we have – for as He has dealt in grace toward His erring nation, so He will deal with Christians who have wandered far from His outstretched arms of love or when faith wears thin and life seems too much to bear.
His chastening rod may hurt or wound us, but His promise of grace will help and heal.
It was David who penned this psalm, and after he had laid out his petition to the Lord and requested His mercy and grace, he acknowledged God's sovereign power among the nations and spoke of the time when the nations will know that God is the Lord - a time when every eye will see Him, every tongue will proclaim Him as Lord, and every knee and will bow down before Him and honour to His holy name.
He was ready to acknowledge his utter dependence upon His Maker and that God would answer the cry of His servant... not because of any righteousness act David may have carried out, but by God's grace alone.
Titus was an uncircumcised Greek, who heard Paul preaching about Jesus, many years before and responded to the gospel of grace by faith.
Paul never wanted anyone to become complacent in their faith and always made a point of reminding others of the joy we have in Christ and so his letter to this 'son in the faith, began by reminding him of God's amazing goodness and grace; the privileged peace we have with God through our great salvation and the perfect peace of God that can guard our heart, when our mind is stayed on Him.
And so, early in his greeting to Titus, Paul writes the encouraging truth that has become the privilege of all God's children: Grace and peace to you, from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Saviour.
It is by His grace through faith in Christ, that we have peace with God for we have been forgiven of our sins and received eternal life - through faith in Him.
It is also by God's grace that we have the peace of God in our hearts.
We have an assurance that His grace is sufficient for all our needs, for His strength is perfected in our weakness.
He is with us every moment of the day and we have His assurance that no matter what we have to face, we will be granted HIS sufficient strength and HIS supernatural grace to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Let us remember that no matter what we may have to face in the days that lie ahead, His over-abounding grace is sufficient for us, for we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to lead and to guide for His supernatural power is perfected in our weakness.
But God in His grace has designed this 7-year tribulation period to be the tool that will bring His errant nation, Israel, back into the loving arms Jesus – the King of the Jews and God of Israel.
Our faithful God is the one who fed the hungry multitude, provides comfort for the broken-hearted, gives succour to the weak, strength to the weary, hope to the afflicted and salvation to all who trust in Christ Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins - for while we were yet sinners, God in His grace provided a kinsman-Redeemer, to save His people from their sins.
Surely with David we can proclaim.. my cup of blessing runneth over, for His grace is limitless, His love is boundless and His mercy endures from one generation to another.
We hear about two covenants - 1) the old covenant of Law and 2) the new covenant of Grace and we hear of two cities, 1) the earthly Jerusalem in Israel and 2) the new heavenly Jerusalem which is comes down from above.
Hagar symbolises the covenant of LAW while Sarah stands for the covenant of GRACE.
The slave-girl Hagar fits this biblical symbolism and is referred to as the earthly Jerusalem - Jerusalem below. However the covenant of Grace which was given through Christ at Calvary resulted in freedom..
The historical record of Abraham is used to teach a fundamental truth, which if understood would help to remove much of the legalistic confusion that surrounds 1) Israel and the dispensation of Law, which was pre-cross.. and 2) the Church and the dispensation grace, which is connected with post-cross teaching.
This historic happening not only helped to fuel an ongoing feud between the descendants of Ishmael and the Jewish nation - but represents a deep spiritual truth regarding those that are under LAW and those that are under GRACE.
Those connected with Isaac, Sarah, the new covenant that was cut at Calvary and the heavenly Jerusalem represent those that are saved by grace through faith - and by God's grace their faith is credited as righteousness. Those connected with Isaac, Sarah, the new covenant and the heavenly Jerusalem are those that live by faith - those that have been removed from the curse of the Law for the wages of their sin was paid in full by Christ's sacrifice at Calvary.
Before the cross we were in bondage to the Law, but by grace through faith in Christ we have been released from the deathly strangle-hold of the first covenant..
and its power over us has been severed by grace through faith in Christ.
We are now ministers of the new covenant of grace..
and He kept the statutes of the Lord in order to remove the curse of the Law from those who would believe on His name and trust in Him for salvation by grace through faith in His sacrificial work at Calvary.
The Sermon on the Mount had catapulted the Law of Moses into the realms of moral idealism, but here was a command for divine perfection - LOVE as I have loved… The Son of Man Whom they now confessed as Son of God was full of grace and truth - and He was shortly to display a love so staggering, that it baffles the minds of men – a divine love that they themselves were being called upon to emulate.
By grace, through faith in Christ, we have access into the very presence of God.
In His goodness and grace, He causes the sun to rise on the evil, as well as those who have been declared righteous by faith.
We need to consider the rich promises that have been poured out on us so lavishly, and we need to reflect, with thanksgiving, on all that the covenant of grace - into which we have been brought, means - through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
While Israel were to bring people into the camp of God, Christians are called to go out into all the world preaching the good news of the gospel of grace, to unsaved Jews and Gentiles alike.
We are to grow in grace - to grow in godliness and Christlikeness.
The eternal Son became the perfect Man, to demonstrate to sinners like you and me... who would be saved by grace through faith in Christ - and just HOW we should live, as children of God.
who have been called by His own glory and grace, have escaped the corruption that is in the world - by faith.
who is dead in sins, estranged from God and steeped in apostasy as recorded in the Old Testament - to the 27 New Testament chapters that follow, which deal with redemption and comfort, forgiveness and grace - and joyfully terminates with a new heaven and a new earth.
and the scattering of multiplied seeds of His grace amidst the greater theme of judgement, doom and despair.
Indeed the Lord God in His grace revealed Himself to David as the good Shepherd of Israel and promised that the coming Saviour would one day arise to shepherd His little flock in the strength of the Lord ..and in the majesty of the name of Almighty God.
The Shepherd of God's people is fully and finally revealed in the face of Jesus Christ - and the 66 chapters of Isaiah seem to be a beautiful unfolding of this never-ending story of GRACE.
Her question was not one of doubt or unbelief, but one that was filled with awe and amazement at the mighty wisdom of God - one that recognized the amazing grace that had been extended to her - that a humble maid such as she should be chosen to receive this high, heavenly honour.
The Lord Jesus is the prefect manifestation of the grace of God and on one specific day in the little synagogue at Nazareth He stood up to proclaim His revolutionary mission..
But Israel rejected their King, and for 2000 years this age of grace has been an acceptable year of the Lord, the day of salvation - the dispensation of grace.
Having set out all the many advantages of being in Christ in the first two chapters of Colossians, and laying before us the glories of God’s grace, and the heavenly privileges, of which we are all beneficiaries, Paul turns his attention to practical application in the final two chapters of his epistle.
The godly posture of this psalmist is a lowly heart on bended knee before the throne of God’s grace, where he humbly pleads, teach me your way, O Lord and guide me along the straight path of wisdom and truth and instruct me on the correct way of righteous holiness.
Like King David, this apostle was encompassed about by many enemies and had to experience some severe hardships, and yet he learned the secret of total dependence upon the Lord and had come to appreciate that the grace of the Lord Jesus is sufficient for every eventuality.
But because we are justified we are immediately baptised in the spirit, which gives us a good conscience before God. God declared us righteous because of our faith in Christ and we are placed in Christ the moment we are saved by grace through faith in Him.
He continues by giving advice to more established believers on how to grow in grace and exercise themselves circumspectly, in the liberty we enjoy in Christ.
Salvation, or entrance into the kingdom of God, is by grace through faith in Christ and has nothing to do with eating, drinking, or any other rites, rituals or observances.
True worship is an attitude that is conceived in the inner heart, which reflects Christ's beauty and grace.
This modern-day legalism causes Christians to fall from grace, and bind themselves back under the Law - which Paul warned against in his letter to the Galatians.
We are not under Law but under grace, so let us make sure that the motives that govern our thoughts and the actions that are carried out in lives that honour HIM.
Not only was the penalty for our sin paid in full, by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but also its suffocating power has been broken.
He has provided all we need for life and godliness, by preparing good works for us to do – which when carried out by His sovereign power and sufficient grace, earns for us a glorious reward and eternal weight of glory!
by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, but supplied us with good seed to sow into the lives of those who do not know His goodness and grace – and then to carry out His own good work in our lives, through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit.
Paul rejoices that God is able to make all grace abound to us all, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, we have an abundance for every good deed, and he reinforces this truth by quoting from the Psalmist:- “He scattered abroad.
He has promised to abundantly bless and liberally multiply the work of our hand, which is carried out in spirit and truth – so that by grace we will bring forth a fruitful harvest of righteousness, which will enrich our lives and bring great glory to Him.
As believers in the gospel of grace, we were all baptised into the body of Christ, by the Spirit of God, and are being built up into a holy habitation for the Lord.
We all acknowledge One God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all - for by grace through faith in the eternal Son of His love, we have been redeemed and declared righteous in the eyes of God - and He has made us His children.
He is Father to all, who are saved by grace through faith in Christ.
Those who believe in the sacrificial work of the eternal Son of God are not under His condemnation, but have the right to approach His throne of grace and call Him Abba - Father.
Just as Abraham was justified by grace through trusting the Word of the Lord, so we too are justified by grace through faith in Christ Jesus - the living, incarnate Word of God - but the Law that was given to Israel through Moses caused an instant and bitter division to be set up between Jew and Gentile.
All who have trusted in Christ as Saviour are equal in the eyes of our heavenly Father - saved by grace through faith in God's only begotten Son.
We have all received power from above and the riches of His grace..
and we all are to fellowship in the suffering of our Saviour - to share in His shame, to learn obedience by the things that we also suffer - and in this world we will all be hated, despised, rejected and persecuted for His sake - but we all have received His sufficient grace for all that we may be called upon to face.
But in His amazing grace He sent His Son to become sin for us so that by believing in Him, we might be forgiven and made the righteousness of God in Him.
Oh, man have been blessed beyond compare because of the gracious pardon that we have received and the eternal Salvation that we have been given, by grace through faith in Him - and the benefits that we enjoy are beyond our wildest imaginings - for God ways are so different from our own.
Paul’s passion is to share the good news of justification by grace in simple steps, which gently lead to a conclusion.
He explains that having been eternally saved by grace, we should glory in the trials and tribulations of life, which God uses to develop in us perseverance; a godly character and an unshakable and eternal hope in the loving promises of God
BUT GOD Who is loving and gracious, long-suffering, and faithful, pronounced His bitter rod of severe chastening due to their apostasy, which would also prove to be a blossoming staff of sweet comfort and peace, grace and mercy, love and hope and joy.
But God in His grace even used exiles, like Esther and Mordecai, who chose not to return to their homeland at the end of the 70-year long exile, as instruments to save many Jewish lives from the evil plot of wicked men like Haman, and He graciously blessed many men of Israel on The Day of Pentecost, Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs, for these people would have been descendants of Babylonian exiles who heard the gospel of Christ in their own language and tongue - and were saved.
We are justified by grace through faith, and we are also called to live a sanctified life by grace through faith.
Only in Him can we be declared righteous before God and only in Him can we grow in grace and become more and more like the Lord Jesus - as we die to self and live for Him.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, and God in His grace, He gave His eternally beloved Son to be born into the human race as Jesus - the Root and Stem of Jesse.
And the Light of the glorious gospel of grace shone into the hearts of many of His followers and the eyes of their hearts were illuminated eternally - and what joy must have flooded their souls when they received their spiritual sight.
In His loving-kindness, the Lord Jesus offers the light of His grace freely and abundantly to all who will turn to Him as their Son of righteousness.
Let us walk in the light as He is in the light and may the light of His presence within each of our hearts, shine through our lives to proclaim to all we meet, the light of the glorious gospel of grace that has been shed abroad in our hearts and lives.
His desire is that they grow in grace and mature in the faith, explaining that when the word of God abides within their heart they will overcome the evil one and mature in their faith as they advance in age.
As those who have been saved by grace through faith, we can recognise..
Knowledge and understanding or the Lord Jesus and His Word should be high-up on the priority list of the man or woman, who is growing in grace and maturing in the faith..
Grace and forgiveness was contrasted with law and accusations when the woman was caught in adultery.
The Bible tells us that all unsaved people are by nature children of wrath and disobedience until the time when they trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation by grace through faith in Him - but those who willingly reject the truth, turn their back on the only means of salvation..
The indwelling holy Spirit has been sent to enrich us by guiding us into all truth relative to sound doctrine; salvation; sanctification; glorification and all that streams from the amazing grace of God.
Should not we, who have been accepted in the beloved and been made children of God - walk in the spirit of unity, one with the other and show forth His grace within us to others?
Should not we who have been enriched in every way in Him, in all utterance and knowledge - show forth the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit in our lives from this day forward and henceforth for every more?
Let us remain confident in His superlative promises of grace, which are the heritage of the saints - for the tongues that rise up in accusation against the people of God will be silenced forever when they stand before His Great White throne of judgement, and they will know that I have loved you.
He is enabled to walk in newness of life, to walk in spirit and truth and to come to an understanding that in our Christian life we are not under bondage to the law, but under grace.
Loyalty in friendship is a grace that becomes all the more precious when despite intensifying hardships a friend is there to comfort and help... and the scriptures remind us never to abandon a friend - nor even to forsake the friends of your father or mother.
True and lasting friendship can never be built on deceitfulness of duplicity and even through the truth may sting our pride, when the truth is spoke in love it should always be acted upon - for through it the Spirit of God will teach a valuable lesson and further build our Christian character and grace.
He calls us to be of one mind – to have unity of spirit in the bond of peace… to hold fast together our faith in Christ Jesus and the gospel of grace, and to live in harmony one with the other.
And he also calls us to be tender-hearted and to have a humble attitude.... and in a selfish world that is becoming increasingly hostile towards the things of God, is this not what our Lord Jesus Christ expects from each one of us - to show pity to those who are lost and hurting, to render Christian courtesy and compassion on all with whom we come in contact – to be tender-hearted and to be full of grace and truth - for Christ’s sake.
Three of His disciples glimpsed the brilliance of His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, when He was transfigured before their startled gaze and the eyes of the apostle Paul were blinded by the dazzling glory of the Lord on the dusty road to Damascus.
As the redeemed of God and fellow-heirs with Christ we are, by grace through faith, regarded as righteous in the eyes of God.
Before the foundation of the world, He knew each one that would believe on His Son and expressed His attitude of love and grace towards us, and showered upon us mercy and untold blessings.
We who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ should foster an inner attitude of grateful thanks, loving appreciation, joyous anticipation, and everlasting wonderment, at all that He has done for us and His inexpressible love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.
It is beyond our comprehension that God could love us so dearly, that He gave His only begotten Son into the world to be the propitiation for our sin, such that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but receive eternal life as a free gift of His grace.
We are blessed to know of His unconditional-grace through God the Son, our heavenly Mediator, and great High Priest.
While we, who are in Christ, are blessed with every spiritual blessing, God is His grace provides many temporal blessings to all humanity, for God causes His sun to rise on both the evil and on the good, sending rain on the just and on the unjust.
But we are charged to set our hearts on things above... for the spiritual blessings that are already ours, have been given in superlative-abundance and unconditional-grace to all who have trusted Christ for salvation.
God's Word promises that He will keep us, as we go through the difficulties and dangers because His grace is sufficient, His strength is perfected in our weaknesses.
The Lord in His grace, kept every one of those saints in Smyrna in the suffering and persecution - even to the point of death, and beyond.
Only God, in His grace can give a repentant sinner a new heart of flesh – and God the Father has determined that it is by grace – through faith in Christ.
They opposed the self-appointed Jews, who despised the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, by claiming to be God's chosen people, when they were, in fact, a synagogue of Satan.
God, in His grace, chose to use our bodies as His permanent dwelling place, during this dispensation of grace.
By grace we are sealed by the Spirit and identified with Christ NOW, and by grace we will be permanently identified with Him, throughout eternity, for we will have His name inscribed upon us forever, for none can pluck us out of His nail-pierced hand - and no one can pluck us out of the hand of our heavenly Father.
By grace we are identified with HIS death so that we can be identified with HIS resurrected life.
There are two life principles by which a believer can live - death or life; law or grace; the flesh or the spirit; bondage or freedom; carnality or spirituality - the old sin nature or the new life in Christ.
But how different from God’s design for His children, for it was through suffering that the Lord Jesus Himself learned willing obedience to the Father and it is through the same pathway that we too grow in grace and come into deeper knowledge of Him.
However, God in His grace used her lie to enable His people to escape capture in Jericho..
He caused an axe-head to float; bitter waters to be made pure; a cruise of oil that did not run dry and the gospel of grace to spread throughout the world despite severe persecution in the early Church.
We are saved, by grace through faith in the sacrificial work and glorious resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ - and this is non-negotiable.
Only those that are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus can display these divine characteristics of our holy and loving God and Father.
May the love and grace of Christ so fill our hearts, that we manifest the divine love of God to others, in word and in deed, and become a beautiful reflection of Christ Jesus our Saviour, and bring honour and glory to His holy name.
But God in His grace purposed before the foundation of the world that He would save all who would believe in Him.
The only way for sinful man to become a new creation in Christ is to be given a regenerated spirit; a sanctified soul and an incorruptible body as a gift of God's grace ..... but sin MUST be punished.
But just as we, who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ were born in the image of the man of dust - so too we will also bear the image of the heavenly man - for He Who started a good work in us at Salvation WILL complete it in the day of Christ Jesus.
In His grace and kindness God intervened in the long-standing bitter enmity and deep-seated mistrust that existed between Jew and Gentile: (by making them into one new man in Christ), and between God and man: (by bringing all who trust in Christ Jesus as Saviour back into close fellowship with Himself) - and that bond of unity is in His Son.
God is Spirit and God is eternal but God in His grace and love clothed Himself in human flesh, so that He could become the incarnate Son of God, and live a perfect life..
God ordained that each sinner saved by grace is to be conformed into the likeness of the Lord Jesus and each is to be fully justified, fully sanctified and fully glorified.
We discover that the aging apostle Peter, who denied His Lord at the start of his Christian walk, came to an understanding that suffering precedes glory in the life of a believer, sadness comes before joy, and the darkest night of mourning will finally turn into the brightest noon-day sun, for after you have suffered for a little while, Peter informs his readers, After you have suffered... the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Peter also came to understand more fully, that after we have experienced suffering for a little while, God in His grace will perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.
for after we have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, Who called us to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish us. HALLELUJAH what a Saviour!
Suffering with Christ is simply a portal which translates His blood-bought believers into His eternal joy, and as sinners saved by grace, we have peace with God for the forgiveness of sin and the peace of God in our heart.
Peter's prayer was that Christ's followers would be firmly established in both faith and duty, despite the difficulties that would inevitably arise in our lives - for Peter knew that all those called by God's kindness and grace will one day partake in His eternal glory and joy.
But he also knew that suffering has eternal benefits for it establishes, strengthens, perfects, and matures the believer, as he grows in grace and as he perseveres on his journey to his celestial home.
Who demonstrates His great heart of compassion, mercy and grace for ALL people.
We discover later in the book, that Jonah objected to the Lord's demonstration of mercy and grace towards the Gentiles.
Although the story of Jonah is a peep into one prophet's commission, which demonstrates God's grace and mercy towards all people and that His sovereign purpose will always come to completion, it also contains many lessons for Christians today.
It is as he draws his letter to a close, that Paul offers his concluding exhortation, which is beneficial for ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus and to grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
Every action and every attitude, every word and every work, each thought of the heart, each decision of the mind and even the motives that influence the choices we make, need to be bathed in the purifying gaze of the Holy Spirit, washed in the fountain of God's divine love and covered with the unconditional grace of Christ, Who for love of His church went to the cross willingly - so that like Him, everything we do, may be done through HIM - in LOVE.
Habakkuk believed the Word of the Lord and determined that no matter what terror, troubles or trials befell him, he would maintain his trust in God - for the Sovereign Lord is our strength and has promised that His grace is sufficient - for He makes our feet as sturdy as the feet of a deer, enabling us to navigate the most mountainous heights.
How we grieve as did Jeremiah when we recognise so many cultish practices, new age spirituality, legalistic dogma and twisted truths replacing the glorious gospel of grace in the pulpits of our nations.
They had to transfer from living under the rigidity of the dispensation of Law to the freedom of the dispensation of Grace and they had to realise that the Messiah of Israel is also the Saviour of the whole world.
and the gospel of the kingdom - to the all-embracing truth of the glorious gospel of Grace - the good news of the glory of Christ.
Sinners are saved from the penalty of sin by God's grace, once and for all - through trusting in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for salvation, but believers must mature in the faith and continue the process of ongoing salvation..
And we mature in the faith, grow in grace and learn of Christ as we walk in the light of His life within..
As maturing believers we can only go through God's training programme of ongoing sanctification successfully, as we learn obedience by the things that we suffer and as we willingly submit to the deep work of the Holy Spirit in our lives - so that in His power and strength we may learn to walk in the light, to grow in grace, to mature in the faith, to love as Christ loved and to enjoy unbroken fellowship with our Father in heaven.
Having thoroughly and systematically presented every aspect of the glorious gospel of Salvation, and the eternal foundation of God’s amazing grace, upon which these everlasting truths rest.
As fallen sinners the grace and mercy we have received from God is without comparison and in the light of God’s amazing love towards each one of us, we are encouraged to offer our bodies; our lives; ourselves – our very being as a living, breathing, holy sacrifice to the Lord.
We are saved entirely because of God’s wonderful grace.
This is not a command, for God wants our love and service to be rendered freely and willingly - but in light of the inestimable riches of God’s free grace, which He has poured out in great measure on fallen sinners, simply because we trust in Christ as our Saviour.
The more we learn of God’s Word and come to an understanding of Who God is, what He is doing and all that He has planned for those that love Him, the more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory and the more we recognise God’s grace upon grace, that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children. Our risen, ascended and glorified Saviour, has saved us to the uttermost.
His saving grace is not only for the eternal ages to come but will be carried through to its ultimate completion, for He will never abandon any that have trusted in His name as Saviour and who have come to Him for pardon and peace.
The more we see an unveiling of His glory upon glory, the more we recognise God’s grace upon grace, that is daily being showered upon all His blood-bought children.
The grace of God spills over the pages of Peter's epistles like so many sparkling jewels, and in the final words of his letter, we are encouraged to grow in the grace of God that has been so freely bestowed on all who believe in His free gift of salvation.
We are to dig our roots down deep into the depths of His Word, and we are to reach out into the farthest extremities of His grace, which are higher than the heavens above and deeper than the ocean depths.
But the apostle Peter also makes it clear that our spiritual growth and our progress in the Christian life must be a continuous maturing in grace and an ever-increasing knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Growing in God's grace is not the accumulation of facts and information about the Lord Jesus, but a day by day transformation of our life, as we become increasingly like Him in disposition and character.
This only happens to the one that is walking in spirit and truth and is submitted to the guidance of the Holy Spirit - Who by grace is conforming us day by day into His lovely likeness as we die to self and live for Christ.
As more grace is added to the grace we have already received, the more we mature in the faith and change into the beautiful image and likeness of the Lord Jesus.
As we walk in spirit and truth and submit to the Spirit's leading, we discover that we will grow in every facet of grace and virtue, faith and love, holiness and understanding, wisdom and obedience - but there's more!
We are also to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This must be the pinnacle of God's grace, that we increase in our knowing HIM.
Access to the same grace of God and intimate knowledge of Christ is also what Peter, in the closing days of his life, is urging all who have a saving faith in Christ to strive for earnestly, in this closing verse of his second epistle, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We cannot grow in grace apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, for without Him we will remain spiritually stunted in our Christian life.
However, we are promised that we can do ALL things through Christ, Who gives us the strength, for He is able and His grace is sufficient.
So let us take this verse, at the end of Peter's epistle, our focus and goal - to, grow in the grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And may we, give HIM the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.
Should we not delight to worship Him in this world and rejoice that in the world to come we will show forth the immeasurable riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
May we ALL grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ... for by grace we are saved through faith, by grace we are to live our lives through faith, and one day by God's grace we will pass into His wonderful presence, when we shall see Him as He is and we will be like Him and live with Him into the eternities of eternity.
This has become part of that never-ending hymn of praise that is sung by all who have been saved by grace, through faith in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.
John makes no secret of his love and respect for this man, whom he admits to “love in truth”, for it appears that his whole life was dedicated to the Lord, and Gaius must have been a wonderful testimony of a godly man, who walked in grace and love, for we read that his “soul prospered”.
There is no one that is excluded from His gracious offer of salvation, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ..
We are all saved by grace through faith in Christ..
As those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, we should all seek to apply the principles of godly living in every area of our lives, no matter where we are or in what situation we find ourselves.
In consideration of the amazing grace that God has bestowed on each one of us, by the redemption of our lives, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ - should we not seek to honour God, no matter what our status, skills, colour, parentage or gender?
But in between those two mountain peaks, nestles the dispensation of the grace of God, which includes 1) (the Church age in which we live, which was hidden from the prophets in time past) but also 2) a time of great judgement (the time of Jacob's trouble - the coming tribulation) about which the prophets of old wrote.
as described in this verse by Isaiah the prophet - first God's judgement THEN God's grace.
We too should rejoice that as the elect of God, we are set apart for God, and are being sanctified by the Spirit of God, in obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ - so that His grace and peace may be multiplied to all who are called by His name.
and by God's grace have been endowed with an inheritance that is incorruptible and will never fade away.
The faithfulness, mercy, goodness, and grace of God, are no less true today than during that time when David discovered the Lord was his Shepherd, Who gently leads him beside the still waters, faithfully guides him into the way of peace, guards him in the valley of the shadow, and prepares a plentiful table of good things in the midst of all his enemies.
It is only as we remain in Christ, rest in His love, and walk in the path He has planned for us, that we will discover all His paths are strewn with goodness and grace.
The path we take may be covered with difficulties and dangers... but His grace is sufficient for every eventuality we may encounter.
His way will lead us deeper into fellowship with Himself and enable us to mature in the faith, grow in grace, and gain a deeper knowledge of the holy... for He desires us to enjoy a satisfying and unbroken communion with Himself.
Such men would draw others away from the pure gospel of grace, which he received by direct revelation from the Lord Jesus.
Often, it was teachers of the Law or Jewish converts, who were the culprits, because they insisted on integrating legalistic practices and Old Testament teachings into the New Testament gospel of grace.
Whether by adding some unscriptural dogma, subtracting or changing the truth of the gospel of Christ or introducing some new and unfamiliar teaching, these false teachings can too often cause confusion or discouragement, and prevent believers from growing in grace and maturing in the faith.
The glorious gospel of salvation by grace, through faith in the sacrificial death and wonderful resurrection of the Lord Jesus, should delight the worst of sinners.
Before the New Testament had even been penned, Galatia was a hotbed of apostate teaching and Judaizers, who opposed the legitimate, God-ordained ministry of Paul, and the liberating gospel of Grace.
At that point, a new dispensation began, the Gospel of the grace of God was taught by the Church - which is the Body of Christ.
How important it is, to study the Word of God and not to deviate from the Gospel of Grace, so that we are approved unto God and not ashamed when we stand before Him.
However, God in His grace gave this young man comfort and encouragement, for the daunting task that lay ahead.
The Lord in His grace stretched out His hand and touched the timid Jeremiah on the mouth, and told him, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.” Jeremiah, like all those that are called, chosen, selected or sent was not to worry about the message he was to carry, because the words would be given from above – at the right time.
May we be prepared to go in the strength of the Lord, no matter where He leads, knowing that His grace is sufficient – for His power is made perfect in weak and obedient vessels, that trust in Him.
And we, who have been saved by grace though faith in Christ, have within us the life of Christ, which can become abundantly fruitful, when our lives resemble His likeness.
so that we may mirror the attitude of the Lord Jesus, as we die to self and live for Christ - so that by God's grace, we may become a fruitful branch of our heavenly Vine.
Just as Moses was God's chosen servant to administer His will to Israel, during the dispensation of law so Paul was God's chosen servant to administer His will during this dispensation of grace - and so He laboured tirelessly and strove unswervingly to spread abroad the gospel of grace that he received directly from the glorified Jesus Christ - knowing that the life of the living and resurrected Lord had been imputed to him and was working mightily in him - putting to death the deeds of the flesh and conforming his new-life-in-Christ into the likeness of his Lord and Saviour.
And Paul's passion was to establish the Church in sound doctrine, and to bring to spiritual maturity those that were saved by grace through faith in Him.
But Paul's God-appointed ministry and passionate mission was to labour unceasingly to preach the truth of the glorious gospel of grace to Jew and Gentile alike.
He worked unceasingly to bring to spiritual maturity as many as would hear and receive the astonishing mysteries that were given to him on our account - the unsearchable riches in Christ and the surpassing treasures of God's grace and kindness toward us - in Jesus our Saviour.
The incredible Christ for whom Paul suffered; the glorious gospel of grace that he proclaimed and the maturing of the saints in Christ was the purpose and passion for which Paul strove.
but a passion and a purpose that was fulfilled by means of the indwelling power of Christ, which lived in him and worked mightily through him - a power that works mightily in ALL who will cease from their own fleshly strivings; rest in His love and abide in Christ's sufficient strength - for His grace is sufficient.
For when I am weak then I am strong - enabling the Lord to carry out His plans and purposes in my life - through His mighty strength (not mine) - for His grace is sufficient.
We are not required to worship on a specific day nor are we commanded to keep certain feast days, special festivals or the many ordinances imposed by man – for as believers in the age of grace we are free from the bondage of law.
Believers are not under law and the things that we do should build up our brothers and sisters in Christ and not be a direct or an indirect criticism of their behaviours – and so we are instructed not to let what we personally regard as good, to be spoken of as evil – we are to be careful that our freedom in this age of grace does not cause a brother or sister in Christ to be upset or offended.
As he shares the gospel of grace, Paul outlines the importance of not judging the behaviours of our Christian brethren and specifically mentions what we eat and drink, what we wear and how we worship, reminding us that Christ died and rose again, to free us from the bondage of laws and codes rituals and ceremonies.
But in this age or grace we are to be sensitive to the fact that actions, which we know to be permissible before God, may become a stumbling-block to a Christian brother or sister, whose conscience dictates otherwise, causing them to falter in their faith.
Let us therefore in love and grace be sensitive to the needs of others – neither compromising the gospel of Christ nor causing our liberty in Christ to be a stumbling block to other brothers and sisters in Christ - let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
He longed that his readers would grow in grace and be securely established in Christ, but he also warned of a growing apostasy and a serious decline in moral values, due to licentious living, which is often rooted in ungodly teachings and doctrines of demons.
Those who are saved by grace are to resist temptation and to walk in the unity of the Spirit.
Jesus is the rightful King over all the earth, for His redeeming blood paid the purchase price for lost humanity, and in His goodness and grace, He has appointed all who believe in His sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, to rule and reign with Him in His coming kingdom.
But God in His grace had formulated a plan of redemption before Adam's destructive decision to disobey his God..
who are saved by grace through faith and have been made a new creation in Christ and await the full the final consummation of our new birth.. (when our mortal bodies put on immortality and corruption is replaced with incorruption), so too the creation itself awaits in eager expectation for that day when God's curse on creation will be finally lifted.
Although as Christians we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ and made part of the new creation, we continue to live in a fallen, 'earthy' body of flesh and blood and await that day when we will be fully and finally 'adopted' as glorified sons of God - with a new body of flesh and bone..
He had been chosen to be the missionary to the gentiles who were formerly alienated from God, hopelessly dead in sins and engaged in evil deeds, but by God's grace many were reconciled to Him through faith in Christ for their Salvation.
Nevertheless God in His wisdom caused the many imprisonments Paul endured and the multiplied attacks that were made on the truth of the glorious gospel of grace to be used for our good..
But though he instructs young men to be subject to those that are older in years and spiritual maturity, he calls ALL believers to clothe themselves with humility towards one an other - explaining that God resists those that are proud but gives grace to those that are humble in action and attitude.
but Peter had also come to terms with the need for humility of heart and meekness of spirit and so he calls both elders and young men to cloth themselves with humility towards one another - because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
And although Paul’s heart cry throughout his life was, that I may know Him MORE, he proved in every circumstance of life that God’s grace was sufficient to meet all his needs, according to His riches in glory, and so Paul was able to confess: I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
The scornful scoffers and deriding mockers that belie the fast approaching day of the Lord, are unaware that every passing moment, is not slackness or disinterest on God’s part, nor is God’s acceptance or indifference towards man’s sin, but just another expression of His long-suffering grace and His unwillingness that any should perish, but that all should turn from their sin to Jesus, as the substitute offering for their sins and their glorious Saviour.
Every day that passes is one more example of God’s long-suffering grace towards the children of men.
May we avoid being swept into a mind-set that accuses God of inactivity, and glory in His amazing grace towards each one of us
Paul applies this principle to a believer's connection with the Law, by linking it to the previous chapter, which states: you are not under the Law but under grace. He then expands his train of thought.
But the moment we are saved by grace through faith, we receive a new nature - the nature of Christ!
At salvation they had all received the free gift of God's grace... but they were trying to replace that free unmerited gift of grace, which they had received by faith in Christ..
They were trying to grow in grace by their own effort rather than God's way..
which is by grace through faith.
These Christians had of course been saved by grace through faith in Christ..
but instead of living their lives by grace through faith in Christ they had reverted back to a system whereby God's free gift of grace had been replaced with their own meritorious works of the law!!
The Galatian Christians who should have been growing spiritually and maturing in the faith had adopted legalistic practices which prevented them from growing in grace and reaching spiritual maturity..
as demonstrated by these Galatian Christians, or by using God's free gift of grace as a license to sin..
Paul, in like manner, was the God-ordained servant who was entrusted with the administration of God's Word to the Church, which is currently in effect during this dispensation of grace.
The dispensation of Law was for pre-cross Israel while the dispensation of the grace of God is for post-cross Christians - which is made up of both Jew and Gentile
However, that which was given to Paul for us in “the dispensation of the grace of God' gives us a perspective on Salvation that was kept hidden in earlier times - but how we praise God for the ministry of His chosen servant, Paul..
is to question the truthfulness and dependability of God's unfailing Word - and from that devastating fall of man in the idyllic garden of Eden - to the final chapters of holy Scripture, we discover details of the wide-ranging repercussions of man's damning sin and the tremendous grace that our offended God has extended towards the human race - who was made in God's own image and likeness.
Satan's questioning of God's Word was the catalyst that incited the fall of man - and yet in His grace, God used this catastrophic fall of mankind to be the very trigger whereby His amazing plan for the redemption of humanity in particular..
“Has God said...?' is the same argument that continues today, which calls into question the dependability of our Creator, the veracity of God's Word, and the integrity of His very character - but those who have trusted in the Word of God for Salvation.. by grace through faith in the shed blood of our kinsman Redeemer, have the inner witness of God's Holy Spirit within - for whoever believes in the Son of God accepts the testimony of His unfailing Word.
Only a believer who is learning of Christ and growing in grace can truly be called a disciple of Christ – but not all believers are disciples for not all believers are learners of Christ.
If he delays – there is a reason and any delay pours an additional stream of grace into a Christ-rejecting sinful world, enabling sinners to turn to Christ for salvation, allowing the prodigal son to return to the Father’s embrace, permitting the saint to grow in grace and a knowledge of his lovely Lord Jesus, for everything that God does is VERY GOOD.
Through the lives of many holy women of God, can be seen a richness of beauty and grace that surpassed the superficial allurement that may be gained by any outward adornments or some surface spectacle.
where we read elsewhere - that by God's grace all Israel shall be saved.
Praise God that in His grace ALL who call on the name of the Lord in the dispensation of grace will be saved and praise God that the full and final completion of this prophecy from Joel will finally come to fruition, when all Israel calls on the name of the Lord for salvation..
May we who have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus always acknowledge that He is the one and only true God and that His eternal Son was born into the human race to live a perfect life and to die a sacrificial death, so that whosever believe in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.
Because Abraham demonstrated His utter trust in the Lord, through the actions he took and the inner resolve of his heart, God in His grace prevented Abraham from slaying Isaac by providing an alternative sacrifice..
I don't think there is a more meaningful greeting or significant salutation given to man, than this duet of grace and peace found in all Paul's letters.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The grace of God, which brings peace with God, is the most important element in the whole of Scripture, for it is only through the grace of God that all His other characteristics can be manifested.
Only by grace through faith can we receive the love of God which passes our understanding.
Only by grace through faith can we experience the beautiful fruit of the Spirit in our hearts - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
It is only by God's grace, through faith, that man is redeemed from the slave-market of sin.
It is only through the grace of God that He formulated His plan of Salvation.
It is only by His gift of grace that we are forgiven of our sin and declared righteous before God, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.
By His grace we are being sanctified through the Spirit, day by day, and by grace we are being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ.
By grace, a day is coming when we will receive a new, resurrected body and be glorified, as we stand in His glorious presence and see Him as He truly is.
It is by the amazing grace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ that we are not eternally condemned and bound for the lake of fire.
It is by grace that we enjoy fellowship with God, and through grace that we have a Heavenly Mediator because by grace, we were rescued from Satan's clutches, adopted into the family of God and have become a joint heir with Christ.
By grace, we have the indwelling Spirit of God, to lead and guide, to help and comfort.
By grace we have an inheritance kept for us in heaven, and through His gift of grace, we have God's multifaceted peace - peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and the peace of God to guard our heart.
It is significant that whenever Paul writes this meaningful salutation in His epistles, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, it is always Grace that is the leading blessing, while Peace is the privilege that follows in its wake.
GRACE is the highest expression of God's loving-kindness and benevolent blessings to man which is translated into God's unconditional, unmerited favour and showers super-abundant blessings on all who trust in His name.
It is only by grace that the sin barrier between man and God can be broken down, through faith, and we can receive peace with God.
The peace that flows from the grace of God embraces a multiplicity of meanings including peace with God, as a free gift of salvation to all that believe, as well as the peace of God which imparts a tranquillity of soul, which is beautifully bestowed through His Spirit of peace, into the heart of a believer who is walking in spirit and truth.
Both peace WITH God and the peace OF God are impossible without grace - the unconditional, unmerited gracious favour of God our Father and the gracious love and tender mercy, that was poured out for us on Calvary's cross.
We live in an increasingly ungracious environment in an increasingly unlovely and hostile world-in-conflict, but as God's children, we are to absorb this duet of complementary characteristics, Grace and Peace, into the warp and weft of our beings.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, has become a familiar and well-loved greeting, through the letters of Paul, but I doubt that in time or in eternity we will gain a full depth of understanding of what the all-embracing grace of God and the supernatural peace of God truly means.
But in the words of the apostle Peter, May grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
Trusting the goodness and grace of the Lord with reverence and awe ensures safety from all that would seek to harm or destroy us.
This does not mean that we will be saved from all the difficulties and dangers of life... indeed the Lord Jesus Himself told us that in this world we would have trials and tribulation but He has overcome the world and we have also been promised that His grace is sufficient and that He will be with us in every problem and pain we may face in life..
And the one who has been saved by grace through faith begins to learn that salvation is not only that exciting point of rebirth into the family of God, but is also a long and often difficult journey through life..
Both the Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul were acutely aware of the delight, the strength, the grace, and the peace, that flows from this blessed communion with our Saviour, when we rest and abide in Christ and He in us.
How vital to maintain ongoing communion with the Father, by acknowledging our sins, confessing our spiritual poverty, and admitting our need of His guidance and grace.
But God in His grace purposed in His heart to redeem His fallen creation, (through the Person of Jesus Christ); to breathe His eternal life back into His New Creation in Christ, (through faith in His sacrificial work on Calvary and glorious resurrection); to reinstate His own image and likeness into the heart of Man, (as with unveiled faces, we are reflecting the glory of the Lord by being transformed into His image - from glory to glory)
Similarly, refraining from eating such meat, due to one's conscience, did not cause someone to fall from grace, nor did it mean the person who abstained gained God's favour!
There is no question, as one follows this man's unfolding train of thought, that he had his priorities right, and the private place of his heart contained the personal treasure that is found in Scripture, as he cries out to the Father, Your Word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. This is the grateful cry of a sinner, saved by grace, whose dear desire is to love the Lord and honour Him with all his heart, and soul, and mind, and strength.
Therefore, my son,’ is Paul’s compelling command to this younger pastor, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Be empowered, in the sufficient grace and strength that is our birth-right in Christ, is Paul’s pressing directive.
The courage and strength that Timothy, and every child of God, is exhorted to draw upon, is the divine strength that comes from God alone – as a gift of His grace.
God has promised to supply sufficient strength for the tasks we are to undertake – not because of anything that we have done to deserve it – but through the unmerited and unconditional grace that has become our portion, in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Not only is Timothy exhorted to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, but also to provide spiritual strength for those in His care – for in the following verse we read, and the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
May we be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and empowered to help and encourage others, whom God has placed in our lives – and may we all grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus – for His greater glory and eternal praise.
As members of Christ's body, we have been forgiven by grace, through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and like Israel before us.
Such an attitude is unbiblical and such an interpretation not only contradicts the gospel of grace but is inconsistent with the correct interpretation and context of this passage on prayer - for positive declaration views faith as a force that can create one's own reality or that God can be commanded to heal or to work miracles according to man's will and in response to man's word.
It was God's grace that sent Christ into the world to be the acceptable sacrifice for your sin and mine.
We are one with Him and He is united with us... and we have been made a new creation in Christ - and by His grace we too will behold a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth will pass away.
And in the ages that are to come... by grace through faith in Christ sacrifice at Calvary we, who are His children, will show forth the immeasurable riches of God's grace in kindness toward us - in Christ Jesus our Lord, amen.
Legalism boasts in oneself to keep rules and regulations - but grace boasts only in the Lord.
However, the gospel of grace nurtures humility, for it admits ones own inabilities and insufficiencies and depends completely on God and His abilities and sufficiency – for we are not competent in ourselves to claim anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence and sufficiency comes from God.
Self-importance, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, self-esteem and a self-inflated ego are what the world sees as important but in truth our life should be one of God-importance, God-sufficiency, God-reliance, God-esteem and a gentle spirit of humility and grace - for we can never ever be sufficient in ourselves and claim anything as coming from us, for our sufficiency is from God alone.
The sovereign power of His kingdom is a royal throne of glory, a regal throne of grace, a kingly throne of government, and an excellent throne of glory that displays His Majesty throughout the heavens.
One day, as God has ordained, the Man, Christ Jesus, will be seated on His Great White Throne to judge the wicked and the dead - but those that are His chosen Bride, by faith in Christ, will be seated with Him on the throne of the Lamb, showing forth His excellent grace to principalities and powers in the ages to come.
Praise him for his grace and favourto his people in distress.Praise him, still the same as ever,slow to chide, and swift to bless.Alleluia, alleluia!Glorious in his faithfulness!
Angels, help us to adore him;you behold him face to face.Sun and moon, bow down before him,dwellers all in time and space.Alleluia, alleluia!Praise with us the God of grace!
These church elders were to clothe themselves with humility toward one another, for God is against the proud but gives grace to the humble.
God is a generous Giver of all that is good and perfect in this life - and in the world to come, His gifts of grace are eternal and His generosity is never-ending and beyond our comprehension.
It strives to maintain an uncompromised gospel and to expose the various heresies that were infiltrating the early church, and Jude strongly denounces those that use God's grace as a license to sin.
but little children are a wonderful example of a heart that is ready to hear the good news of salvation and a mind that is ready and willing to receive the good news of the gospel of grace.
Indeed children are the best example to show us how to get into the kingdom of God - for all must come with an open heart, a willing mind and a positive response to the truth of the glorious gospel of grace.
He was raised from the dead into newness of life so that we could also receive His eternal, resurrected life, as a gift of God's grace.
Yes - it is through faith in His sacrificial crucifixion and glorious resurrection from the dead that we have been justified - it is by God's grace through faith that we are been justified, just as Abraham was justified by grace through faith in Him.
Once justified we must recognise that that old life in Adam is past and must remain nailed to the cross, while the new born-again life in Christ is to mature in the faith; to grow in grace and to walk in spirit and truth.
Paul guides the justified believer, step by step through the many benefits that have already become ours in Christ by faith - and which are accessed by grace through faith in the glorious gospel of God.
God in His grace gave His only begotten Son to die a cruel death as the purchase price for the sin of the world..
It was GRACE that caused God to send His only begotten Son to be the sin-sacrifice for you and for me - but it is the BLOOD of CHRIST that cleanses us from all sin, through faith in Him.
It was GRACE that caused the Lord Jesus to stretch out His hands and be pierced for our transgressions and it is only through His shed BLOOD that we have been brought near to the Father and have been given peace with God.
It was GRACE that caused the eternal Son of God to set aside His glory and be made in the likeness of sinful man, (yet without sin) and He did this so that sinners such as you and I could be redeemed from the pit of sin and death and saved from eternal separation from our Creator - through faith in Him.
It was grace that caused God to reach down to a fallen race of sinners and formulate His redeeming plan of salvation - and we were bought with a PRICE - Christ's shed blood on Calvary - therefore let us honour God with our bodies and give Him our heartfelt thanks and unceasing praise.
Paul cared for all the churches where he taught the glorious gospel of the grace of God, desiring that they would hold fast to the truth and stand firm in the teachings passed on to them by Paul himself.
Paul's desire for their ongoing sanctification and maturity in the faith was so strong that He prayed often and continuously that the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father (Who loved us and gave us eternal encouragement by His grace), would encourage their hearts and strengthen their soul in every good work and word.
It is the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father Who has given us eternal comfort too - by grace through faith - and it is the Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father Who have given us a good hope by His grace..
In the early days of the Church, the gospel of grace was spread by word of mouth, because the canon of scripture had yet to be written. There was a proliferation of spiritual gifts in those early days of Christianity.
Paul explained in Romans that an important reason for the dramatic numbers of spiritual gifts and grace given to gentile believers in the early Church, was to provoke Israel to jealousy.
Just as spiritual gifts and grace were exploited by some in those early days of the church, there are those today who continue to use their spiritual gifts for their own purposes - for self-gratification, self-exaltation, ungodly manipulation or to control others.
For just as a gentle, controlled, thoughtful or caring word can calm the troubled breast, bring hope to the hopeless, healing to the injured or grace to an offender so a harsh, hateful, cruel or careless comment can as easily be used to wound or discourage, hurt or hinder, harm or handicap or speedily stir up strife and anger.
What a difference the Church would make in the world, if the simple message... that 'a soft answer turns away wrath, but harsh words incites anger', were applied in lives of all who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ.
It should be a joy for every Christian to rejoice together in the simple message of salvation by grace – through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.It was the uncomplicated message of redemption that Jude planned to share with fellow believers in Christ, when he started to pen his epistle.
but finally destroys them by the breath of His righteous judgement.Jude used Sodom, Gomorrah and the cities around them as a warning to all who choose to turn the grace of our God into lewdness, by denying the shed blood of Christ for the forgiveness of their sin. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah stand as an example of the punishment of eternal fire that awaits those corrupt individuals who indulge in ungodly perversions and reject the Lord of glory.The destruction of these cities was an example of the fate of all unbelievers, who willingly turn away from God, deny His grace, refuse the truth and ignore His warnings of the judgement to come.Jude’s warning of heresy, apostasy and the subtle infiltration of the church by false teachers, who deceptively creep into churches, deny the Lord Who bought them and peddle a false, watered-down, feel-good, unbiblical gospel, has morphed into an apology for what is termed “Christendom” today.The serious warning that Jude shared in his little epistle, should be taken to heart by every one that is sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Christ Jesus our Lord.The best way to recognise a false teaching is to know the truth.
It is because He was willing to suffer the death of the cross on behalf of the fallen human race, that God has crowed Him with glory and honour - so that by the grace of God He tasted death for every man, woman and child who ever has lived..
His message of salvation is only effective in the heart of the man or woman who acknowledges their sinfulness. Those who reject His message of salvation and remains proud, unrepentant and self-righteous, forgo the eternal benefits of the glorious gospel of grace, and remain dead in their trespasses and sins.
Their salvation is by grace through faith in Christ's finished work on the cross, and forgiveness of sins and eternal life are two of many heavenly benefits that every sinner receives - by grace, through faith in the only begotten Son of God.
Being saved by grace, through faith in Christ unlocks the door to a myriad of blessings for each believer.
Sometimes we are unaware of the abundant blessings that have become ours at the point of our salvation and sometimes it takes time to become aware of all the gifts of grace that have been bountifully bestowed upon us, in Christ Jesus – but one of the many important free gifts of God’s grace to all believers is that we are justified – we are made right with God – we have peace with God - through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sin separated us from God and the wrath of God is on everything that is sinful, including sinners – BUT since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ – praise God for His inestimable gift of grace.
Paul is a teacher that builds-up the theme of his teaching on a logical progression, which have their ultimate focus on the face of the lovely Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of grace.
Having reiterated the principal that God is the source of all wisdom and believers are the privileged recipients of His illumination, we are reminded that no teacher of the good news should have pretentious claims to personal wisdom for all are all are servants of God and are all equally equipped from above and all should be wholly united in humbly proclaiming the wonderful wisdom of God, by grace through faith in Christ, to all who believe.
But it also lays the groundwork of understanding God's love for us and His grace towards us, that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Loving the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind and strength is a progressive love that builds and develops in our Christian walk, for as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, so we grow in love for the Lord our God and are enabled to have that love translated into the good works that God has prepared for us to do.
Only as our thoughts and desires are focussed on HIM will we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
These Corinthians should have been growing in grace, maturing in the faith, receiving the strong meat of God's Word and equipped to support one another, but their fleshly behaviour and prideful attitudes caused them to regress into spiritual infancy.
Instead of delighting in the Lord and the glories of His grace, these carnal believers engaged in squabbles about the merit of their favourite preacher.
But following His pronouncement of wrath against these sin-ridden nations, the Lord proclaims His justified punishment on Judah and Israel - for His own people had broken His covenant, and His chosen inheritance had spurned God's goodness and grace.
As a nation, they had collectively violated His Word, and rejected His offer of salvation by grace - through faith in Jesus Christ, their Messiah and King.
But God is a God of loving-kindness, great-goodness and generous grace.
And in His grace, Amos detailed certain principles that anyone of us can understand.
The words of the Lord are faithful and true and they are commanded and guaranteed to a thousand generations - and so in His grace and mercy we rejoice to read: I, even I, am the One who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins..
The apostle knew these spiritual qualities can only be exhibited in a life, that is persevering in the faith, walking in spirit and truth and working the works of God - through the sufficient grace and supernatural power which He supplies.
The more we know of God's goodness and grace towards us the more we are prompted to labour in love for the Lord.
There are no coincidences in God's economy, for in His grace God works ALL things together for good - even terrible and evil things - even those problems and disappointments that we do not understand.
Little did the young widow know the enormous grace and favour the Lord had prepared to bestow on her, when she wept over the death of her husband, was faced with a devastating famine and had to decide which way to go and which God to trust.
God in His grace extended His hand of salvation to the Gentiles, to turn away from their idols of wood and stone, and to trust in the Lord, for the forgiveness of sin and eternal salvation.
As we read through the New Testament epistles, whose target audience are Christians, in this dispensation of grace, we find numerous warnings against placing our confidence in the flesh.
We should be maturing in the faith, growing in grace, progressing in the sanctification process and becoming increasingly like the Lord Jesus Himself, as we keep Him as the focus of our heart - for He is the Head of the Church, and we are His body.
Salvation for pre-cross believers who lived in the dispensation of the Law and post-cross believers who live in the dispensation of the grace-of-God, is given and received in the same way - for salvation is by God's grace through man's faith in the God's Word.
In this Church age salvation is ours by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ..
He had proved Himself so many times to be faithful and true, and yet the nature of man is always to be independent of God, despite the testimony of His never-failing grace in our lives.
But He is also our life for we have been made a new creation in Christ and have the additional privilege of being positioned in Him by grace through faith and are seated together with Him in heavenly places.
The eyes of the Lord are still searching out men or women whose heart is completely His - so that by grace through faith - Christ may be formed in us.
We who are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus have no right to consider ourselves superior to unsaved humanity, for our heinous sin put Christ on the cross - and the inestimable price of our sin was paid for at Calvary.
Let us take this warning to heart and live our life in praise and thanksgiving for what Christ has done for us and let us seek to share the good news of the gospel of grace with many who remain dead in their sins and under God's righteous condemnation.
The more we know Him the more we trust Him – and the more we trust Him the more His love flows into our heart so that we become a channel of Christ’s love and grace, flowing out to all the saints of God.
Chapter 9 reminds us of Israel's past history; their tremendous privileges and precious promises, while chapter 11 rejoices in their election by grace, their future hope and eventual salvation.
Many in Israel would remain in darkness until the dispensation of the grace of God was completed.
The new Persian policy of intermingling and intermarriage was being adopted, but despite their apparent disregard for their Jewish homeland and roots, God had chosen Israel for a particular purpose - to be the nation through whom the Messiah would come, and God in His grace decided to use Mordecai and Esther to forward his redemptive plan for His people, and set their hearts to once again call out to their God.
As we journey through life we should earnestly seek to develop these behaviours and attitudes, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Often the plans we make are deficient and nearsighted, but God in His grace often brings us to our desired destination in a very different way.
In this dispensation of the age of grace.. those that do not trust in the only begotten Son of God... whether Jew of Gentile, are not considered by God as the spiritual seed of Abraham.
and they will go into all the world and preach the gospel of the Kingdom to everyone.. But in this dispensation of the grace of God..
It details the glorious plan of salvation and the enormous sacrifice of Christ on the cross, whereby fallen man is not only released from slavery to sin; delivered from eternal condemnation and reconciled back to God - but saved by grace through faith in Him; made a new creation in Christ; made a citizen of heaven and a joint-heir with the Son of God; bestowed with the riches of God's grace; in-dwelt by the Holy Spirit; eternally secure in His gracious love - and so much more.
for they come from sovereign choice of God's divine righteousness and His everlasting grace.
The Lord is indeed rich in goodness and grace; mercy and love -wisdom and knowledge and power and in Christ we too have been made rich in everything - for He has bestowed on us the riches of His grace in Christ Jesus our Saviour, and by faith, we have a rich reward that is kept for us in heaven.
through the Person and work of His dearly beloved Son - and by His grace we have the mind of Christ.
the elect of God, and enriched by God's grace - simply because we believe God's Word and trusted the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation - and God is faithful and just to fulfill all that He has promised to those that are called and chosen - to those that trust His Word.
It was God Who planned the redemption of mankind before the foundation of the world and by the grace of God, through faith in Christ, we have become the children of God and joint heirs with the beloved Son of His love.
We are set apart unto God, and called into fellowship with His only begotten Son, the Jesus Christ our Lord - and those Who trust in His redeeming blood for salvation have been promised eternal life, a heavenly home and joy for evermore - according to the riches of His grace.
So many of the sacred words that have been penned by Israel’s shepherd king are prayers that have been rehearsed on the lips of many saints, over centuries of time, who have found comfort and grace in his pleadings to the Lord.
A heart that meditates on the Lord and lifts up the person of the Lord Jesus, is the one that exhibits an inner grace and beauty, for such a one is willingly being transformed into the likeness of the Christ, for out of the mouth come thoughts that are conceived in the heart.
And because we have peace with the Father we have gained access, by that faith, into the grace into which we have been established!
This enables us to grow in grace; mature in our Christian life and rejoice in the established hope we have in Jesus.
Not only do the glories of our justification result in peace with God; a firm standing in God's grace and a rejoicing hope in Him, but we can allow His peace to reign in our hearts so that we can even exult in our tribulations, knowing the trials of life and the difficulties we endure bring about perseverance, which develops strength of character and a solid hope in the Lord.
Man's natural desire in life is to live in ease and to avoid life's problems and pain, but scripture reminds us that only those who face the distresses of life, through His sufficient grace, develop the patient endurance and proven character that is so acceptable to the Lord - which in turn results in a mature faith and a hope that is firmly established in Him.
The former is a comprehensive discourse on the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith which is rooted in the gospel of the grace of God.
It was sent to the Church in Rome and teaches salvation is by grace alone through faith in Christ, which has set us free from slavery to sin, through the fleshly works of the law.
While the Corinthians grew careless and became carnal in their Christian walk, the Galatians turned from the truth of grace to a different gospel.
They fell from grace and severed the freedom they had in Christ.
It causes them to fall from grace and places them back under the Law of sin and death, rather than living in the freedom of 'the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus'.
His gospel was recognised and endorsed by the other apostles, for the gospel of grace was the good news that was turning the world upside down.
Legalism is a creeping paralysis, and when the gospel of grace is abandoned for this teaching, it places a believer back under the law instead of promoting the freedoms we have in Christ.
But in His grace, He works ALL things together for the good of those that love Him and are fitting into His plan.
The fear that Job expressed, his regret of being born, his desire to die, the accusations he received from his friends and his assumption that the nature of God had changed, show that this man and his friends had a significant lack of understanding about God's character, His goodness, His grace, His sovereign authority, and the fallen state of the world in which we live.
This is UNBIBLICAL and casts a great slur on the goodness and grace of God for He blesses ALL people both the good and the bad.
It encourages the unbiblical attitude of salvation, or blessing through works - but salvation and God's blessings are a demonstration of God's grace - not of works.
Job was a righteous man, which means he was a sinner - saved by grace.
They teach that to be saved one must take two specific steps.. 1st) believe the gospel of grace in the heart and 2nd) confess Jesus as Lord, with their mouth, before other people, .. 'otherwise', they argue, 'you are not properly saved'.
They will seek to destroy and discourage us, but we are saved by grace through faith in Christ and are not appointed to wrath.
Many speculate about the identity of this 'man of sin', but the Bible tells us that he will remain unidentified until the Church is removed from the earth at the end of this dispensation of grace.
Christ also removed the spiritual barrier between Jew and Gentile so that by grace through faith in Him, those that were afar off were brought near.
Christ further removed the legal wall of partition for He fulfilled the unattainable Law on behalf of all who would believe on His name, so that we are no longer under law but under grace.
Through time and into eternity we must never forget the grace of God that has been extended to all who trust in Christ for Salvation - for by His blood he reconciled both Jew and Gentile into one body, which is the Church.
God also knows that a poor man living in needy circumstances is more likely to grasp hold of God’s great gift of salvation, which is given freely to all, rather than a self-sufficient, affluent man whose super-abundance of material possessions and great wealth renders him independent of God’s provision and even disdainful of His free gift of grace.
Indeed, multiple passages teaches that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone and there can be no deviation from God's declared way of salvation.
Hearing of a corrupted gospel from an apostate teacher who shares a warped salvation message through a counterfeit Christ with a twisted truth is hardly likely to endear someone to the glorious gospel of grace.
Prayer is the tool that encourages our continuous appeal to His Father-heart of love, for through it we find grace to find help in time of need.
We have confidence, through His word, that He hears and answers our cry – in accordance with His perfect will for our lives and He has promised that even before we bring our prayers and petitions before His throne of grace – He hears and answers the faintest cry of His blood-bought children.The apostle Paul was one whose prayer-life demonstrates a man who found His sufficient strength in the Lord.
He also longed for others to grow in grace, mature in the faith and develop their own close intercourse with the Lord Jesus – and so we discover many heartfelt prayer for the maturing of the saints throughout His writings.But Paul also knew that he, himself, needed prayer – and in a number of his letters we hear the request: Pray for us – Brethren, pray for us!In this verse we do not have a mirror into Paul’s reason for this specific appeal for prayer- and yet we discover elsewhere that his request for prayer, is connected with the furtherance of the gospel – for the glory of GodIn His second letter to the Thessalonians he asks the brethren to pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you, while in his letter to the Colossians he writes from his prison cell, pray for us also, that God may open a door to spread the Gospel, and to proclaim the mystery concerning Christ – on account of which I am in prison.May we develop a right attitude towards prayer, and a purpose in our praying, which is in accordance with God’s perfect will.
He wanted to rejoice in the great salvation, which we have in Jesus and rehearse the beautiful gospel of grace in the ears of his hearers.
The mission of these ungodly men was to turn the grace of God and the glorious gospel of Christ into licentiousness and promiscuous wantonness, through their uncontrollable lust
Their object in infiltrating the church of God was to pervert the grace of our God into an excuse for immorality and greed, fame and fortune - the consequence of which was to disown the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, as their sovereign Saviour and eternal Lord. This underground satanic, movement that started to infiltrate the early church has morphed into an unknown number of disparate cults and demonic teachings, which continue to flood into the churches of today, in increasing numbers.
These men by nature are ungodly men, who reject God's offer of salvation, wilfully distort the grace of God and choose to deny the deity of the Lord Jesus - they are ordained to condemnation by their own free-will - for they chose not to believe in the only begotten Son of God.
when the sky turned black for three hours and the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom - giving all who will believe on Him, forgiveness of sin, life everlasting and access to the heavenly throne of grace.
The crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ freed us from the righteous demands of the law by nailing them to the cross, and permanently erasing the un-payable certificate of debt that we owe, so that all who believe in Him are no longer under law but under grace.
May we who are positionally sanctified in Christ so submit to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives that we may also be practically sanctified - as we mature in the faith, grow in grace and come to know the Lord Jesus more and more with each passing day.
It is by grace we are saved - not because of our merit but because of His mercy and love... so that by His propitiatory death and resurrection we too might be made alive together with Him.
And it is by virtue of His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection that we too have been imputed with His resurrected life and clothed in the righteousness of Christ forever, it is by grace we are saved not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The inexhaustible wisdom and love of God is reflected in these blessed words, God has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved). From the terrible curse of the Law and the irreversible state of sin and death - which is the fixed and final state of all mankind - the divine nature of our merciful God has reached down to man, in a providential display of His abundant supply, through His unconditional covenant of grace.
Those of us who were spiritually dead and eternally separated from our heavenly Creator have been quickened from the dead and made alive in Christ, by grace through faith.
There is not one thing we can ever do to repay God - for it is by grace alone that we have been saved.
Today we are being sanctified by grace alone and one day we will be in His presence and be glorified by grace alone. Praise God for His goodness and grace towards the children of men.
May we never become so familiar with the truth that when we were dead in our sins, God quickened us together with Christ, and saved us by God's grace.
He left His Father’s throne above,So free, so infinite His grace;Emptied Himself of all but love,And bled for Adam’s helpless race:’Tis mercy all, immense and free;For, O my God, it found out me.’Tis mercy all, immense and free;For, O my God, it found out me.
God in His grace has reconciled those who believe in the Lord Jesus to Himself, and through Christ, we have been given this important ministry of reconciliation, so that the world may know that God is the Lord and Saviour of mankind.
Christ came to earth to reveal God's goodness and grace, and His death on the cross opened the way for fallen man to find peace with God - to be reconciled back to Him through faith in His Son.
During Christ's absence from the earth, those who believe on His name have been entrusted with a life-work that proclaims the gospel of grace to a lost world, so that men, who are dead in their sin and estranged from God, may know the truth, be saved by grace through faith in Christ and find peace with God.
Man seeks after empty happiness and longs for peace in a world at war, but the child of God who has been saved by grace through the sacrificial work of Christ on Calvary's cross, gains more than happiness.
We are to be witnesses to the truth of the gospel and preach the truth to every creature - that peace with God IS possible by His grace, through faith in Christ.
It is through faith in His redemptive work that we are given a new life, a deathless life, an eternal life, which begins the moment we are saved by grace through faith in Christ - and that life reaches into the eternal ages that are to come.
Multiple passages tell us that salvation is by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, but here we read that He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey.
For over three years He had been their Teacher and Protector, and His wisdom and grace was acknowledged by all - yet there was so much more that they needed to learn from Him.
disasters and death are the result of sin and God in His grace set out to conquer sin and death and hell, by sending His only begotten Son to become the propitiation for our sins - and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world.
Praise God that sin shall not have dominion over us for our Saviour has broken the power of sin and death in our life - for God in His grace set out to conquer sin and death and hell, by sending His only begotten Son to become the propitiation for our sins.
To pray earnestly that they may grow in grace, and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
To praise God for the deep faith, generous love and patient endurance that is exhibited by those who hope in the Lord and to pray impassionedly for evangelistic doors to be opened, so that the gospel of grace may be proclaimed far and wide, to those who do not yet know Him.
Paul is an example of a man that prayed often and earnestly for the saints – making mention of them always in His prayers and always giving thanks to God for the grace that had been bestowed on fellow believers.
Let us seek to follow the example of Paul who prayed earnestly and continuously for all his fellow believers – thanking God for their lives and praying that they may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
As His children we are already at peace with God because He forgave us our sins by grace through faith.
But now that we have been saved by grace through faith in Him, we are to strive to live in peace with all people and to pursue godly consecration and holiness of heart - without which we are told, no one will ever see the Lord.
The fruit of the Spirit is an inner grace that is produced in a believer who is submitted to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that the life lived becomes a lovely reflection of Christ's singular nature and godly character.
The triplet of love, joy, and peace demonstrates an inner quality that permeates the entire disposition of the one that is producing this fruit of the Spirit, as they grow in grace and are being conformed into the image and likeness of Christ, through the power of the indwelling Spirit.
It is only as we grow in grace, become mature in the faith and keep a short rein of sin in our lives, that we will produce the spiritual fruit that exemplifies the spirit-filled believer.
when He comes to set up His earthly kingdom of peace, prosperity, righteousness and justice.Although we must certainly stand against the evils of our day, protect those that are weak, help those that are afflicted by social injustices and show patience towards all men, the preeminent function of the Christian Church, is to honour the Lord and tell sinners about Jesus – that He died to pay the price for our sin and rose again, so that all who believe on Him will not perish, but have eternal life.We are told to go into all the world, preach the word of truth to a lost and dying humanity We are to spread the good news of the gospel of grace to lost sinners We are to act as ministers of reconciliation to a world that is drowning in sin.
but the Lord, in His omniscience, knew that man would sin, and in His goodness and grace formulated His amazing redemption plan, that would span 7000 years of human history.
We, who are saved by grace through faith in Christ are one part of that precious plan of salvation.
We live in 'the dispensation of the grace of God', we are members of the body Christ, and we are positioned in Him.
Today, by grace, we are 'living stones', being built up into the Body of Christ, till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God. We are all growing in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.. into the maturity of manhood, and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ - for which we give grateful thanks, and praise His glorious name.
whether it be political, philosophical, religious, legalistic, economical, mystical or any other perversion of the truth - Paul's letter was to remind these believers that His grace is sufficient.
How important it is to be orderly and steadfast in our faith, such that nothing can shake our trust in the Lord, Who provides us with the sufficient grace and strength to face all eventualities.
Our dependence upon His person and His provision is what He is seeking from all His children, if we are to grow in grace and produce good fruit to His praise and glory.
Once we have believed in God's saving grace through faith in Christ, we are also to believe that, He rewards those that seek Him, as stated in Scripture.
Too often we forget that those who diligently seek Him, are rewarded with His sufficient grace to face life's problems.
Those who diligently seek Him, produce the beautiful fruit of the Spirit, so that they grow in grace and mature in the faith, which pleases our Heavenly Father.
The more a Christian trusts God's Word, believes all He says, has faith in His promises, believes He is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek to know Him, the more they will grow in grace, mature in the faith, walk in spirit and truth and please Him - for to the one that has much, even more will be given.
God alone was there when the foundation of the earth was laid, and however much man likes to speculate on the creation of the heaven and earth – God alone was present, and in His grace has recorded it, in the Scriptures, for our learning – but how few trust His Word.
And Paul further teaches believers how to live godly lives, as is fitting for those that are saved by grace through faith in Christ's sacrificial death and His glorious resurrection.
We are to clothe ourselves with virtue and grace.
and our desire and delight should be to share the good news of the gospel of grace, with all who cross our path..
For all who believe on Him, by grace through faith, would be reconciled to God; become eternally saved and forever forgiven, by means of the astonishing atoning sacrifice that Christ made on that singular day.
How shocking that the vast majority of humanity have refused to hear and receive the glorious gospel of grace.
The righteous man is the one who has been saved by grace through faith in Christ.
The Lord is intimately connected with each of His own - for all who are saved by grace through faith are united with Him forever and His Holy Spirit is both with us and in us - BUT evil men are condemned.
For those who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ - these prophecies from Isaiah and Malachi have already been fulfilled and our life is now hid with Christ in God and we are part of the New Creation in Christ.
Tensions between the two groups increased so significantly, that the religious, Jewish leaders, who rejected their Messiah, took steps to suppress the testimony of God's grace, by exterminating everyone who professed faith in Jesus of Nazareth - the King of the Jews.
The Jewish Sanhedrin became desperate to halt the spread of the gospel of grace - that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again, according to their Jewish scriptures - to save His people from their sins, by faith in Him.
As members of the church, in this dispensation of grace, we can rejoice that nothing will prevent God's plans, purposes and promises from being fulfilled - for both the people of Israel and for the Christian Church.
In these end times in which we live, God in His grace sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin..
God in His grace saved us by His own free will.
All believers from Adam onwards are saved by grace through faith in God's Word and all believers in this Church dispensation are considered to be a kind of first-fruit in God's eyes.
which is connected with the resurrection of the dead, whereby all who have believed by grace through faith are considered to be the 'first-fruit,' for we all belong to the Lord and will all one day be resurrected from the dead - but as Scripture states, this will happen to each person in the proper order.
The glory of Christ in His humanity is the glory that is given to those that have come into union with Christ as Saviour, for we are being conformed into His likeness day by day, as we submit to the leading and guiding of the indwelling Holy Spirit – and one day we will be exactly like Him, for we shall see Him as He is – in His glorified body, full of grace and truth.
He desires that individually and collectively the Church of God – which is His Body, demonstrates the glory of the indwelling Spirit of Christ, by means of an outward demonstration of a holy character and a godly life – full of grace and truth.
salvation of the soul and eternal life, which is part of the package of forgiveness), is a gift; a free gift; a free gift from God; a free gift from God, which demonstrates His amazing grace and unconditional love - and it is open to every-man – every sinner.
And by His grace and goodness we discover ourselves to be His beloved children - by faith in Christ.
Herein is love - not that we loved God, but that He took the initiative and loved us first, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for sinful man, so that whosoever believes on Him would not be condemned, but be given abundant and eternal life, by grace through faith.
There is a dignity and grace that accompanies a godly man into his old age, and one of the joys of being in one's twilight years is to have grandchildren.
He should instruct his sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters in the things of the Lord, so they come to a saving faith in Christ - mature in the faith, grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Psalm 118 is a very important Messianic psalm that points directly to God, Whose goodness and grace lasts forever, and it identifies JESUS as Israel's Messiah, Who has become their strength and stay.
The man who falls on the Stone will be broken to pieces (saved by grace through faith) BUT on whosoever that Stone falls, (the unbeliever) will be scattered like dust.
This will be a day of great rejoicing and much joy, a day of blessing and grace, of health and happiness, of righteousness and justice, of prosperity, peace and pardon.
It reiterates much of the content in first Timothy and lays important emphasis of the doctrine of grace and its necessary relationship to godliness and good works.
He had called him by God's grace, and was pleased to reveal His Son in Paul..
Paul was the ambassador Christ chose to spread abroad the gospel of the grace of God, to His elect.
Paul was commissioned by God to evangelise lost sinners, and to further the faith of those that had been saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus.
But it also reminds us that the joy of the Lord often comes through much suffering and pain - but we who are united to Christ by faith in Him, have the assurance that His grace is sufficient for His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
but God desires a worshipful heart that is clean before Him; dependent upon Him; submissive to Him and full of humility and grace.
God in His grace had slowly and beautifully unveiled Himself to His creation as our Father and Lord - our Provider and Peace, and He revealed Himself as our Healer and Helper - our Shepherd and Shield.
We are set apart for the Lord, or positionally sanctified the moment that we place our faith in the Lord Jesus - but for the rest of our lives we are being progressively sanctified, as we mature in the faith and grow in grace... as we submit to the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within our lives.
this is not the glory of His deity or His divine nature, His omniscient character or His almighty attributes - for in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, for Christ is the Creator and we are His creatures – but His grace and glory is revealed in those who have been endowed with the indwelling Spirit of Christ and the multitude of blessings that emanate from this glorious truth.
We have drunk deeply of the fountain of grace that floods into our hearts and flows out into a hurting world.
He has covered us with the robe of His righteousness and adopted us into His holy and eternal family – and the glory of His supernatural life and His self-sacrificing love that is being formed in all those that are His is the glory of the only Begotten Son of God – full of grace and truth, shining through the lives of all His children – for we are one with Him.
He was one to whom the hidden mysteries of the Church and the dispensation of grace were to be revealed at a later date.
God was to use Paul to bring the good news of the gospel of grace to lost sinners, whose minds are blinded, by the god of this world, and whose eyes are closed to the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.
It is only by grace through faith in Christ that we are brought into the light.
It is only by grace through faith that we are transferred from the dominion of Satan into the family of God.
It is only by His grace we have received forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Him.
May we live as sons of Light and let our light so shine before men, in this dark world of sin, that the eyes of the blind may be opened to the truth of the gospel of grace.
This much loved story of the woman at the well has become a favourite with many Christians who recognise the beautiful way that God in His goodness and grace has approached each one of us..
God in His grace was fashioning the world into a perfect paradise for His final act of creation - and Man would be formed from the dust of the earth and made in His own image and likeness.
Let us glorify God with our bodies and submit our lives to the leading of the Spirit for we have been delivered from the dominion of evil as willing slaves to sin have been reunited with our precious Saviour, by grace through faith.
The Age of Israel ended at the cross when they were set aside for a season, and the Age of the Grace (or the Church Age) began. The Church was born at Pentecost, so that the good news of the gospel of Christ would continue to be shared through a new group of people - the Body of Christ, which is the Church.
They were saved by grace but they were overthrown in the wilderness because they did not live by faith.
God loves His chosen people Israel, and by His grace, is not through with them yet.
For us in this age of grace, may we learn from the mistakes Israel made and be careful to live as God would have us live.
May we grow in grace, walk in spirit and truth, live in humble dependence on God, and be faithful servants unto our life's end, for His greater praise and glory.
Instead of the Church proclaiming the Gospel of the Grace of God, to a lost world.. 144,000 Jewish evangelists, will start to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom – and then Christ will return as their anointed King.
And it is during this ‘Time of Jacobs Trouble’ – (the 70th week of Daniel), that we discover a great multitude without number, who will be saved by God’s grace – through faith in the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.
Today, we in the Church teach the Gospel of the Grace of God, but in the tribulation, Israel will declare the Gospel of the coming Kingdom of Christ – And in the millennial kingdom Old Testament saints, Church-age saints and Tribulation saints, will unite their voices in praise and thanksgiving for Christ – the Lamb of God and King of Israel, Who takes away the sin of the world.
God's love is proclaimed throughout the Scripture, and from Genesis to Revelation we discover that God is love, but His is a love that I beyond human comprehension and a love that is rooted and grounded in His eternal righteousness, justice, long-suffering and grace.
And the love of God is perfected in all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, for we are saved by grace alone - through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Should not we who have been saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone give testimony of God's great love for mankind but giving up ourselves to His service until we can say as He did - Father Thy will be done in my life, to Your praise and glory.
This is the same God Who reassures us that His grace is sufficient in every life-situation that we may meet.
But we are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power, by putting on Christ and standing firm by abiding in Him, knowing that His grace is sufficient for the greatest challenges we may meet and being fully assured God is the one Who is going with us, for He has promises, I will never leave You nor forsake You, even to the consummation of the age.
A Christian should be more concerned with the development of personal character, growing in grace, maturing in the faith, and the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, than engaging in a ministry of activities - however valuable it may seem to us or to others.
Just as we can never fulfil Christ's new commandment to love others as He loved us without His sufficient grace flowing through us in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, so we are incapable of walking before God in a worthy manner without the enabling of His Spirit, through His sufficient strength.
It is only as we confess we can do nothing in our own strength that we receive the sufficient grace to walk worthily before Him!
We who were once living in the kingdom of darkness, enslaved to sin, and steeped in shame, have been forever transported into His kingdom of light and received life, grace, glory, forgiveness, and hope.
May our personal character and conduct give honour to His holy name, for in His grace He has called us out of the kingdom of darkness into His own heavenly kingdom and glory.
What amazing love that through faith in Him, sinners such as you and I, might be saved by grace and raised into newness of life.
His wonderful grace and inexorable love is correspondingly commensurate with the eternal death and shocking damnation, which the fallen race of sinful humanity so justly deserves.
It is only by faith in Him that we have become a member of His mystical Body, are indwelled by the Spirit of God and are given the sufficient grace to live in newness of life.
and he further expressed his grief over certain men, who were distorting the pure gospel of grace, and destroying the faith of some, by teaching that there was no resurrection!
They will want to have their ears tickled, with a watered-down and compromised gospel, he continues, and they will accumulate for themselves teachers, who say the things they want to hear, by preaching a feel-good credo, instead of teaching the plain, truth of the gospel of grace, about sin and salvation..
Many like to focus on social changes in the community, while denigrating the gospel of Christ, the salvation of the lost and spiritual maturity, while others continue to teach an equally concerning works-based religion, rather that a grace-based faith, which too often promotes the unbiblical teaching called, 'replacement theology - which incorrectly teaches that the Church has replaced Israel.
he wanted them to grow in grace and reach spiritual maturity - so that they may finally reach the fullest knowledge of the open secret, which is Jesus Christ Himself. And so Paul spent time opening up the good news of the pure gospel of Christ for a special reason:- so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.
We may no longer be under the curse of the Law but this does not exclude us from living godly in Christ Jesus, for we are now under grace - and if we love our Saviour we will keep His commandments out of our love for Him..
and He has recorded this incredible gift of grace..
No one has seen the invisible God at any time and yet God the Father has sent God the Holy Spirit to live in and work through all those who have chosen to trust in God the Son for Salvation - by grace through faith.
In this passage, Paul reminds all of us how to walk in a way that pleases the Lord, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God. Having been saved by grace through faith in Christ, we are to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.
The believers in Thessalonica were growing in their faith, but Paul wanted them to abound in grace more and more with every passing day - and this should be our desire too.
He wanted them to grow in grace, walk in spirit and truth, mature in the faith, love as Christ loved, live in unity with one another, and rejoice in the Lord always.
We too need to stand fast in the word of life and to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Jesus, as we press toward the mark for the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus.
And so God in His grace clothed Himself in human flesh..
And so for your sake and for mine - the Lord Jesus Christ was led like a lamb to be slaughtered, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so Jesus did not open His mouth - so that all who believe on Him by grace through faith in His death, burial and resurrection would not perish but have everlasting life.
Oh what peace and power, excellence and grace there is in trusting the Lord; what joy and gladness rejoices the heart and mind of the one whose faith does not waver in unbelief at the promises of God, for he will be strengthened in His faith and give glory God.
We are under the freedom of grace and have the liberty to choose how to conduct ourselves in a whole host of circumstances.
We should recognise that the freedom we have to favour one day over another is a simple matter of individual preference and a choice each believer is permitted to make for themselves by grace, without fear of criticism or condemnation from others, or from oneself.
In this world, where many are falling from grace and straying far from sound, biblical doctrine, by chasing after false teachers, that tickle their fancy, it is easy to see how apostates have crept into church fellowships are having a field day in Christendom.
It was after Peter’s angelic vision at Joppa and his experience with the salvation of Cornelius, the gentile centurion – that he came to understand that gentiles as well as Jews, were equal in the sight of God, and like them, were saved by grace, through faith alone.
Although these early Jewish believers understood that salvation was by grace alone – through faith in Christ alone, many of them, including some of the apostles, continued to cling to the Jewish Sabbath, Jewish sacrifices, the Temple worship, feasts days and other Jewish observances.
and yet he was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace, which was given to him by Christ Himself, according to the working of the Spirit's mighty power.
We too have been made ministers of this beautiful gospel of Christ as a gift of God's amazing grace..
on our behalf, so that we might be forgiven of our sins; clothed in His perfect righteousness and receive eternal life as a free gift of God's grace -by faith.
Our very life has been redeemed from the pit of the dead - for not only are we forgiven of our sins and the beneficiaries of eternal life, (by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ), but part of that free gift of grace was to redeem us from that pit of destruction, (that was prepared for the devil and his angels), and eternal separation from our heavenly King.
The doctrine of justification by grace through faith in Christ is the crux upon which our Christian faith rests.
But He takes and uses all our failings, to develop and deepen our faith in Him - until, like Abraham, we eventually realise that He alone can supply all our needs, according to His grace and not our feeble works.
We have been lifted up out of a world of deep darkness into the light of the glorious gospel of God's grace.
Our life-walk should be a reflection of His goodness and grace, His righteousness and integrity, His kindness and gentleness, His truth and His sincerity.
Having been saved by grace, we are living in the light of the Lord and the fruit of His light is discovered in all that is good and righteous and godly and true.
Our union with Christ has brought us into the light of His grace and truth, and the fruit of the Spirit should be manifest in all we say and do.
Let us live our lives as children of the light so that the light of the glorious gospel of grace may become a witness to the world that we are children of God and partakers of His divine nature.
May we walk as children of light and shine the light of the love of God's goodness and grace into the lives of all we meet, knowing that we who were once lost in darkness, and estranged from the light of God's eternal love because of the inner darkness of our fallen nature, have, by His grace been made light in the Lord.
The carnal behaviour of some, and the bitter wrangling of others, had necessitated Paul's strong rebuke, and yet his dear desire for this group of believers was that they grow in grace; mature in the faith and live as shining lights with a good conscience before the Lord.
When a redeemed person has fallen from grace into legalism or carnality and is challenged about their sinfulness and unrighteous behaviour; when a believer is brought to deep sorrow for their wrongdoings and grieved about their sinful behaviour; when a Christian is broken before the Lord because of their sin or when a justified man feels the chastening rod of God on their back and turns from their wicked way - they are brought to godly repentance, with NO regrets.
May we be ready and willing to be challenged for our wrongdoing and quick to respond, so we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, for His praise and glory.
and it was the Triune Godhead Who continued to ask, and who will go for Us? It was the awesome vision of Divinity's glory, in that holiest of all places that met Isaiah's startled eyes, for when he saw the Lord, high and lifted up, in His lofty, heavenly place and seated upon His magnificent throne of grace, Isaiah recognised his own sinfulness and realised he was not worthy to stand in the presence of such holiness.
Yet Isaiah's heavenly vision of the Lord is the most beautiful picture of God's grace, because the foul mouth of this sinful man was cleansed and beautified by glowing coal, that had been taken from the heavenly altar, and placed on his lips.
But too often, those that have been saved by grace through faith in Christ are glaringly ignorant of the incalculably, privileged position we hold.
He wanted to be confident that his joy in seeing them, would be reflected in the delight they felt towards him.Paul made up his mind that he would not make another painful visit to these believers, without repairing any damage first – and so he wrote his letter to make sure that any ongoing feelings of resentment, offence or pain towards him, were gone.I wrote as I did, he explained, so that when I come to see you next time, I might not suffer pain – because of your bickering, ungodly behaviour or worldly carnality.Paul’s earlier letter of correction was to halt their carnality and their fall from grace.
And may we also be ready and willing to accept any corrective advice from other believers – without allowing it to destroy our fellowship, and use it as a means to re-establish our spiritual growth in grace.
As we reflect on Israel's fractured history, their rebellious past, and God's long-suffering grace..
By God's grace, may we seek to live our lives according to His Word, and for His greater praise and glory, as we reflect on His tender mercies and gracious patience - for He is our heavenly Shepherd and He is our eternal King, Who has promised to guide us in the way of righteousness and to uphold us with His gracious hand.
Who in addition gave everyone who was present the beautiful gift of speaking in a language they did not know - so that men of Israel from around the world would hear the wonderful works of God and be saved, by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ - their promised Messiah and almighty God.
And like Israel, we who have already been saved by grace through faith in the Messiah rejoice today, for we too have been dressed in His heavenly mantle of salvation and we too have been draped in His royal robe of righteousness.
Indeed, Paul suffered much criticism and persecution from these legalists for holding fast to the pure gospel of grace.
These legalists, however, berated Paul, insisting that circumcision was also necessary for salvation, which is diametrically opposite of the gospel of grace, for we are not justified by any works of the Law (eg circumcision) but by faith in Christ.
When legalism is adopted as a requirement for righteousness, the glorious gospel of Christ, Who is our righteousness, is abandoned. When circumcision is insisted upon as necessary for salvation, the gospel of grace is nullified, for works of the Law have been added to Christ's finished work of Grace on the cross.
He insisted that the gospel of grace has freed us from the curse of the Law, which he labelled a yoke of slavery.
First, they persecuted Paul for teaching the true gospel of grace and then pretended he had changed his doctrine to entice the gullible believers into accepting a false gospel, which added circumcision to faith in Christ, as a requirement for salvation.
It is here, in the early verses of chapter 4, that Paul makes an appeal for Christian harmony, and the fellowship of all believers, as well as outlining the primary elements of unity in the Sprit, which underpins the Christian faith, in this 'dispensation of the grace of God'.
Just as we have been saved... by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, we have also been called into one hope of that calling - which is founded on the ONE Lord - Jesus Christ.
God in His goodness and grace gave His only begotten Son to be born into the human race, so that by living a sinless life He could die as the substitute for the sin of the whole world..
and it is by believing on HIM that salvation is given as a free gift of God's grace.
Paul had explained that both Jew and Gentile are equally sinners, equally in need of salvation and equally given the opportunity to be saved, by God's grace..
And in God's grace this testimony is also displayed in our own lives, by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.. for He gives to each one according to His own perfect will and wisdom.
It is steadfast and sure and stands secure on the unchangeable and trustworthy character of God, Who in His grace has warned us not to neglect our salvation.
but also by the many gifts of the Holy Spirit, which God in His grace, bestows on all His blood-bought children, according to the purpose of His own will.
The psalms so often call upon us to bless the Lord with our whole being and never to forget all the multiplied benefits of His grace and goodness that are poured down on us in such abundance, day by day.
As Christians we are not under the Law but under grace.
We are encouraged to be generous in our gifts and giving – not as a legal requirement or because a percentage of our income is required to meet the demands of a church body or the dictums of a denomination, but simply because cheerful giving and wise generosity is something that delights the heart of the Lord, Who has saved us by His grace and has given us all things to richly enjoy - due to His over-abundant kindness.
As sinners saved by grace we understand that the lavish liberality of the grace of God has been poured out on all those that trust in His name - for though we were dead in our trespasses and sins with no hope in the world, God sent His Son to die for us on the cross, and gave us a gift at enormous cost to Himself – a free gift of grace to all who believe, which has eternal consequences.
for God loves a cheerful giver and He is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need so that you may excel in every good work.
Who could have grasped that this sleeping babe, wrapped in that tiny bundle of swathing bands, was God incarnate, the personification of God's love and grace and truth and desire?
When we consider the price Christ Jesus paid to come into this world and save us from our sin, when we reflect on the stain that sin has left on our heart and realise the forgiveness we have received by God's grace, through faith, surely we can do nothing other than conclude with Paul that of all sinners, I am the worse sinner of all. He saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of His great and wonderful mercy.
He saved us so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, with the hope of eternal life.
We have been saved by grace through faith - but this is not a license to sin.
Having been saved by grace through faith, we have been given all we need for life and godliness.
Having been saved by grace through faith, we are called to become a living sacrifice..
Having been saved by grace through faith in Christ's sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, we have been fully equipped, by the Holy Spirit, to walk in newness of life - and become men and women, with a heart for the Lord, and a desire to obey His Word.
Let us live our life as unto the Lord, and grow in grace and in a knowledge of Christ..
Because of His sinless life, death could not hold Him and His own perfect life was restored to Him when He was resurrected from the dead - and that perfect, sinless resurrected life of Christ is the free gift of God's grace to all who trust on His name for salvation.
when we give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and grace and sing praises to the God of our salvation.
There are many marvellous mysteries of godliness that are too deep for our limited mortal minds and so He revealed what we need to know through His eternal Word, Who was made flesh and dwelt among us so that by grace through faith, we could be made the righteous of Christ by simply believing on Him and dwell with Him forever.
When the historical facts of scripture, the immutable character of God, the great crowd of witnesses who lived a life of faith that was pleasing to the Lord, and our own past experiences of God’s grace are all combined, then we too should be able to confidently say - the Lord is my helper, what can man do to me?
As children of God, we are meant to shine the light gospel of grace into a world that is steeped in the darkness of sin and condemnation.
While He was on earth Jesus was the Light of the world, but we have been made His representatives and have been entrusted with the message of the gospel of grace - the ministry of reconciliation.
It is through a life of holiness, empowered by the Spirit, that we proclaim the good news of the gospel of grace throughout the world.
Yet by God's grace, their stumbling has brought salvation to the Gentiles.
Despite having rejected the God Who created them and having refused His gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith in Christ, man has continued on his foolish quest to establish his own form of peace into this world at war.
It is believing the Word of God to be factual, as we stand fast on the gospel of grace, even when the evidence in the natural world is denied by our logic.
The former grouping refers to unbelievers, while the latter clearly identifies saved individuals. 'THEY' are people who have not trusted Christ as their Saviour, while 'WE' are those that have been saved by grace, through faith in Christ.
God knew that Paul would respond to his calling by faith and so he was set aside for this ministry from his mother's womb.But Paul realised that it was only by God's amazing grace that he had been saved..
in order to reveal God's Son in him - so that by his witness many would be saved by grace through faith in Christ.
Not only was Paul set aside from his mother's womb and called by God's grace on that road to Damascus - but God was pleased to reveal His Son in Paul so that he might preach Christ among the gentiles.
and it was by grace through faith in the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Salvation was made available to all - both Jew and Gentile in one body, and by God's grace, Paul was called to be the main apostle for this ministry.
so that Jew and Gentile alike may be saved by grace through faith and together become part of the one new man in Christ - to His praise and glory.
The Bible is a record of God's wonderful plan of man's redemption and the amazing grace that caused God to send His only begotten Son to die on the cross to pay the price for our sin, and this will be brought to its final conclusion when God makes a new heaven and a new earth..
They will all perish, and wear out like a garment, but God has promised to make a new heavens and a new earth so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in His kindness toward you and me - and all who are in Christ Jesus:- all who are saved by grace through faith in Him.
In the opening chapters of the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul gives a wonderful overview of our position in Christ and the riches of God's grace that have been poured out on all who are in Christ Jesus.
YES – Christ is our righteousness, and Christ is our ever-present help in time of trouble, and it is Christ Whose grace is always sufficient for all our needs for Christ is our covering – how then can we fear, if God be for us who is there to fear?
In the light of the staggering truth of this magnificent verse of Scripture, we should never doubt God's depth of love towards us, and the enormous gift of grace He has bestowed on ALL who trust in the Son of His Love.
Amazing grace!
There is no limit to His amazing grace, no end to His unfailing love, and no boundary to His everlasting mercy, which is new every morning.
The enormity and expanse of God's abiding grace towards this race of mankind is without comparison.
Never should we become casual about the power and great glory that is encased within the gospel of grace, which brought us out of a terrible pit and set our feet on the Rock of our salvation.
In the light of this staggering truth, should we not praise and thank Him ceaselessly, knowing this was the first step in the journey of His everlasting grace and the first chapter in God's never-ending love story for us... Who did not spare his own Son but gave Him up for us all.
His reaction and response during this encounter, demonstrates that Abraham was well aware that this was the Lord, for he said, My Lord, if now I have found grace and favour in your eyes, do not leave me.
But He is the same Lord, yesterday, today and forever, and like Abraham, we can trust His Word and we must obey His will, and by faith in Him, we also have found grace and favour in His sight, and have been given His promises that He will never fail us.
They sang a new song, which should rejoice the heart of ALL who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ: Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed US to God by Thy blood.
The wrath of God was poured out in fullest measure on Christ so that your sin and mine could be forgiven by grace through faith in Him.
We are saved by grace through faith and not destined for wrath because we believe on Christ..
The only alternative is to refuse to believe on the only begotten son of God, in which case those who refuse God's offer of salvation by grace through faith in Him will suffer the full force of God's anger, wrath and condemnation - because they did not believe on the only begotten Son of God.
That future time of wrath is very near and we need to recognise that it is by grace that we have been saved and not of works - lest any man should boast..
Yet by grace through faith in Him our sins have been washed as white as snow and we have been forever forgiven of our sin, adopted into God's family; placed into the Body of Christ and reconciled to the Father.
By grace through faith in Him we have been redeemed by our kinsman-Redeemer and received our new life in-Christ.
Following a series of sober warnings and solemn admonition against legalistic practices, which distort the gospel of grace..
Believers are encouraged to stand fast and not to lose hope in the promise of our heavenly rewards - oh, our eternal salvation is secure in Christ, for God will never renege on His promise that all who trust in Christ as Saviour will inherit eternal life, as His free gift of grace.... but we are also to walk worthy of Him in our Christian life and hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.
And although being born into the nation of Israel afforded the Jews many benefits, Paul left us in no doubt, that they too, need to be saved, by God’s grace, through faith – and not by keeping the Law.
unless they hear and believe the gospel of grace - that Christ died for their sins, according to the Scriptures, that He was buried and rose again, according to the Scripture - such that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
The Father's offer of salvation is open to whosoever will come as a free gift of grace..
and many respond and are saved by grace through faith..
Redemption requires us to believe on the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins and by grace through faith in Him we are born from above..
But God in His grace had purposed that MAN should rule and reign over His creation, and nothing can hinder the decree of the Almighty - nothing can halt the ultimate fulfilment of God's perfect plan.
Because of His life, the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light for He is the light that lights every man that comes into the world, for the life that He bestows on all who believe on Him, disperses the cruel darkness that has entrapped the children of men, and blinded their eyes to the wonderful gospel of God’s grace.
Show her honour as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
We all enjoy the same gift of grace through faith and all are forgiven of our sins and have received eternal life.
When a Christian man honours his wife as a fellow heir of grace, he will manifest godly love and will show understanding, patience, kindness, and honour to his spouse.
There is no correct way to introduce the Gospel of grace to unbelievers, but there does need to be willingness to tell others about Jesus, and bring God’s message of salvation to the lost – and many missionaries have found that a good starting point, is to give others a correct understanding of the God of creation, Who made heaven and earth and everything in it – and of man whom God created in His own image, but who sinned and needs to be redeemed from sin and death and hell.
May we, who have been saved by grace through faith, make ourselves available to the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that lost sinners may be given the opportunity to hear the gospel and believe, through us.
The Lord was long-suffering with the anti-diluvium population of the earth, but the wickedness of pre-flood people became so intense, that the Lord finally poured out His judgement on a God-hating, evil world - but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord..
At that time, they repented of their ungodly ways, and for 100 years, the grace of God was shown within the gates of this pagan city.
The Galatian Christians had come to faith in Christ by grace through faith.
Having heard the truth of the gospel, Paul was disturbed to discover many false teachers trying to cut these believers off from the truth of the glorious gospel of grace and the wonderful freedom they had found in Christ.
which only come by grace through faith in Christ - for the Law is a schoolmaster to point us to Christ.
He was sent to empower us with His life, for having been saved by grace through faith..
Paul was teaching these Christians how to live by grace through faith - so that in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit they would grow in grace.
Sadly believers become enslaved to rules and regulations instead of being free to live their lives in the liberty we have in Christ - by grace through faith.
Although in context the target audience for this amazing passage is the nation of Israel - for all who have been saved by grace through faith in Him in this Church age..
God's gracious gift of salvation by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ, for the remission of sin has been made available to all - for God in His love and justice poured out His undiluted, furious wrath upon His only begotten Son so that whosever believes in Him - by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, might not perish but have everlasting life.
We should not be ashamed of the glorious gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe and yet the majority of mankind reject His gracious offer of salvation by grace through faith, and pour scorn on the irrefutable; undeniable, incontrovertible evidences of His divine majesty.
At a time when much of the body of Christ seems to have lost its way and has succumbed to many false doctrines, that are infiltrating many churches , let us rejoice with Israel and sing, Who is a God like You, Who has pardons iniquity and saved us, by grace, through faith.
The Lord Jesus had laid aside His eternal glory and set apart His life for this hour, and in humility and grace He took a basin of water and washed His disciples feet.
If Christ washed our feet – we ought also to wash one another’s feet - in love; in truth; in humility and in grace.
It was the most graphic illustration of humility – a lesson in meekness and grace – a willingness to take up the meanest office and give preference to others before ourselves.
all believers that would grow in grace by dying to self and living to Christ, until the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit become manifest within the new-life of the believer – until it is not I that live in me, but Christ, until it is not my old-sin nature that controls my actions and attitudes but Christ in me, the hope of glory.
He is the originator of words, and through His locution pours forth the eternal wisdom within His heart, and God in His grace has equipped us with His holy Word and filled it to overflowing with light, life and hope.
The same One Who made us from the dust of the earth, designed a plan to restore the joy of our salvation - and He did this as a gift of His grace and a demonstration of His mercy.
Despite our faults, He never fails us nor forsakes us and readily bestows on us the gifts of His goodness and grace – for every good gift and every perfect gift come to us from the Father of lights.
He is our Heavenly Father Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and Whose goodness and grace towards the children of men never changes.
It is because of His grace that we receive what we do not deserve and it is through His mercy that we do not recieve what we do deserve!
But although the enemy of our soul may afflict us with temptations and trials, God is good - and in His grace, He will use those trials to test our faith and develop in us spiritual endurance that brings us into a maturing faith in Him.
He is our God Who will never renege on His promises nor will He default on His goodness and grace, for there is no trace of turning with Him.
May we be ready and willing to live and die for our saviour; to boldly proclaim the gospel of grace and conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, and may we stand firm in one spirit with our brothers and sisters in Christ, for His greater praise and glory.
The direct contrast between light and darkness, love and hatred in this passage is staggering, when we realise that this is referring to a Christian – for although saved by grace through faith… their life and witness is being wasted away in their cancerous attitude.
A mind of goodness, grace and forgiveness.
In His strength and sufficient grace we are instructed to develop a mind that is patient and kind.
We must not confuse the rewards we receive for holy living, with the free gift of salvation, which we received freely, by grace through faith in Christ.
For three glorious chapters Paul has been outlining of the riches of God's grace towards His people, explaining our privileged position in Christ and reminding us of the love of God, which passes all human understanding..
He has been expounding the length and breadth and depth and height of the good news of God's grace towards us, and the over-abounding riches we already have in Christ, by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection.
And Paul's heart-desire and earnest prayer is that we understand the riches of His grace towards us and that we stand firm in the faith; grow in grace; trust in the Lord with all our heart and become rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.
And so Paul draws this inspiring and exhilarating section of His letter to the Ephesians to a climatic close with a doxology of praise proclaiming God's goodness and grace.
This dear gentile woman had a partial but limited understanding of the truth of God, the worship of God and of God's great plan of Salvation by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and those that take scripture and distort it to fit in their own denominational leanings or partial understanding - and those that limited the truth of God's Word to comply in with their own finite knowledge or philosophical leanings..
by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ - and let us ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name.
So often as Paul draws his epistles to a close, he gives a list of wise instructions on godly living with the view to developing a Christ-like nature, where the man or woman of God may learn to grow in grace and mature in the faith - in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Our devotion will be a willingness to carry out the will of the Father in all we say and do, and our delight will be to know more and more of our heavenly Father so that we may become a vessel through whom He pours out His love and grace to all those we meet.
The God and Father of Jesus Christ is deserving of our thankful praise and eternal worship for His overflowing grace and His abundant mercy.
Our praises stream back to the cruel cross and the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world and our hallelujahs fly forwards to the glories set before us and our eternal home, for we are redeemed by His blood, born anew by grace through faith and resurrected with new life in Him.
We do not have access to our heavenly Father by works of the law, or through our own righteous deeds, good works, or merit - but by God's grace, we have access, by faith in the precious blood of Christ on Calvary’s Cross.
The Lord has heard my vows, and in His grace, has given us the heritage of those that fear Him... to those that reverence His holy name, the Lord has promised an inheritance.
We have legitimate access to the throne of grace through Christ, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
He spoke of the Light that came into the world to give light to the children of men and he testified that Jesus was the only begotten of the Father - full of grace and truth.
God in His grace used the many compromises of Esther and Mordicai to forward His plans and purposes, and through them, God prevented His people from being annihilated.
God in His grace used ungodly men, the plots of evil people and even the compromised principles of Esther and Mordicai to bring great things to pass.
Perhaps our focus should be on God's great goodness and amazing grace in using sinners such as Esther, as a channel of His blessing.
God’s message of grace and comfort towards His people, weaves its way throughout the Scriptures, like a golden thread.
the silken thread of His goodness, grace and comfort continued to be woven into the history of Israel – which would finally produce an amazing tapestry of salvation, for every human life, who would trust His Word.God in His grace sent His only begotten Son to pay the enormous price for their sin – and the sin of the whole world, and in Isaiah chapter 40, this great prophet of Israel, begin to write his beautiful, prophetic words of comfort to God’s people, which would eventually be manifested in the birth, life and sacrifice, of the incarnate Word of God.
For in His grace God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.
while in His grace He has seated us together with Christ in heavenly places to be His ambassadors on earth as we proclaim the good news of the glorious gospel of grace.
Having led us step by step to the realization that we are all unrighteous sinners in need of a Saviour and having made it crystal clear that we are saved as a gift of God's grace through faith in the unchangeable Word of truth, Paul guides us through the meaning of justification - (which means being declared righteous by God - through faith in Christ) and he outlines reasons why we can only be proclaimed righteous by faith in Christ alone, and not because of our own merit..
He explains that it is through Christ that we have peace with God, and it is by grace through faith in Him that we have access to this free gift of salvation.
and it is by grace through faith that we have been made a joint-heir with Christ and given a share in His glory - when in fact we merited nothing more than eternal damnation.
His death was the means that declared us righteous in the sight of God and His life guarantees that our life in Him is eternal - and it is all by grace through faith in Christ.
And in this wonderful message to the Jews, Peter again told of the wonderful truth that although Israel had crucified their Messiah, Who was also the Saviour of the world, that He had been resurrected from the dead – and once again the nation of Israel was being called on to repent nationally; turn from sin; follow their Messiah and fulfil their original calling to tell the world of God’s love and grace and His plan of salvation.
But the calling of God is without repentance and the nation that God called to be His chosen people, will one day fulfil their calling to tell the world of God’s love and grace and His plan of salvation.
He paid the price for sin on our account... freely and without cost... and He broke the power of sin in our life so that He could live in us, carry out His righteous work through us, and produce in us the fruit of righteousness as a living testimony of His goodness and grace.
One blessing of salvation is the immediate and permanent indwelling Holy Spirit Who develops in us the precious fruit of His righteousness through many acts of faith, as we grow in grace.
God speaks lovingly and truthfully to His people, and in Isaiah 55, He desires that they come to Him and be restored back into His grace and favour.
He wants them to eat of the good things He has prepared, and to let their souls delight in the abundance of His grace.
A day is coming when this age of grace will be consummated and the Day of God's wrath will be poured out on a God-hating, Christ-rejecting, Anti-Semitic rebellious world.
and the significance of light being the very first thing that was spoken into being on that first days of creation, points us back to God, for light symbolises His holiness, His presence, His favour and His grace.
But it also points us forward to Jesus the light of the world, Who is the light of life - for we read in the Bible that the fruit of the light results in all goodness, grace, righteousness, and truth
Praise God that by grace through faith in Christ we are not only children of the light, but God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
Sin caused fallen man to be separated from his holy Creator, and yet God in His grace, wisdom, justice and mercy chose to reveal Himself and His glorious plan of salvation through His Word.
God is no respecter of persons and throughout Scripture we discover verse after verse that reminds us that it was the love of God that caused Him to send His only begotten Son to die on the cross for our redemption… and it was by the grace of God that His free gift of eternal life is given to whosoever will believe on Jesus Christ as Saviour – that is all it takes.
God’s love prompted Him to save the fallen race of man and by God’s grace He chose to redeem us at NO cost to you or me but at the inestimable cost to Himself: the life of His only begotten Son.
The Lord Jesus is our promised rest, and to live a victorious life in the daily challenges we face, is to appropriate what is already ours - by faith - for His grace is sufficient.
He hears our cry for help and gives us the grace to stand fast in this evil day.
It is in Him alone that we can live a victorious life and claim a better resurrection in our own spiritual battle – and it is all done by grace through faith in Christ alone.
In like manner... instead of pressing on; growing in grace; maturing in the faith; trusting His word; acting upon it and resting in Him we too can remain in spiritual infancy.
Like Israel, we have a choice, to live our entire Christian life in spiritual infancy - wandering in a wilderness, frightened of the giants in the land, living defeated and disobedient lives OR we can trust His word, hold fast to His promises and live a victorious life as we abide in Him; grow in grace; mature in the faith; fellowship with the Father and do not lose faith when challenged by life's circumstances.
But whether it is my joy, our joy, your joy, or John's personal joy in the Lord, the joy of knowing that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ, brings with it a boundless and unfathomable spirit of joy.
As we continue, on the journey of life, in the strength of Christ, may we resist the devil and stand firm in the faith, knowing that our brethren in other parts of the world are passing through the same sort of difficult experiences - and that both they and us, have been promised God's sufficient grace, in every situation.
What marvellous words of encouragement are couched throughout Scripture and here we discover God's sufficient grace is available to all His children in the midst of the various trials and temptations that we all have to face during our earthly sojourn.
These are truly heartening words that have helped to bring consolation and comfort to generations of believers - young and old, who have clung to this precious promise as a spiritual life-line, knowing that His grace is sufficient for all eventualities and that His sufficient grace will expand and multiply to encompass every and all temptations, trials and tribulations that we may be called upon to endure in this life.
Israel was saved out of Egypt's oppression by grace through faith in God's word.
Like Israel we too have been saved by grace through faith in God's Word and cleansed by the blood of the perfect Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world and triumphed over death - for all who trust in Him.
Let us never forget that the temptations and trials in our lives are no different from what others experience - and God is faithful and has promised that He will not allow the temptation to be more than we can bear - but in His grace will provide a way out of it, so that we can endure it.
God has always worked through a little remnant and the apostle Paul was one of a small group of believing Jews who first trusted Christ as Saviour - and through whom the grace of God was made manifest to a world of lost sinners, to the praise of His holy name.
When Christ was rejected by the leaders of Israel and condemned to die at the hands of their cruel Roman overlords, it was through this tiny company of godly Jews that the glorious gospel of the grace of God was first delivered to a world that was dead in trespasses and sins - to the Jew first and also to the outcast gentiles.
as the Son of Man. He was GIVEN by the Father as a gift of grace from God to a lost world, so that all who believe on His name of the Son of God could be saved.
We are individual members of Christ's Body and collectively are being used by Him to testify of the truth of the gospel of grace, as ministers of His new and better Covenant.
And we were set apart by grace through faith in Christ our Saviour, before the foundation of the world.
We have been called to share forth the good news of the glorious gospel of grace to a lost and dying world - for God in His omniscience, knew who would accept His gracious offer of salvation, by faith.
Our character and conduct should reflect the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, for by His grace and through faith in Him, we have been given access into the throne-room of God.
How we praise His holy Name... for we who were once dead in our sins and shrouded in the thick blackness of sin, have been called out of darkness into His wonderful light so that we might proclaim to all with whom we come in contact, the excellences of our heavenly Father and the grace of Kinsman Redeemer - Who loved us so much that He was prepared to go to the Cross for our sake, so that our sins could be forgiven, and we could exhibit the glories of His grace, not only in this world but also in the ages to come.
When we were eternally saved by grace through faith in Christ; forgiven of our sin, declared righteous before God; positioned in Christ; indwelt by the Spirit and made one with Him - nothing and no-one should be placed alongside Him - for there is nothing to compare with Christ's sacrifice on the cross of Calvary for you and for me.
If anything in our life that has been placed alongside the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, let us remove it immediately and elevate Christ to His rightful position in our heart.
They would not accept that we are saved by God's grace, through faith in His only begotten Son, and for this reason Paul used illustrations from the Old Testament to validate his line of reasoning.
The same blessing is available to for ALL who are justified by grace through faith in Him.
Jesus did not excuse this woman's adultery by finding fault with God's law, for later He challenged her to face her wrong-doing and to go and sin no more. And by His atoning death, she too was forgiven by grace through faith.
And how we praise and thank Him that by grace He took our punishment upon Himself, and through faith in Christ, we are forgiven of all our sins through His atoning death.
May we never forget that we are not to become judge or jury for the sin of our fellow man, for we are all sinners, and only by God's grace have we been forgiven of our sin.
Oh, we can judge the false teaching through knowledge of Scripture, and we should judge ourselves, to see if we are walking in spirit and truth, but we are all sinners, saved by grace and for that, we praise and thank our heavenly Father.
God's wisdom is not available to unbelievers, and is also hidden from the angelic rulers of this age, for had they understood the incredible saving power of the cross, to redeem humanity, by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory!
Jeremiah mocked these false gods, likening them to scarecrows in a cucumber patch - and poured bitter scorn on the stupid ignorant goldsmiths and shameless artisans who crafted idols of wood and statues of stone - contrasting them with the Lord Who by grace, had brought them out of the land of Egypt and had promised to be their portion forever.
Despite the apparent anomaly that the wicked seemed to prosper while the godly were unjustly persecuted, Asaph came to an understanding that these evil men were on the slippery slope to eternal destruction while by God's grace, he was on the straight path to eternal joy and bliss.
Now as then the plans; privileges; prosperity and pride of the wicked will one day evaporate like the morning mist while those that trust in the Lord will be held steady by the strong arm of our God, guided by His counsel; protected by His grace and at last received into glory.
But rather let us declare the wonderful works of Him, Who has saved us by grace through faith in Christ; adopted us into His own family and covered us in Christ's royal robe of righteousness.
Christ was foreordained to be our perfect Prince of Peace before the foundation of the world, for God knew that man would sin in the garden and become eternally estranged from his heavenly Father, but in His grace and justice God determined that His only begotten Son would become His sacrificial Lamb, Who alone could be the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
This divine revelation is as relevant today as it was centuries ago for we must all come to an understanding that the Lord Himself will carry out His plans, which He alone has purposed - 'not by might nor by power, but by the grace of God’s Spirit alone.
But now Christ is our High Priest for His death tore down the barrier between man and God, so that all who believe on His name can come boldly to the throne of grace to stand in the very presence of the Father.
His never changing character, His all-sufficient wisdom, and His free gift of grace to all who trust in Christ, gives stability to the soul and rest to the heart.
The unchangeable nature of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is an all-embracing assurance that His Word is faithful, His promises are true, His saving grace is free to all who trust in Him for salvation, and none of the many precious promises contained in the Word of God can ever fail.
His love is unconditional, His grace is everlasting, and His truth endures from one generation to another.
The conduct He calls for can only be achievable by drawing on the supernatural power of the indwelling Spirit of God in a life that is saved by grace through faith... a consecrated heart that is dedicated to serving our blessed Redeemer in spirit and in truth.
It has relevance to those of us who have already crowned Him as king of our heart in this age of grace.
It lays out the best approach, when praying to our heavenly Father and gives us a beautiful pattern to follow, when we come before the throne of grace, for mercy to find help in time of need.
We are justified by God, and forgiven of our sin by grace..
that the forgiveness of sin is an expression of God's grace and mercy, because of our faith in Christ.
so that we may maintain sweet fellowship with Him and show forth His goodness and grace in our lives.
However Paul makes a big distinction between those that saved by grace and the unsaved natural man - those that are born again and those that are dead in their sins.
The new nature is to grow in grace while the old sin nature is to remain nailed to the cross - in the place of death.
Those that are saved have a new life - the life and nature of Christ which can only do good in the sight of God, (although until our physical death we can choose to slip back into an ungodly, carnal mind-set.) Those that are saved also have the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, Who is there to teach and train our new, born-again nature to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.
Rather we should walk in spirit and truth so that we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
so that the glory of His redemptive grace could be realised.
And so God in His wisdom and grace meticulously starts to spell-out Christ's earthly descendancy from the first Adam: (the first man who was made in the image and likeness of God)..
Jude had planned to write about our initial salvation by grace through faith - the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, but he needed to alter his message and urgently encourage believers to stand fast in their faith.
And so although there was a point in time when having heard the gospel of grace we trusted Jesus as Saviour, and were born again into His new life – God foreknew that we would one day make that free-will choice.
Since we have been raised to a new life in Christ and since by God’s grace we have been clothed in Christ’s righteousness; given the free gift of eternal life; been showered with every spiritual blessing; received a heavenly inheritance and been seated with Christ in heavenly places – we are called to set our heart and mind on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honour at God's right hand.
There is probably no higher pinnacle of praise to the glorious grace of God than the first few chapters of Ephesians and there is possibly no more staggering truth for believers than to be accepted in the Beloved.
Some Christians say that this is too easy and encourages believers into licentious living and a careless attitude, but I suggest to you that as a believer grows and matures in the faith and starts to see the incredible, glorious grace of God and the staggering truth that is outlined in the first few chapters of Ephesians, it will open your eyes to that amazing love of the Father.Loving heavenly Father, I just want to praise Your wonderful name for Your glorious grace towards me, Whom You have made accepted in Christ and if I only have eternity to thank Your for this staggering privilege it would not be enough – thank You in Jesus name, AMEN.
The reverence Abel offered to the Lord through the blood-sacrifice, signifies the first step in a believer’s walk of faith... that salvation is by grace through by faith in God's Word.
And it is as we walk in close communion and intimate fellowship with our heavenly Father, by grace through faith in His Word, that we too become pleasing to Him.
They had shared the good news of the gospel of grace and brought them out of darkness into Christ's glorious light.
Paul had taught them the truth of the gospel of grace, so that by faith in Jesus, they had been born again, forgiven of their sin, transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son, and received the gift of eternal life.
The new-born, baby Christian has to grow in grace and mature in the faith over an unspecified period of time, to reach this level of maturity in his faith, while other who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ may slip in and out of carnality and worldliness for many years, stunting their growth, and even regressing in their faith, back to spiritual infancy.
Sadly, many believers, although saved by grace through faith in Christ, refuse to move past the elementary principles of the Christian life.
But we have also been supplied with many precious promises, which reassure us that His grace is sufficient; His strength is perfected in our weakness; that suffering for Christ’s sake is a privilege for the child of God and that no amount of trials, tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or the sword, is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
True believers who are saved by grace through faith in Christ stand in stark contrast with those that are unsaved and yet profess with their lips to be Christians.
True believers are described by John as victors who hold fast to the truth of God's word and are not swayed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, but the main contrast that John draws is that God is our Father, while Satan is the father of those that distort the glorious gospel of grace.
Paul had been entrusted with the good news of the gospel of grace and the hidden mystery of the Church - which is His body, and had been commissioned by God and Lord Jesus Christ to share these glad tidings of great joy to Jew and gentile alike.
Paul desired to present the Church as a chaste virgin to her betrothed husband: the Lord Jesus Christ.. (without spot or wrinkle or any such blemish), but because of their attitude and actions he feared that they were being enticed away from the glorious gospel of grace to another, false gospel.
so that we will not be led astray from the simplicity of the gospel of grace..
But God in His grace had planned a new creation – a second MAN, the last ADAM, so that in Christ, humanity could be redeemed from his sin, renewed in righteousness after the image of God, restored into his rightful sovereign position, in Christ and reinstated as God’s representative of earth, for all who believe in Him.
Paul begins this chapter appealing to the Thessalonian believers to continue to walk in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord... to grow in grace and to walk in spirit and truth.
Zephaniah's serious warning should also admonish all who know the truth of the gospel of grace, not to be indecisive but to turn from their sin; seek the Lord while He may be found and not delay their decision, for the word of the Lord is true and altogether righteous, and a day is coming when He will sit on His great white throne of judgement to judge all the unbelieving inhabitants of the earth.
Salvation is a free gift of God's grace to guilty sinners through faith in Christ.
Eternal life and inheriting the kingdom is a human impossibility, but with God, it is not only possible, but a free gift of God's grace, which is generously bestowed on all who believe in Christ's finished work on Calvary's cross.
However, God in His grace did listen to Hannah, and granted her request, and she brought forth a beautiful son called Samuel – whom she gave back to the Lord.
If we are to grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are bound to go through various difficulties and dangers, trials and tribulations.
When the man of God prays to the Lord in faith, he is stable in his ways, and God's grace will sustain him through all the trials and difficulties he may have to face.
but this is failure to recognise God's incredible grace in His simple plan for man's redemption - for as by ONE sin we were all made sinners..
It was by God's grace that Adam's condemnation rested on ONE single act of disobedience - in order that by God's grace man's redemption could also rest on ONE act of obedience - one single act of sacrifice which made possible the justification of all who will believe.
She needed to drink of the living water of life that only comes by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself - Who alone paid the price for her sin - and ours.
The first chapter of Ephesians is weighed down and running over with countless spiritual blessings in heavenly places, which God our Father has freely given to us - by grace, through faith in His only begotten Son.
He redeemed us from slavery to sin and forgave us all our sins - and He also revealed to us the glorious mystery of His will - who have been made His children, by grace, through faith.
God knows all things, past present and future, and in His eternal wisdom He knows all who will choose to trust in the Son of His love, by grace through faith.
Death has no more dominion over Christ, and He is the firstborn from the dead, paving the way for the bodily resurrection and everlasting life for all who believe in Him by grace through faith.
Being an elder or an overseer in the Church is an honourable position and those discharging this duty have to be men of integrity, who demonstrate certain attributes; skills; gifts and grace, together with a character in line with Paul's instructions, in this letter to Timothy.
and we have Christ’s assurance that His grace is sufficient for every eventuality we may face – for when we are weak in our own abilities, we have His precious promise, that His strength will enable us to stand fast in the evil day.
It warns of the futility of doubting God’s word and reminds us of the beautiful fruit that comes from a spirit of patience and grace.
Living the Christian life as God intended and instructed, should be the main aim of the Christian, and failure to do so is identified by James as a sin –which should be confessed to the Lord and addressed in our life – if we are to remain in holy fellowship with the Father, and grow in grace, to His honour and glory.
or be a reminder of the incredible privilege believers have - in that we have the right to approach the throne of grace, and enjoy fellowship with our heavenly Father and Jesus Christ - our Lord and Saviour.
Let us boldly approach the throne of grace and make supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, on behalf of all men - to the glory of God.
One of the most dangerous aspects of religiosity and legalism is that the truth of the glorious gospel of grace is hidden underneath a black cloud of unbelief..
the truth of the glorious gospel of grace was hidden from these religious leaders, underneath a black cloud of unbelief - and sadly there are many today who are also trapped in religious legalism and the traditions of men .... May we have ears to hear and take heed of all that the Spirit says to the churches in these increasingly evil days.
Whether we are faced with fleshly temptations that rise up from our old sin nature or testing trials that come from above, we know that God takes all things and weaves them beautifully together for good to those that love God and are called by grace through faith in Christ - according to His good purpose.
And the instruction we receive from James is no different from the godly advice we have from the other apostles, for James also calls us to meet our various trials with an attitude of joyful thanksgiving, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance - and if we meet endurance with a godly attitude of complete dependence upon God and trust in His unfailing Word, we discover that the end result of that testing trial will be the perfecting of our faith, as we grow in grace and draw closer to our heavenly Father - in love.
Paul discovered the wonderful truth that God's grace is sufficient to meet all the difficulties and dangers that we may encounter in life.
The greater the trial the wider the arms of God's sufficient grace are extended to lift us up and to carry us through..
Grace and truth came through Him and for three years He spoke only those things that He heard from the Father.
The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a true believer, with a teachable spirit and a desire to know the will of God is one that will be taught by Him – he is the one who will grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The death of His only begotten Son was acceptable to the Father and it demonstrates His divine wisdom, for it fulfils the righteous requirements of God’s justice, and it exemplifies the superabundance of His goodness, His grace and His merciful-kindness.
But his opening hymn of rejoicing quickly turned to a pleading prayer and heartfelt petition for more of God's grace and mercy.
He admitted that it is out of love and grace that God's chastens and disciplines His erring children, He disciplines those He loves, just as He did when He allowed His people to be sent into Babylonian exile.
The psalmist made it clear in his prayer that he would listen obediently to the Lord's instructions, knowing that God, in His grace, would speak peace to His people.
The psalmist is confident that Israel will be delivered by God's grace, and that the Lord will speak peace to His elect.
He was quick to acknowledge the superabundant goodness and grace of God toward himself and his people, and was ready and willing to acknowledge that many perils lurk in the dark shadows of sin.
It denounces justification by works of the law, insists that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone, and like the epistles to the Romans and Hebrews, it quotes the singular, most noteworthy verse from Habakkuk that prompted the great 16th century reformation, The just shall live by faith.
It stresses that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
It reminds us that salvation is for the glory of God alone, and that our salvation is the primary evidence of the outpouring of His undeserved grace and favour on all who believe.
I am shocked that you are so quickly turning away from Him, Who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel. The apostle makes no attempt to hide his deep frustration and justified anger, and pronounces a curse on anyone, including himself or even an angelic being, if they promote a different gospel from the one he, himself had taught them.
Paul then gave a detailed description of how he had persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it, to demonstrate God's amazing grace towards him.
Paul's testimony was the most glorious example that salvation is by God's grace and not by man's merit or works of the Law.
Paul's intense hatred of legalism was because he himself had been entrapped in its web of deception, and it pained him to see these dear folk in Galatia being so brutally deceived by this legalist teaching that places men back under the curse of the Law, after having been liberated by God's grace through faith.
His desire was to bring glory to God alone, Who picked Paul up out of his own legalistic religiosity, and brought him out of darkness of the Law, into His glorious light of the gospel of grace.
Paul was praising God for saving his soul from damnation and setting his feet on the pathway to peace with God, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ and he did not want the Galatian believers to put themselves back under the Law, as these Judaisers were teaching.
Paul considered himself as the least-worthy of sinners and certainly not deserving of salvation, yet it was by grace that God looked down at this legalistic man, who was ravaging the church, entering house after house and dragging off men and women, putting them in prison and mercilessly persecuting the body of Christ, and decided to use him as His apostle to the Gentiles!
Surely the people in Galatia should see that his own conversion was by God's grace and not because of Paul's good works!!!
No wonder Paul said that anyone who teaches a different gospel other than salvation by grace alone, through faith in Christ alone, is to be cursed.
May we be willing to stand up for the Gospel of Grace, when legalistic teachers tell us that salvation requires something in addition to faith.
May we live lives that point others to Christ and not to ourselves so that others may see that our salvation is by God's grace and not our own merit, and glorify our Father in heaven.
God in His grace gives Israel, and the nations, the opportunity to be saved from His righteous wrath, by calling on the name of the Lord..
As Christians, we live in the dispensation of grace, and although all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus during this Church Age, are saved by grace through faith in Him - this particular prophecy, specifically relates to Israel, and the coming great tribulation period, when all who call on the name of Jesus, will be saved from God's terrible wrath.
Following his introductory greeting to the saints at Corinth, where the amazing grace and abundant peace of almighty God is the heavenly blessing that Paul bestows in great measure on all the congregation there.
As the God and Father of mercies we worship before His throne of grace, acknowledging that without the spilt blood of Christ alone we would be eternally separated from our God and Saviour.
But God in His mercy and love looked down in pity on a rebellious race of prideful men, and purposed in His heart that by His grace and mercy, through faith in Christ, He would redeem this lost and dying race.
This much-loved verse of Scripture outlines the glorious gospel of grace clearly and simply.
God hates sin, and God hates this evil, corrupted, Satanic world-system, which is blinding the perishing to the glorious gospel of grace and leading many more into a lost eternity.
But in His goodness, grace, mercy, and love, He gave His beloved Son to live a perfect life and die a sacrificial death - so that all who believe in Him will not be condemned, but live eternally.
Everyone who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ will be victors who will inherit these things, and thirsty souls will be refreshed and renewed. All will have the joy of hearing Him say: I will be his God, and he will be My son.
He is the Anchor of our soul, the Bread of Life and Living Water - and He is the One who gives the water of eternal life to whosoever thirsts, for He is the One Who has provided salvation, by grace through faith in Him - for no other person is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Peace is one of many beautiful characteristics that are manifested as fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer who is growing in grace and being conformed into the image and likeness of Jesus.
The good works that we do to the glory of God have no effect on our salvation - for salvation is exclusively by grace through faith in Christ's sacrifice.
And so we find Paul striving to grow in grace and to know Christ more.
Let us endeavour to grow in grace, mature in the faith and live godly lives in Christ Jesus..
knowing that by His grace, this will receive a great reward.
God's Sabbath rest was rudely interrupted by sin, but God in His grace knew before the foundation of the world that man would disobey Him and His work of redemption would have to begin at a point in time.
Paul's desire for all Christians is that we study to show ourselves approved unto God, so we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
As children of God we are called to be strong in the LORD and in the power of HIS might as we clothe ourselves in HIS righteousness and HIS peace - HIS truth and HIS grace.
May we be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, so that like Christ, we too may learn obedience by the things that we suffer and patiently endure in this evil day - with joy, knowing that His grace is sufficient for His strength is made perfect in our weakness
The Lord hears and responds to every spoken and unspoken prayer, every whispered cry, every word of grateful thanks, every prayer petition that is pleaded in the inner sanctuary of the heart – He hears every intercessor who pleads the blood of Christ in his prayer closet and every little prayer arrow that is quickly shot into the throne-room of grace
Let us approach the throne of grace in humility of heart for He is faithful to hear and answer the prayers of His children.
But God in His wisdom knows patient-endurance, humility of heart and a man that trusts in the Lord is not the fruit of a stress-free life, but a man or woman who has received God’s sufficient grace, to face any temptation or trial, which may happen along the way.
Prayer is the privilege of people who are saved by grace thorough faith in Christ, for by His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, He tore down the dividing wall between God and man and gave us access to His throne of grace, for mercy to find help in time of need.
There is nothing too great and nothing too small that cannot be given to the Lord, and there is no area in our life or the lives of others, about which we cannot come boldly to the throne of grace.
It is to God that our prayers and petitions are made and through our Saviour that our prayers are presented, because we have been saved by grace through faith in Him.
May we maintain a heart of grateful thanksgiving and praise for all His goodness and grace to us, and may we be anxious about nothing, but in everything through our grateful prayers and entreaties make our requests known to Him... and we will discover His peace that passes understanding, guarding our heart and mind, as we abide in Christ and He is us.
By grace through faith we are one with Him, and in the power of the Spirit have been imputed with the righteousness of God and have the sinless life of Christ dwelling within.
The word, “favoured', is closely related to the noun, “grace.' Mary found favour with God - She found grace, in the eyes of the Lord.
She was a particular recipient of God's amazing grace.
Let us be careful not to make false and unbiblical claims about this young woman, who gained grace in the eyes of the Lord - but was not 'full of grace' as is sometimes taught.
But those same words ring true for every born-again child of God, for by His grace the Lord is with us and we also are highly favoured, indeed.
He will save Abraham's physical descendants (the Jews) at the end of the great tribulation and He saves Abraham's spiritual descendants (the Church) during this post-cross dispensation of grace.
In order to do so we need to be like the Berean believers, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if the things they were being taught in their churches and assemblies were true to scripture - or if there was a distortion of biblical truth, or a watering down of God's word of grace.
For the time being, we in this age of grace, and all who have recognised the Lord Jesus as our God and Saviour, both Jew and Gentile alike, are part of Christ’s mystic body, (i.e.
By grace we have been saved from the wrath to come and we rejoice in our salvation from Christ’s finished work on Calvary.
They will pay the penalty for their rejection of God's grace, in the lake of fire.
May we be ready and willing to share the good news of the Gospel of grace, with all who are dead in trespasses and sins, and under God's eternal condemnation.
and the Father has unveiled to us the Son, in the person of Jesus Christ - for in Him dwells all the might, majesty, dominion, power and fullness, of the Godhead, bodily - and by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord we have been saved and made one - with Him.
And Nicodemus knew that in His grace and justice, God answered Moses' intercession on behalf of his people Israel, who was instructed to lift up a brass serpent on a pole in the wilderness..
And so it was that by grace through faith..
It was not the killing of the fiery serpents that would save the souls of the stricken Israelites in the wilderness nor pretending that the snake-bite did not exist, but looking by grace through faith at the substitute that God had placed in the midst of their camp.
And it is not by self-effort, extensive training, mortification or ignoring the presence of sin in our life that we can be forgiven of our sins and have our lives redeemed from death - but by looking at God's perfect Sacrifice for sin - Jesus Christ, our sin-Substitute, Who was lifted up on the cross, so that all who would look on Him by grace through faith would live.
so that they too may look and live - by grace, through faith in HIM.
Let us behave in a seemly manner that glorifies the Lord and selflessly esteem others as better than ourselves... Let us seek to grow in grace and produce the spiritual fruit of righteousness and love - and let us take every thought captive..
May we rejoice to go forward in the strength of the Lord our God, and may we always make mention of His goodness, His grace and His eternal righteousness.
He discerns the sincerity of each supplication that reaches His throne of grace.
Christ is our heavenly Mediator and we can fearlessly, frequently, confidently, and boldly, draw near to the throne of grace and receive mercy for our failures and grace to help in times of need, as well as making intercession for those who trust us to pray on their account.
As new Testament Christians, we are no longer bound by the statutes, commandments, ordinances and testimonies, as laid out in the Mosaic Law, for we are no longer under the law but under grace. However, we are subject to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which is laid out in the New Testament epistles, and as blood-bought children of God, our conduct, behaviour, actions, attitudes and motive is equally important, if we are to walk in His ways and honour His name - and should be wholeheartedly embraced.
And so in His grace the eternal Son of God stripped Himself of His heavenly and was made in the likeness of sinful man, so that by His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection He would rise to life immortal and be given the authority from on high to give His resurrected life to all who would trust in His sacrificial death for salvation.
After a brief reminder that they were once alienated from their Creator, bitter enemies with God in thought, word and deed and slaves to every kind of evil, the Colossian Christians were reminded that by His immeasurable grace, God had planned for their reconciliation back to Himself, through the matchless death, burial and resurrection of His dearly beloved Son, our Lord and Saviour - Jesus Christ.
God alone was good enough to pay the price for humanities sin, but God is spirit and only a perfect, sinless Man could become the Saviour of humanity and redeem imperfect, sinful men - and so God the everlasting Father in His measureless grace sent God the eternal Son to become God incarnate - God with us.
to realise the immeasurable riches of God's grace, have been poured out on us - and that God should take the initiative to die for our sins so that we could be reconciled back to Himself and be presented faultless and blameless before Him - IN CHRIST.
The glories of the gospel of grace from which flow love and joy and peace and hope and the salvation - and that brings with it eternal life are sweetness and light to all who believe.
Grace and truth came to us through the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the transforming light that streams into the inner recesses of man’s bitter soul - bringing new life and new hope and new joy into the inner recesses of man’s spirit.
Some see this as exclusive, and indeed it is, for there is no other name given under heaven by which we must be saved, but it demonstrates God’s wisdom and grace, for He did not give multiple ways to come back into fellowship with Himself, but one simple way – believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
No one comes to the Father but by Me, were the words of Christ to a lost race of sinners, for He is the Word of God, Who was made flesh and was chosen to be the one intermediary; the singular intercessor; the sole adjudicator; the only mediator between God and man. The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory – glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
When we are united with Him, the power of the sin nature is severed, so that we are enabled to live in newness of life in which grace reigns - the new life of Christ within.
He was the eternal Son and incarnate Word - Who was full of grace and truth.
Purity and grace only comes through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but in Him we have everything we need for life and purity, goodness and grace.
May we who have been saved by grace through faith put on the new man and abide in Christ day by day, for we have been made a new creation in Him - created according to God's likeness - in righteousness and purity of the truth.
When a man offers the Lord blessings and praise, it is an acknowledgement of God's goodness and greatness, His dominion and glory, His might and majesty, dominion and power... and it speaks of His unfathomable kindness to us who are totally undeserving of His mercy and grace.
In His grace and love, He reached down to the fallen race of man, to pick us up out of the miry clay and set our feet on the Rock of our salvation.
May it be our daily prayer that those who do not rejoice in Christ Jesus as Saviour, come to a saving knowledge of His grace and mercy, while it is still today.
Having been saved by grace through faith in Christ, and obtain eternal redemption through the one and only means of salvation - i.e.
The phrase, “the savings of the soul', in this verse, does not refer to eternal salvation - which is a free gift of God's grace, and can never be taken away.
the saving of the soul is salvation by grace through faith, BUT when we are already born-again..
The first thing that Paul wrote, after his characteristic greeting of.. grace be to you and peace, was a grateful word of thanksgiving to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, for the faith, which was being proclaimed throughout the whole world..
as the glorious gospel of God's grace was spread abroad, through their testimony.
Often he prayed that they would grow in grace, receive spiritual gifts, be fruitful in their ministry and be kept by the power of God.
We do not know who initially shared the good news of the gospel of grace with the people of Rome, but we do know that the epistle to the Romans, that Paul wrote to the saints there, was the most comprehensive and structured exposition of every aspect of our Christian faith, which we would all do well to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest - if we would be established in the faith and grounded in the truth of the glorious gospel of God.
But every attack on Christianity has its roots in Satan's demonic agenda, which is designed to blaspheme the God of heaven and earth, to discredit His holy Word, to belittle the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus on the cross, to blind the eyes of the unsaved who are perishing and to shipwreck the lives of those that have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.
Paul lamented, O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth of the gospel of grace?
No wonder Paul questioned whether his efforts in sharing the gospel of grace with these Galatians had been in vain.
are seeking to share the truth of the gospel of grace in a secular, relativistic world where numerous religious rites and ungodly agendas flourish..
We are presented with a feast of all the privileges that are ours in Christ Jesus, Who has delivered us out of the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son - by grace through faith.
The mountain-top experience of this glorious passage then tumbles headlong into the descriptive valley of what we use to be, for before we were saved we were alienated from God, hostile towards His grace and truth and purveyors of all that is evil.
Salvation is indeed by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, but never let us ignore that tremendous price that God Himself had to pay so that you and I could be given this free gift of salvation - that cost to the Father was the death of His only begotten Son, Who became sin so that we might be forgiven and be made the righteousness of God in HIM.
Perhaps it was to stem the possibility of unfounded pride in their own generosity or to encourage an explosion of grace within this Christian community that
Paul began to draw a stark and astonishing comparison with the great and generous grace that God had bountifully poured out upon all humanity through our Lord Jesus Christ – for though He was rich beyond all measure, yet for our sakes He became poor, so that by His poverty He could make us rich, beyond our wildest imaginings.
What Grace!
All these unimaginable riches and the glories of His elevated heavenly status were laid aside simply because of His GRACE towards us.
The new life we received at salvation is being transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, as we mature in the faith, grow in grace and gain a more intimate knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ
It is only by God's grace we have received mercy for help in time of need, so we should not lose heart, knowing that those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength and mount up with wings like eagles - They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint. God has promised to strengthen the weary through His sufficient grace, for we have put on the new self, which is being renewed to a true knowledge of Christ, according to the image of the One Who created us.
Paul joyfully concurred with the law of God relating in the inner man - that we are being renewed every day. He made it clear, in this verse, that he was ready and willing to undergo all kinds of suffering, sadness, difficulties and dangers, for the certain hope we have in our glorious resurrection from the dead - when this mortal will put on immortality and this perishable body, that is progressively decaying and wasting away, will put on the imperishable - and it is all by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, our only God and Saviour.
Throughout His ministry we see many Gentiles putting their trust in Jesus and in this passage we rejoice to find a Canaanite woman, from the region of Tyre and Sidon, being saved by grace and having her demon-possessed daughter restored to full health and a sound mind.
Their rejection of their Messiah resulted in the Church dispensation and the age of grace, but Israel will fulfil its mission - in the future.
God's blessings may come through Israel but the lesson we all have to learn is that it is only by faith in Christ that we are redeemed by God and declared righteous... for salvation is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord and Israel's Messiah.
Both before and after the cross, salvation was by grace through faith..
all who believe God's word and trust in His only begotten Son for the forgiveness of sins, are not only saved by God's grace and declared righteous before Him, but ALSO have become part of a New Creation, where the OLD nature was crucified with Christ and we have received a NEW nature - Christ's own perfect nature - His own resurrected life.
and in so doing they reject God's free offer of salvation: the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. There is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus (which is accessed by faith) for God's wrath was poured out upon Him in our stead.. and we have been forgiven and have received the gift of eternal life - by God's grace and through faith in Christ.
He is the one that loves with an everlasting love and He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, for the loving-kindness of the Lord never fails and the grace and mercy of our heavenly Father gives unlimited supply.
He clearly lays out the path that we are to follow and we should read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the word of God with an undivided heart, so that in the power of the Holy Spirit we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus - for this is the will of God in each of our lives, that we should know God and Jesus Christ Whom He has sent.
Christ Jesus was God’s free gift of grace to every member of the human race – Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God was His free, indescribable, inestimable gift of grace and He was given to every man and woman – without any strings attached.
A gift that is not accepted is still a gift – God’s free, indescribable, inestimable gift of grace was given freely to every man and woman – without any strings attached.
eternal life; eternal love; eternal hope; eternal joy; eternal peace; eternal prosperity and eternal grace is also given.
The moment God's gift of grace is accepted, He opens the floodgates of the riches of His grace over the blessed beneficiary.
Through his epistle, the apostle James is seeking to direct us in the way of wisdom and peace, together with humility, goodness and grace, whilst he desires to warn us against foolishness and hostility, selfish ambition and every evil thing.
Having defended his divinely appointed apostleship, clearly expounded the gospel of grace and insisted that justification is by faith alone, through faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, he turns his attention on how to put his teachings into practice - how to live by faith.
In this section Paul wants his readers to apply the truth of God's word and appropriate what is already ours by faith in Christ, for we have ALL we need for life and godliness, as a gift of God's grace.
Paul knew that Christians who return to the Law have fallen from grace.
But as a good steward of the manifold grace of God... through faith in Christ, Peter urges us to live a God-honouring life, reminding us that as a soldier of Christ we should not be surprised when we suffer for His sake, but consider it both a privilege and an honour.
Our time of earth is very fleeting in comparison with the eternal state that awaits all who are saved by grace through faith.
What comfort, rest, and reassurance wash the hearts and minds of believers when reflecting on the overwhelming love of God and the depth and height and length and breadth to which His grace extends.
May we lift our hearts with the psalmist morning by morning and every moment of our transient lives, by raising our voices in joyful thanks and praise, for God's loyal love reaches to the sky, His faithfulness extends beyond the clouds, and His saving grace spans the eternal ages to come.
God in His grace permitted a great victory over the evil Haman' destructive plans, and this was done on the thirteenth day of the month Adar.
We, who are been born again by grace through faith, can see an astonishing parallel, in Esther's story of deliverance for her people, to God's redemptive plan the salvation of the whole of mankind.
But God in His grace had established a secondary Law, that supersedes the Law of sin and death - the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
By God's grace, He is using the body and bride of Christ - which is the Church, to stand in the gap for Israel, by prayer, and supplication, and through the proclamation of the good news that Jesus is the Messiah..
before committing them into the Lord's safe-keeping, with a beautiful benediction, that has become beloved by generations of believers - the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of God, the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Indeed, it is often prayed as a parting benediction, before brothers and sisters in Christ depart from a time of Christian fellowship, and it is often prayed as a beautiful blessing over those for whom we care deeply: - may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with YOU.
And it is by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ that we have been saved..
It is by grace that sinners, deserving of death and hell, have become blood-bought children of God and received an eternal citizenship in heaven.
It is by grace that Christ, Who although He was rich, became poor on our account, so that we... through His poverty, we might become richly blessed.
It is by the marvellous grace of our great and loving Kinsman-Redeemer, that our sins are forever forgiven.
And it is by His grace that we have passed from death to life.
It is by the grace of Christ, the eternal Lamb of God, that we have been purged, cleansed, forgiven, redeemed and reconciled with the Father.
It is by grace - through our faith in Jesus, that we have been given eternal life and an everlasting inheritance, that is kept for us in heaven.
And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you ALL - Hallelujah - what a Saviour.
and his immense love and eternal thanksgiving to God, for his conversion to Christ and his salvation by grace..
It was his love for Christ that compelled Paul to share relentlessly the ministry of reconciliation through the glorious gospel of grace - whereby Christ died for all so that by faith in Him we should not live for ourselves any longer..
The whole company of believers who trust in Christ for salvation becomes a sovereign love-gift from God the Father to God the Son - through time and into eternity - and we are given God's supreme assurance that all who come by grace through faith in Christ will be given to Him by the Father - and none shall pluck them out of the His hands - and this is God's sovereign will.
Everyone who comes to Christ is given the assurance that: the one who comes to Me (by grace though faith) I will certainly not cast out. - but it is man's free-will choice to do so.
Those who are saved are simply those who have believed God's Word and by faith have trusted Christ as Saviour - while those who perish are simply those who by choice, have chosen to reject God's free gift of grace.
Such a man trusts his Lord with all his heart and understands that God’s grace is sufficient for all his needs. He will lay aside all other considerations and press on to finish the task the Lord has given him to do – knowing that Christ is his sufficiency and Christ his strength.
Today the Church is proclaiming the gospel of the grace of God to unsaved Jew and Gentile alike, until the WHOLE nation of Israel repents of their sin and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ – and THEN the “Gospel of the Kingdom” will be preached throughout the world, and Christ will return to set up His kingdom, as King of kings and Lord of lords.
God used His life as a living illustration of Israel's spiritual adultery and gross apostasy - as contrasted with the long-suffering mercy; boundless love and inexhaustible grace of God.
Although God's relationship with Israel was severely strained and broken, their stumbling resulted in God's grace being poured out, in great abundant measure, on the gentiles.
the grace Hosea showed to his adulterous wife serves as a tiny reminder of the length and breadth and depth and height of God's love towards us and His never-failing faithfulness towards His people - for the day is coming when every promise to Israel, the Church and all who have trusted Christ as Saviour will be completed - and Jesus will reign on earth as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The apostle brought them the gospel of grace, and they received his teaching with the joy of the Holy Spirit - despite the difficulties they faced, and in so doing became imitators of Paul.
We have to have the absolute assurance that His grace is sufficient for every eventuality of life, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
The good news of the glorious gospel of grace has been systematically undermined by many contradictory rebuttals from Satan.
Let us, like the Thessalonians, be imitators of Paul and of Christ, so that we may increasingly discover the joy of the Holy Spirit within, and exercise His sufficient grace in the tribulations we face, until we can claim, with him, it is not I that lives but Christ that lives in me.
But through it all Paul was quick to recognise that Jesus Christ was exalted, and the gospel of grace was being preached.
May we rejoice when other, doctrinally-sound ministries are sharing the truth of the gospel of grace - even when they do so from wrong motives, or because of some unfounded jealousy or resentment, they may have towards us.
The qualities and qualifications of church elders, or bishops, were clearly laid out, and the exemplary character that was necessary for this role, was to ensure that the teaching of the gospel of grace would not be compromised, by the increasing numbers of false teachers, Judaizes and demonic doctrines..
This was tribute of God's long-suffering, praise for His goodness and grace, thanksgiving for His everlasting mercy and demonstrated a united reverence towards His holy name.
God had proved Himself to be faithful to His people in the past and they were confident of His continuing goodness and grace towards them and so they were able to sing together in union: Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
Like Israel we too can look back to God's unfailing mercies and look forward to the day when He Who started a good work in us will be completed - in the day of Christ Jesus. Like Israel we too give grateful thanks and praise to Him for His faithfulness to His children - and we too rejoice in His long-suffering forbearance towards us - His goodness, His grace and His everlasting mercy.
we are entreated by Peter to live our lives in submission to Him, so that we may grow in grace and increase in spiritual wisdom and knowledge.
Peter calls us to rejoice in Christ and His sufficient grace, since we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good - for the word of the Lord endures forever, and we are His people and the sheep of his pasture.
And in the ages that are to come, the church is to be an example to the angelic host, of the incomparable riches of God’s amazing grace, which are seen in His blessings towards us – in Jesus Christ our Lord.
And yet, by God’s grace, we have been called to be a kingdom of priests, through whom blessings from God are being poured out, through us to others.
May the Lord bless us all and keep us and may He cause His face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us and give us His peace – so that we may be used by Him to be channels of blessing, through Whom the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit may be poured out in great measure to others, this day.
In His grace, Israel were brought back in their land 70 years ago – setting the stage for God’s plans and purposes for His people, to be brought to completion.
But the compassion and grace with which Jesus replied and the expression of love that followed when he touched the leper's diseased body, is not only moving but powerful evidence that His Messianic claims were true.
May we never lose track of the incredible privilege God's gift of salvation is to each of us who are saved by grace through faith.
It is only through Him that God's mercy, forgiveness, kindness and grace will wash away every scarlet-stain that clings to our sin-encrusted soul, when offered in brokenness of heart and true contriteness of spirit.
But like David, we too must approach the throne of grace in brokenness of heart and contrition of spirit, for such is well-pleasing and acceptable to our holy God.
He had been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus and set free from the curse of the Law.
W hen Paul realised the depth of his sin and the grace of God that was offered to him - he desired to live his life as a living sacrifice unto the Lord.
so also are we given abundant comfort and sufficient grace - no matter what we may have to face.
They were babes in Christ who had never grown in the faith – they were not maturing spiritually – they were not growing in grace - they remained carnal, worldly-minded believers – eternally saved yet spiritually immature.
They were saved by God's grace, but sadly disbelieved His promises and did not maintain fellowship with Him.
Jew and Gentile alike are only justified by grace through FAITH.
Like Abraham, and all the redeemed, we are justified by grace through faith.
We either grow in grace and mature in the faith, through submitting to Him OR remain in spiritual infancy and waste our opportunities to honour His name.
Paul spoke to the gathering in Athens with an articulate, philosophical arguments but he did not mention the gospel of grace and the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul described the Man Whom God had appointed to judge the world but he did not mention the name of Jesus Who died to pay the penalty for sin and Who would save them by grace through faith in His finished work at Calvary.
There IS an urgency in the message that Paul delivered to the Athenians, for the day IS coming when Christ will judge the world in righteousness, but the world needs to know the truth of the gospel of grace - that Christ died for our sins, was buried and was raised from the dead, so that all who believe on Him would not perish but have everlasting life. Judgement is coming but those who have trusted in Christ as Saviour have already had their sins judged at the cross, but those who have rejected His free offer of salvation will have to stand before Him as condemned sinners.
This verse was not only a blessing to the believers at Corinth but to all Christians, but to all who have been saved by grace through faith.
Oh, we are certainly being sanctified in this life as we grow in grace and mature in the faith, through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, but even this group, whom we discover to be the most carnal Christians in the new Testament, have been sanctified in Christ Jesus and set apart unto God.
When we recognise what amazing grace the Lord is showing to this group of unspiritual Christian who were engaging in such ungodly pursuits and divisive arguments, it should cause us to humble ourselves before our long-suffering Father, Who demonstrates equal grace and patience towards every one of His children.
Should we not seek day by day to willingly submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our life and seek to live godly in Christ Jesus, as we grow in grace?
Should we not humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God and cry out for Him to search our hearts and test our thoughts and identify any offensive behaviour in our lives, knowing that by His grace He has set us all apart for His good purpose, so that in His strength we may complete the good work that He foreordained that we should walk in?
James is promoting the lovely qualities of godly wisdom, grace, goodness, and gentleness that are manifest in the life of one who is walking in spirit and truth, while decrying the bitter envy and self-seeking ambition of those whose lives deny the truth and whose hearts are dull towards the Lord.
It is by immersing oneself in the Word of God and maintaining fellowship with the Father through God's grace and godly living that causes a Christian to be conformed, day by day, into the lovely image and likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We who by God's grace have been placed IN Christ by faith, are identified with Him and He with us.
But His resurrected, eternal life became our eternally resurrected life - for just as He identified with our sin and died on our account - so we by grace through faith are identified with His life. We died and were buried with Him through baptism into Him death..
There are those that love the Lord Jesus with all their heart, but due to traditional influences, denominational leanings, legalistic instruction, exclusive practices or the lies of the enemy have been blinded to the gracious liberty they have in the glorious gospel of grace.
Contrary to finding fault with those that are weak in the faith or deliberately entering into arguments with those that are disadvantaged in their spiritual maturity, such brothers and sisters should be welcomed into our fellowship, and be received with Christian love and grace.
Let us receive our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in godly grace, in truth and in love.
Let us flee from the influences of tradition, denomination, legalism and exclusivity and grow in grace and in a knowledge of Jesus Christ, knowing that we are all members of the same Body whose Head is Christ Jesus our Lord.
The time that judgement began at the household of the Lord, was at the start of this Church dispensation, and by God’s grace, Christ took the punishment we deserve and is using the judgements of this world's system to transform us into the image and likeness of Christ – and if it begins with us first, (who have trusted Christ for salvation) what will be the outcome for those who do not obey (believe) the gospel of God?
Just as blood is required to maintain the life of mortal man so the Holy Spirit is required to maintain the life of the one who has been saved by grace through faith in Christ - for we have been given His life in US.
We are to endeavour to pursue the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace, and are reminded that as God's children, we have received grace, according to the measure of Christ's gifts to each one of us, and are encouraged to use each spiritual gift appropriately.
As born again believers we have been saved by God's grace.
Although this is a divine principle, which is true in the lives of sinner and saint alike - this particular passage is speaking directly to those that are saved by grace through faith in Christ, and we would do well to pay heed to Paul's instructions on godly living.
It is only those that have been saved by grace through faith in the sacrificial work of the Lord Jesus Christ that have the right to approach the throne of grace for help in time of need.
His grace is abundantly sufficient for all our needs - but it is only as we depend on Him that we discover the abundance of His overflowing supply in all we do.
But by God's grace he was able to cry out, LORD I believe, help my unbelief, and he was rewarded with a son who was healed and a faith that was increased.
Like the fallen angels, they will be judged - but praise God that He knows how to rescue those that are His, and by His grace, we will stand in His presence in the Day of Christ.
The continued grace and mercy of God, can be seen in His divine appeal, to the people of Judah..
It is a beautiful demonstration, that the goodness, grace and mercy of our long-suffering God, remains open to ALL, who will simply trust in His word, remember His goodness, genuinely return to Him with heart and soul - and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting.
Those of us who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, are able to testify with David, that we also sought the Lord for the forgiveness of sin, and He graciously delivered us out of the hands of the enemy - triumphing over sin and death, and redeeming our life from the pit.
But He also was to present His risen Person before the throne of God so that all who believe on Him would have access to the throne of grace, knowing that He is our continuing Advocate with the Father.
We are to fight the good fight of faith by seizing hold of every opportunity, trusting His all-sufficient grace to bring us through by faith, rather than wilting at the enormity of a problem or caving into the temptation that faces us.
It is about growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and developing a precious intimacy with Him as we abide securely in His love.
And so we are urged by Peter to live in peace with one another; to walk in spirit and in truth, and to share the good news of the gospel of grace with those that are dead in their sins.
Having been redeemed by grace through their faith they started to doubt God's word and disobey Him. They started to murmur and mistrust God's word, and because of unbelief, lived a defeated life.
Just as Israel were saved from Egypt, so we are saved from the slave-market of sin, but are warned to take care - not follow in the footsteps of those who started to murmur against God, and fell from grace. For the rest of their lives that first generation of Israelites had an evil heart of unbelief. Having been brought out from Egyptian bondage they spent the rest of their lives in failure. Redeemed but defeated.
Christians in this dispensation can just as easily fall from grace.
Lack of trust caused God's chosen people to fall from grace and be disciplined by the Lord.
Some use this passage as a 'proof text' to teach that salvation can be lost through an unbelieving heart - but this contradicts the clear, biblical teaching on soteriology, which dictate that salvation is by grace through faith.
Israel were saved out of Egypt by God's grace because of their faith, but were not returned to Egypt because of unbelief.
Similarly, Christians who are genuinely saved by God's grace through faith will not lose their salvation - but will suffer loss of a promised reward.
Not only is salvation given to all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as a free gift of God's grace, but His ongoing favour is readily available to every believer, as we journey along the path of life.
James reminds us of an important biblical principle that is found throughout the pages of Scripture, God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The Lord withstands self-important, arrogant men, but supplies His sufficient grace to those that are meek and lowly of heart.
In 2 Chronicles, we read that humbling oneself before God is linked with earnest prayer, seeking God's face, and turning from every wicked way... for humbling oneself before the Lord, enables the grace of God to flow freely into our hearts and breathes spiritual revival into our soul.
True humility is a fruit of the Spirit that buds and blossoms in the heart of someone who is submitted to God, walking in spirit and truth - someone who is growing in grace and maturing in the Christian faith.
May we be men and women whom God will use to tell out the truth of the glorious gospel of grace, while it is still time, for we are His representatives on earth, who have been commissioned as ministers of reconciliation.
May we tell the truth of the gospel of grace while there is still time, for He is the only Way the only Truth and in Him alone are the words of eternal Life.
The Bible lists over 200 things that are true of all believers who have been saved by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Father' As His children we have received the authority to boldly approach His throne of grace in Christ's name - for we are accepted in the Beloved by faith.
How blessed they were to have a covenant-keeping God Who is the Creator of the universe, for Israel were His chosen people They were a holy nation; God’s adopted son and His special inheritance.But this blessing is equally true today in this unique age of grace, when His arms remain wide open to Jew and Gentile alike to become the people of God, bringing forth the fruit that God requires.
How blessed are those that are born again in Christ in this dispensation of grace, for we are those He has chosen as His own inheritance.He is not only the great Sustainer of nature and the generous God of providence, but He is our peace, and hope and love and joy and He is our Comforter, Defender – our Saviour and Friend.
Paul felt compelled to share the good news of God's amazing grace... and just as the Lord Jesus pointed His disciples to His heavenly Father during His earthly ministry, so Paul points us to our heavenly Saviour and Him alone.
He felt constrained to teach and preach the good news that Christ died for our sin, was buried, and rose again on the third day, so that by faith in Him, we could be forgiven of our sin and receive eternal life as a free gift of God's amazing grace.
Paul's primary passion was preaching the truth of the gospel of grace and pointing people to the One Who alone could provide salvation for a lost sinner.
Paul did not want these brothers and sisters to fall short in any area of their ministry, and so he urged them, by the grace of God, to prepare a bountiful gift, for the believers in Jerusalem..
The mystery of the Church was in God's heart and mind from the beginning, but there was a special reason why the Lord kept the 'dispensation of the grace of God' a secret, during his earthly ministry.
For if they had understood God's purpose and plan, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory - but in so doing, they unleashed the grace of God upon human-kind, and across the farthest corners of the universe.
The Lord Jesus triumphed over sin, Satan, death and hell, in order to demonstrate God's manifold wisdom, might, majesty, dominion, glory and grace to the angelic hosts.
God is omniscient, and knew that man would be tempted of Satan and fail to obey His instructions... and so God in His grace, forged the plan of redemption, before the creation of the world.
together with the creation of the Church, which is His Body, were kept under wraps - so that Jew and Gentiles alike could be saved by grace through faith in Him - and become part of His spiritual Body on earth.
God's plan has now been made known, so that in the ages to come He might show forth the surpassing riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us - in Christ Jesus our Lord.
They had turned from the gospel of grace to a gospel of works.
This false gospel exchanged salvation, which can only come as a gracious gift of God, through faith - into a striving type of salvation that can only be gained through man's legalistic works and depends on man's merit rather than God's grace.
Paul went on to point out that having been saved by grace through faith in Christ they were to live by grace through faith in Christ..
they were grow in grace by faith in Christ - they were to mature as Christians, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Legalism is a works based gospel, where man's merit supersedes the grace of God, requiring adherence to imposed rules, ritual and regulations and Paul sought to make it crystal clear that the purity of the true gospel of grace, can never, ever be changed.
Salvation is not dependent on any type of legalistic practices but on grace alone by faith alone in Christ's finished work alone.
BUT the Bible teaches that salvation of the spirit, salvation of the soul and salvation of the body is dependent on grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone..
The omnipotent God of the universe and omniscient Creator of all things chose to communicate a message of saving grace - to a fallen race of sinners… who would trust in the name of the only begotten Son of God, so that instead of being condemned and eternally separated from His holy presence, we could be clothed in His righteousness… be adopted as His beloved children and be appointed heirs of all that belongs to Him.
Should we not rejoice, for this is one face of the cut diamond of His grace with which God has chosen to bless us.
He has redeemed, sanctified and sealed us with His Holy Spirit, and by God’s grace there is laid up for us an inheritance in Christ – and He is building us all up in the most holy faith.
Man is free to choose to accept Christ as Saviour and man is equally given the choice to reject His free gift of grace and unconditional love.
The result is the rejection of God’s gracious offer of salvation by grace – through faith in Christ.
The exclusion of the Lord Jesus Christ from the lives of evil men… the absence of the truth and a self-willed rejection of the glorious gospel of grace, corrupts the human mind and darkens his imagination, until the Presence of God's light become painful and distasteful.
He is the Head of the Body, which is the Church, and it is thorough Him we are nourished and knit together as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
Paul warns that such rites, rules, rituals and regulations are human commands; man-made doctrines and deceptive arguments, designed by the enemy to neutralise our faith; entice us away from the truth of the glorious gospel of grace; destroy our testimony and dishonour the Lord Jesus.
He explains the only way to attain spiritual maturity is through faith - first:- being justified by grace through faith in Christ and second:- by living a sanctified life of faith in Christ, day by day - through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
as he shares the good news of the multiplied grace and peace of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Indeed everyone who has been saved by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of their sins and life everlasting is part of that elect group - we are all a member of that special group that God in His omniscient foreknowledge knew.
God knew from before the foundation of the world, that we would hear the gospel of the grace of God and choose to place our trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour.
We are the elect because when we heard the gospel of grace we trusted Christ for salvation..
Christ Jesus was born into the human race to be our sin-substitute - but He also gave each man and women a freewill to choose to accept or to reject His offer of salvation - to either 1) believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ or 2) to refuse to believe in this free gift of grace.
Every person has a choice to accept salvation as a free gift of grace or to reject His gracious offer.
He knew from before the beginning of the world who would be saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus as their sin-substitute and - and He called us His 'elect' -
All who are saved by grace through faith in Christ have a holy and noble calling and as members of His Body we are living stones that are being built up into a spiritual house.
The grace of God is not a formula to be discovered through scientific means..
The grace of God is not an invention to be created out of man's intellectual skill; technological expertise, creative ability or artistic imagination.
The grace of God appeared on earth in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is the power of God and the wisdom of God and through Him alone was salvation brought to all men - for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - and the wages of sin is death but the gift of God's grace is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord - Who appeared in Person, bringing salvation to ALL men.
The grace of God was revealed through the incarnate Son of God, Who is the Word of God made flesh - for Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God and He appeared on earth as the fulfillment of God's gracious promise to a lost world of fallen sinners - YES, the grace of God was made manifest in the unique God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who brought Salvation to all men - so that all who believe on His name will not perish but have everlasting life.
Grace is not only God's unmerited kindness and favour that is poured out in liberal abundance on those who do not deserve it - it is also God's unfathomable mercy that does not punish fallen man what we truly deserve - for Christ was made sin in OUR place.
We are not only saved by grace through faith in Him, but we are to be continuously sanctified by grace through faith in Him and to live our earthly life by grace through faith and dependence and trust in our Saviour Jesus Christ - and one day we will be glorified by grace through faith in Christ, Who brought salvation to whosever will.
Christ alone redeems our lost and hopeless status with His saving grace, and returns us into fellowship with the Father and in union with Himself.
Christ transforms our inner man by His sanctifying grace, through discipline and training in our daily life so that one day we will be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And in the future Christ will reward us by grace through faith - simply because Christ appeared bringing salvation to all who would trust in His name.
Praise God for His justifying grace; His illuminating grace; His comforting grace and His strengthening grace.
Praise God for His healing grace; His enduring grace; His overcoming grace and His sustaining grace.
Praise God for the grace He provides for living; for the grace to suffer; the grace to face persecution and for dying grace at the end of our pilgrimage - and praise God that His grace is sufficient for all eventualities.
Thank You Father that at Your appointed time, grace appeared..... in the Person of Jesus Christ, bringing Salvation to all.
Paul is reminding Timothy that he has been saved by grace through faith and now he ought to live his life by grace through faith.
Paul wants to impress on Timothy the truth that those who LIVE by faith are pleasing to God, while those who try to live their Christian life in any other way will end up with a faith that has been shipwrecked, They will be living a carnal life that is not pleasing to the Lord and will actually have ‘fallen from grace”, like the Galatian believers - because they have tried to live their life by works the law or by submitting to their fleshly desires – rather than submitting to the Spirit of God.
Oh, this does not mean that a believer whose faith is shipwrecked has lost his salvation, but it does mean that he has made a deliberate choice NOT to hold fast to his faith – by ignoring God's will for his life – which is to live by grace through faith as outlined in Scripture.
Just as Matthew's target audience was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel so the book of Hebrews was initially directed towards Hebrew Christians, in the early Church, who found the transition from the pre-cross dispensation of Law to the post-cross dispensation of grace - difficult.
He indwells every born-again believer, during this dispensation of grace, but will be taken out of the way - at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him.. i.e.
and to read, mark; learn; inwardly digest and apply their godly instruction during this age of grace and to rightly divide the word of truth, so that we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
That call to righteousness and truth, godliness and grace should be the earnest desire of all who have been saved from slavery to sin and Satan, and by grace have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's dear Son.
The more the book of Romans unfolds, the greater our understanding of the amazing grace that God has demonstrated towards us – in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, so that we might become sons of God, and joint heirs with Christ – for He Who knew no sin was made to be sin on our behalf; so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.
Once we are born again, we start to grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
May we grow in grace and walk in spirit and truth, so that by His grace we may owe nothing to anyone – EXCEPT to love one another with Christ’s own perfect… supernaturally imputed love.
It was even by the grace of God that the leprosy that caused him such distress was used by the Lord to bring Naaman, and many others souls in the kingdom of Syria, to hear about the God in Israel, Who could heal him of this terrible disease.
Unbeknown to both women, God had planned to use their desperate situation to demonstrate His grace towards them and to forward His perfect plan of redemption and as the story unfolds, we are increasingly aware of God's providential work in their lives.
And yet, in His grace, God had planned something special for this sweet daughter of Israel who returned home.
However, as soon as this gentile woman, addressed Him as “LORD', and asked Him to heal her daughter, she was saved by grace through faith in Jesus, as the Saviour of the world - for Salvation is of the LORD.
But in His grace He sent the Holy Spirit into the world to convict fallen man of sin, righteousness and judgement and to draw sinful man into the saving arms of Jesus - and God gave man a free-will to believe on Him of reject His offer of salvation...
this does not mean that all men will be saved, for man is given a free-will to choose to accept God's free gift of salvation or to reject His offer of grace - but it does mean that God is doing all He can to save sinful man from eternal separation from Himself.
Christ died for all – and salvation is a free gift of grace that is available to whosoever will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, but the gift of His resurrection life is ONLY for those that trust in Him as Saviour.
Surely, we who LIVE, we who have by grace received His resurrected life... surely, we should no longer live for ourselves, but for the Lord Jesus Christ who DIED for us and was also RAISED.
to devote themselves to prayer, maintain an attitude of thanksgiving, conduct themselves with wisdom and grace, and make the most of their opportunity to speak of Christ, but he also asks them to pray for his own ministry - that the Lord would open doors for him and his team to share the gospel of grace and the mystery of Christ... and for him to receive wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.
Knowing that the Church, which began at Pentecost, is NOT under the Law but under grace, begs the question - WHY did Paul appeal to the Mosaic Law when promoting the Golden Rule and saying, Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Well, we need look no further than Christ's closing command to the Church - LOVE, as I have loved.
The Church, however, are not under the Law but under grace.
It was then that Christ revealed that love was the only way that blessings could be received, woes could be averted and God's grace could flow freely into the lives of those who believed.
abiding in Him, resting in His grace and trusting His provision.
A supernatural love, that mirrors the love of God, is the essence of Christianity, which can only be demonstrated in a life that is saved by grace through faith.
Only a sinner, saved by grace, has the capacity to love as Christ loved..
The natural, human reaction to those who abuse us or take advantage of us, is not to show the godly grace that Christ demands.
To transparently bestow kindness and love on one's enemies, or to show grace towards those who exploit or exasperate us, is not an action that can be whipped up in the blackened heart of fallen humanity.
where every word and deed is a reflection of His goodness and grace.
Paul was prepared to endure ALL THINGS in order to proclaim the whole spectrum of Christian salvation and service - for not only did God save us according to His great mercy but having been saved by grace through faith we are exhorted to present our bodies as a living sacrifice - holy and acceptable to the Lord, which is our reasonable service.
to grow in grace and mature in the faith so that they may obtain all the many benefits of their full and free salvation - spirit, soul and body.
He made no complaint about the suffering and pain he endured in order to ensure that the gospel of grace was proclaimed, for he knew that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed hereafter.
And like so many of Paul's writings his main focus was to further the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to equip the saints in sound doctrine - so that they would be enabled to grow in their own spiritual understanding of the glorious gospel of grace and to proclaim the undistorted truth of God to others.
God purposed in the eternal council chambers of heaven that fallen man would be given eternal life as a free gift of grace through faith in the redeeming blood of His only begotten Son.
Our hope in Christ is not only a future expectation but it is already our present possession, for when we were saved by grace through faith in Christ we were made children of God; citizens of heaven; heirs of the grace and joint-heirs with Christ.
Let us rejoice and be glad that God has given us eternal life both now and in the ages to come - which is ours by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Saviour
Let US kindle afresh the gift of God, which by His grace we have received - but let us do it in LOVE, for if we function in the gifts of the Spirit without LOVE it profits us nothing, and dishonours our Lord.
The cross of Christ most certainly paid the price for the sin of the whole world so that whosoever will may come – none are excluded from the forgiveness that flowed from the veins of the Messiah, which paid the price for all sin – NONE are excluded from this gift of God's grace.
Romans makes it clear from the start that the very nature of man is at enmity with God and every man remains under God's eternal condemnation unless they are saved by grace through faith.
Like Mary, there is an unfolding of our understanding as we study the Word of God and pay heed to all that has been revealed to us through the apostles and prophets of old, and like Mary, we will go on learning more and more of the amazing grace of God that has been poured out upon all who have trusted in Christ as Saviour.
We are instructed to study, to show ourselves approved unto God and to search the Scriptures daily - if we would grow in grace and in the fear and knowledge of our Saviour.
Nicodemus was a teacher of the Law but he had to come to a deeper understanding of salvation by grace through faith.
And so Jesus used a beautiful Old Testament illustration to demonstrate to this highly educated Jewish rabbi that salvation is a free gift of grace..
And it was out of love that God sent His only begotten Son so that all who trust in Him for their redemption are saved by grace through faith... transferred from being a member of the kingdom of Satan through physical birth into Adam's fallen race..
that we are justified by grace through faith in the only begotten Son of God and that we are clothed in His righteousness; redeemed by His blood; made a new creation in Christ and set free from slavery to the world; the flesh; the devil and the Law.
Paul accurately describes the evil intent of humanity's hypocritical heart, and how we who are saved by grace through faith delight to wag our finger of accusation against the misdemeanors of the unsaved in order to publicize our superior standard!
The catalogue of corruption that Paul has so articulately presented in the precious chapter is simply a mirror that reflects our own bloodied heart and testifies to our equal and desperate need of God's grace upon grace upon much more grace.
This sin of self-righteous superiority of the believer is equally if not more offensive to our heavenly Father - for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory and perfection of God and it is a heart of compassion for those who are lost in their sin and blinded to the glorious gospel of grace, that should ignite in our heart a deep compassion for the lost, and not a supercilious, critical judgement on their sins.
All His righteousness, all His merit, all His life – all His grace – and all we can do is glory in these mysteries of the truth that have been made known to us, by faith.
We read that it pleased God to reconcile fallen man back to Himself through the sacrifice of the life of His dearly beloved Son – and it is all of grace.
Although they were saved by grace thorough faith in Christ, these believers were being deeply influenced by the fleshly world system, rather than being led and guided by the indwelling, Spirit of God.
They had responded positively to the gospel of grace and had been wonderfully saved.
May we grow in grace and progress into spiritual maturity, so that we may gain spiritual discernment and be renewed in our heart and transformed through the mind, into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this dispensation of grace, we may not be under the Mosaic Law or required to keep the statutes, commandments, feasts, ordinances, and testimonies given to Israel, but we have the Word of God which instructs us on holy living, walking in spirit and truth, abiding in Christ, and growing in grace.
May we carry out His good work in our life, pray into His perfect will, grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, and be quick to seek His glory.
He is both the eternal Son of God Who created the universe, but He is also the gracious Son of Man Who died and rose again so that through faith in Him we can come to the throne of grace.
This is a verse that rejoices our hearts, for this Throne of Grace is the eternal seat of the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth, Whose mercy-seat has covered our sins forever.
It is by His grace that the veil of the temple that separates man from God, is torn in two from top to bottom, providing access into the presence of our heavenly Father.
Through Christ, we have received the gracious invitation to come boldly to God's Throne of Grace, in time of need.
Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven and we are invited to come before Him with boldness, Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace. We are not to cower anxiously before His magnificent presence.
In Christ, we have been invited to enter confidently into the throne-room of heaven and boldly approach God's Throne, that we may obtain mercy, and find the grace we need to help in time of need.
This God of grace and love is also a God of justice and righteousness.
And by His grace, Jesus took upon Himself the sin of the world, so that we could be saved by grace.
In this verse we have a peep into a heavenly vision of unapproachable Deity, enthroned on His seat of mercy and grace, granting peace, pardon, forgiveness, and confident access to all who believe on His name.
By grace through faith in His death, burial, and Resurrection… Christ, the Lamb of God and great, High Priest of heaven, has flung wide the golden door into the Holiest of all - to all who believe on His name.
May we not seek to return to the shadow of a former dispensation, but live our lives as ministers of reconciliation under the New Covenant of grace, which was cut at Calvary and fulfilled by Christ.
This is not a verse that is addressed to unbelievers on how to be saved... but a verse that instructs those who have already been saved by grace on how to live.
Our words are to be seasoned with salt by speaking the truth of the glorious gospel of grace with those who are dead in their sins. We are to be a preserving agent that is used by God to restrain this world's evil from spreading its cancerous fingers into the lives of those who need to trust in Christ as Saviour.
but be a worthy witness to the goodness and grace of our heavenly Father, Who loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.
May we never stray from the glorious gospel of grace to another gospel and elevate the gifts we receive from the Lord in preference to a deepening relationship with Him.
He further prayed that he would come to a deeper knowledge and understanding of the incredible riches of God's unfathomable grace that are discovered in Jesus Christ alone.
We will never understand the full extent of the incredible riches of God's unfathomable grace that are discovered in Jesus Christ our Lord, but the more we know Him the more effective will be our Christian ministry and witness.
We need to pray for one another, just as Paul prayed in the book of Philemon, that the fellowship of OUR faith may become increasingly effecting as together we all grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It was through God’s grace and love that the Light of salvation, which had been promised in the garden of Eden so long ago, was ready to pierce the deep darkness of the world - for it was through the tender mercy of our same gracious God that the Light of His salvation was finally dawning.
He is history’s unique Person – He is the Morning Light of God grace.
And His Light and Life continues to be shed abroad through light of the glorious gospel of saving grace, to all who will believe on His name.
He lists many of the privileges that are ours in Him which include peace with God, access to the Father, His abundant grace, and the exultant hope we have in Christ.
After listing the superabundant privileges that are the right of all who are saved by grace through faith in Christ, Paul takes us back to the root of sin.
During this church age, we are also justified by God's grace and forgiven of all our sin - by faith.
We are living in the age of grace and believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures.
However, it is increasingly necessary to rightly divide the Word of Truth so that we do not find ourselves trying to live under the Law or living before the Law, instead of rejoicing that we are not living under the Law, but under Grace.
Paul did not want those who are saved by grace through faith in Jesus to be rescued from the slave-market of sin, only to live a defeated life in this world, and fail in the work that God has prepared for us to do.
Every one of them was saved by God's grace through faith and they were all led by God and protected by Him under the cloud of God's Shekinah glory, which overshadowed the people of Israel.
This 'dispensation of the grace of God', as Paul called it, was to be a season, during which the Lord would carry out His plans and purposes, for the redemption of mankind, through a different group of people.
They would to go forth into the world to tell the good news of the gospel of grace - to Jew and Gentile alike, and that whoever believed in Him would not perish, but become children of God, be clothed in Christ's righteousness and receive everlasting life - as a free gift of God's grace.
for all who are saved by grace through faith in Him. How astonishing that our body has become a temple of the Spirit of God by faith, and that we have the resurrected Spirit of Christ dwelling in our heart - living in our body, empowering us to live godly in Christ Jesus and enabling us to live as God designed us to live.
It is only by grace through faith in Christ that we are made spiritually alive.
saved by grace through faith in Christ - spiritually alive, with the actual Spirit of the resurrected Christ living within your actual body!
As Christians we are called to live a spiritual life and not to be carnal - to bear the fruit of the Spirit and not to produce our own works of the flesh - to live under grace and not under law.
Only as we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit and depend on Him by grace through faith in Christ, are we able to walk by the Spirit and be enabled to live as God as intended us to live.
We can draw near with confidence to God's throne of grace and are promised mercy to find grace to help in times of need... but we can also enjoy the closest intimacy with our heavenly Father, as we commune with Him in the first flush of the morning sun, be blessed by meeting with Him in the heat of the midday sun, or engage in quiet intimacy with Him in cool of the evening.
As Christians, we are to remember that the Lord Jesus suffered in the flesh, for our sake - so that we could be saved by grace through faith in Him.
The love and grace He showed to us, when we were lost sinners, is to be reflected in our own lives, as we arm ourselves with the same Christ-like attitude, and a corresponding godly purpose - as we travel through life.
The one and only thing that matters in God's eyes and from an eternal perspective is whether or not we have trusted Christ as our Saviour - and so having come to an understanding of salvation by grace through faith..
By grace through faith in Him we are eternally joined with the Lord Jesus, identified with His righteousness; in union with Him and a member of His body.
Let us remember that we are witnesses of His grace and His chosen representatives on earth.
And yet the verse tells us that as we continue to gaze into His loveliness and drink deeply of His grace, we too will start to be transformed into His glorious likeness, as we pass from one stage of glory to the next.
I have a new, baby life in Christ which has to grow in grace and mature in the faith.
It is the new baby-life-in-Christ that was given to me when I first trusted Him as Saviour that is to grow in grace.
And the Holy Spirit, in His grace is transforming and transfiguring my new nature day by day, into the image and likeness of the lovely Lord Jesus Christ.
In this Church age of grace, the work of the Holy Spirit in believer's life is to bring us into the likeness of the Lord Jesus Himself.
The Law in the Old Testament was designed to point us to Christ, but the Spirit's ministry of grace is intended to make us like Christ.
May we continue to be changed into the image and likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ with every passing day and show forth His goodness and grace, not only in our lips but in our lives - by giving ourselves up to His praise and glory.
In this Church age, we do not live under the Law but under Grace.
We live during the Post-Cross, 'Dispensation of the Grace of God'.
We should so conduct ourselves in purity of heart, that we grow in grace, mature in our spiritual walk, and live a life that is holy unto the Lord - so that day by day we are increasingly sanctified in His sight.
God desires that we grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
He urges us to 'possess our vessel in sanctification and honour.' While sexual union between a man and his wife is a beautiful, holy act, and a God-given gift of grace, we should run from sexual immorality and fornication, for our body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit and the marriage bed should be kept undefiled.
God in His grace provides us with sleep, with its rejuvenating, refreshing, revitalising and restorative qualities, which benefit our spirit, soul and body - but also, when His children are asleep, His gifts and graces continue to flow - from Him to us.
Sleep itself is a gift from the Lord, to His dearly beloved children, but through sleep the Lord bestows many good and precious gifts, and pours grace upon more grace, on His beloved, blood-bought children.
For those that are saved by grace through faith in His redemptive work, the Lord gives, and continues to give innumerable benefits - but without faith it is impossible for His children to please Him.
How futile, therefore, to stress about getting up early and striving to work late into the night, in order to supply what we need according to what WE do, when God has promised to supply all our needs, according to His riches in glory - and to bestow His grace on His beloved children, even when we are sleeping.
And Paul wants us to know that our great salvation and amazing redemption is only by the grace and mercy of God - Paul therefore desires that we are constrained by a grateful heart and a deep love for our Father, to present our bodies as a living sacrifice - holy and acceptable to the Lord.
Simply reading these inspired words of Holy Writ, which are part of God's eternal love-letter to human-kind, causes us to kneel in humble reverence before the throne of grace as we worship our Father in heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who shed His blood, so that condemned sinners might be made perfect before His face: and so we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.
As we meditated on the written word of God's eternal love-letter to human-kind, we see the wonderful face of JESUS and we start to reflect His beauty and radiate His grace, to the glory of God - for He is altogether lovely.
How true that the one who guards his mouth and the word of his lips will keep himself out of trouble and preserve his life, while the one who opens his lips wide in careless cackling will come to ruin – how important therefore to let all the conversation that pours from our lips, be always full of grace and seasoned with salt - so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.
Paul was eager to warn us of the perilous times to come, and to encourage us, to familiarise ourselves with the Word of God and the gospel of grace.
as we discover a multiplicity of human attempts to twist scriptural truth, by remodelling the glorious gospel of grace into a distorted mush, so that it teaches someones pet dogma.
By remaining immersed in division, discord and even depravity, these believers identified themselves as carnal Christians, who had reverted to spiritual infancy, instead of maturing in the faith, growing in grace and being built up in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It was a hidden wisdom, which God predestined before the ages of creation and the generations of men, but now has been made known to those that are saved, by grace through faith in Christ.
How astonishing to realise that God preordained that Paul would speak God's wisdom in a mystery - and it was a hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory. God predetermined that the message of the cross, which is so ridiculed by the unbeliever, is something that will bring glory to those who are saved by grace through faith in Christ.
We were born into this world as a slave to sin and until we were saved by grace through faith in Christ..
If by grace through faith in Christ we have been made alive (or born-again as the Bible calls it) by the Spirit of God, we also need to live the rest of our lives in the same way - by means of the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
To walk in the Spirit is to walk by faith and to immerse ourselves in the Word of God - it is to encourage one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, as we sing with grace and thanksgiving in our hearts to the Lord.
The body of believers, who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ are becoming a sanctified dwelling, which is set apart unto God, and in Whom resides the living Lord.
The chief corner-stone of this holy Temple is Christ Himself, and His chosen apostles and prophets are the ones who have laid the doctrinal foundation, upon which this spiritual temple is being built - for they were given the knowledge of the glorious gospel of grace by Christ Himself..
We are being changed from glory to glory as we mature in the faith and grow in grace - for He Who began a good work in us the moment we were saved by grace through faith..
Christ's one sacrifice has made perfect all who are saved by grace through faith in Him.
Let us rejoice and be glad in the one finished sacrifice for sin and praise our Lord and Saviour for His grace and favour.
The simple gospel of grace is to come to Christ and believe - and for we are saved by grace alone, and not by doing good works, lest any may should boast – but once we do believe and are saved, we should then become a true disciple and follow after Him, and take up our cross and follow after Jesus - for this is God's desire for all His children.
If we are to truly grow in grace and mature in the faith, we are to do the good works that God has already prepared for us to do.
There is no cost at all for us in salvation for we were saved, at Christ’s expense, for He did it all – but if we choose to continue to become a true disciple of the Lord, we are to count the cost, to die to self and to take up our cross daily - and under the influence and power of the Holy Spirit, we are to abound in the good works, which will flow from our God-given Christian grace, and then we shall reap a reward in heaven, that shall not pass away.
The simple gospel of grace requires no effort for we are saved by grace – simply through faith in Christ Jesus - but living our Christian life as unto the Lord requires patient endurance, as we press on, day by day in the footsteps of our Saviour, to the goal of our calling, which is to be conformed into the image of Christ.
It demonstrates that salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and is not dependent on any liturgical sacraments, baptismal rituals, good works, man-made doctrines or legalistic requirements.
They had to know if works were necessary for salvation or if we were saved by grace through faith alone in Christ alone.
Faith was the means of salvation in the pre-cross dispensation of Law, and it is clearly not a condition on works in post-resurrection salvation, which is also by grace through faith in the trustworthy Word of God.
Before the cross, people were saved by grace through faith in God’s Word.
Post-cross believers similarly are saved by God’s grace through faith – to Christ. They – pre-cross (Old Covenant saints), looked forward to the coming Saviour and the cross, while we – post-cross (New Covenant saints) look back, to the finished work of Jesus Christ – the living, risen, ascended and glorified Word of God.
But like the Law it was not the means of salvation – which has always been by God’s grace through faith.
Paul knew that the purity of the true gospel of grace was under attack from these Jewish sources, and that clarity needed to be reached and implemented across the leadership of the fledgling Church, if the Christian faith was to remain untainted and flourish – but how similar to the world of Christianity today.
We need to be increasingly aware of the dangers we are in and the invasive ways ungodly teachings are seeping into the pure gospel of grace.
But in His grace, God offered man an astonishing gift of salvation, whereby one act of righteousness, from the sinless SON of His heavenly Father, would affect the righteous standing of everyone who accepted His offer of salvation - and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.
God in His grace formed a plan of redemption whereby He offered to pardon every man's many transgressions and declare all who believe in His Word, (Christ, the Word made flesh), to be justified in His sight, clothed in His own righteousness, forgiven of sin, and returned into fellowship with God... a privilege which was forfeited through sin.
Not only is our faith in Christ reckoned as righteousness but we also have access into God's grace, even though we were born in sin and were under God's wrath.
Indeed, the fruit of the Spirit that forms in the life of a believer, is a manifestation of God's mercy and grace, working in and through His child, for Jesus said, without Me you can do nothing.
He needs to revisit God's Word of truth and to root-out weeds of bitterness, legalism, unforgiveness, unbelief, disinterest, or distrust, so that the seeds of righteousness sown in our hearts can take root, as we grow in grace, to the glory of our merciful God.
Today, as then, many Christians have strayed far away from the glorious gospel of grace and are proclaiming another gospel and looking to a different Jesus.
May we sow with a view to righteousness so that we may reap according to His kindness and grace, knowing that it is time to seek the Lord.
God in His grace heard their cries and raised-up a series of judges, who would rescue them from the oppressive rule, until the next cycle of sin, servitude, supplication and salvation occurred - through the appointments of a new judge.
if we compromise the good news of the gospel of grace and cooperate with their ungodly ways..
'The Lord's Prayer', was not representative of Christ's personal prayer-life, but an example how sinners, saved by grace, should pray to our heavenly Father.
that eternal, infinite love continues to travel down the corridors of time to embrace all who have been saved by grace through faith in the Him- for Christ is indeed our Passover Who has been sacrificed for us - therefore let us also celebrate the feast - but not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
we are called to exercise our new life in Christ - by faith, so that we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord.
This does not mean that the sin nature is eradicated or rendered inactive, but it does mean that in Christ we have the potential to live godly in Christ Jesus and to develop the fruit of righteousness, by grace through faith.
Satan became the god of this world when he tempted Adam to rebel against his Creator, but God in His grace purposed to redeem the fallen race of man and to return His sovereign rule over all the nations through the Man of His choosing.
We are made a new creation in Christ and are given a new life – the life of Christ – a life that needs to grow in grace and be conformed into the image of Jesus – a life that cannot sin.
By God’s grace we are given the perfect, sinless, holy life of Jesus Christ as our very own life - which the Holy Spirit seeks to conform into the image and likeness of Jesus throughout our earthly life.
He reminded us we are forgiven of our trespasses and sin, which is all according to the riches of His marvellous grace - a heavenly favour which has been lavished on us, with all wisdom and understanding.
Then Paul prayed a most beautiful and exemplary prayer, for the believers in Ephesus - a prayer that has blessed countless Christians throughout the dispensation of grace.
He was the apostle Christ chose to tell the good news of the gospel of grace to Jew and Gentile alike.
The reason that Paul was under arrest and awaiting his trial was that he was telling forth the good news of the gospel of grace.
However, when the whole council of God is sought, it is very evident this position conflicts with the vast majority of Scripture, which clearly teaches that we are saved by grace, through faith - and not by works, lest any man should boast.
He remains saved by God's grace, because of his faith in Christ's finished work at Calvary, but he is saved as though by fire.
May we live in a way that honour the Lord and sing out in joyful abandon like those little children in Jerusalem - for we have been saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - our God and our Redeemer.
He called for a sacred assembly, where the whole nation would humbly cry out to the Lord for grace and mercy - so that their outward submissive actions would reflect an inward repentant heart.
The message of peace with God through our Saviour Jesus Christ is the gospel of grace that continues to be proclaimed today..
How beautiful are the feet of those who are shod with this gospel of peace and who bring the good tidings of great joy to a lost and dying world who need to hear of salvation by grace through faith in Christ - but faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the truth of the gospel of Christ - the quickening Word of God.
It is by the lives we live, our love for one another and the grace of the Lord Jesus reflected in our lives, that others will know that we are His disciples.
Should we not in astonished wonder, deep humility and reverent praise behold the matchless love and compassionate grace that has been poured out by the Father in such generous abundance on us, even making us His children, simply because we have trusted the Lord Jesus as Saviour?
Our behaviour should be such that it honours God and gives credit to the position of responsibility, with which we have been entrusted – for we have been made ministers of a new and better covenant – we are kings and priests to our Lord, and we are instructed to go into all the world, as Christ’s representatives, and share the good news of the gospel of grace with others.
We are to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things and endure all things, for Christ’s sake… and by God’s grace we are to bind our hearts together in love, with our brothers and sisters in Christ, for the honour and glory of our heavenly Lord – for He is the only sovereign God.
By His grace, through faith in Him, we have been granted the forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.
In addition to all the amazing privileges we have already been granted, we have also been given grace.
The Lord has bestowed on each of His blood-bought children His unmerited grace and favour… to each one of us grace was given – according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
We are all saved by grace through faith, and God’s Holy Spirit has individually and selectively conferred different and individually selected gifts and graces on all His children, so that we are enabled to live by grace and serve Him in newness of life, by grace.
And the heavenly grace that we receive has been given to each one, in proportion to the measure of Christ’s immeasurable riches and His eternal bounty.
It was a beautiful expression of God's grace and an evangelistic invitation to whosoever is thirsty for the truth of the gospel of God to come, and drink deeply of His excellent provision, which is given freely and without cost to all who are spiritually impoverished.
All is given as a free gift of God's grace.
By grace and through grace they would be blessed with the living water of life and partake freely of the wine of God's joy.
The offer to come and buy wine and milk without money and without cost is just as pertinent today, in the dispensation of grace as it was in the times of Israel.
to abide in Him and to submit to His leading and guiding, so that we may grow in grace, and become increasingly transformed into the image and likeness of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
because he knew the serious and eternal consequences of rejecting the gospel of grace, or of feigning faith in Christ's finished work.
Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in the Person of Christ and His sacrificial work on the cross. He alone is the incarnate Son of God - and we are saved by trusting in His redeeming blood, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.
a beloved disciple of the Lord Jesus, who was full of grace and truth, faith and hope, power and wisdom..
Jew and Gentile alike have been offered the free gift of salvation by grace through faith in Christ and brought into the family of God.
Let us seek to broaden our own perception of God and see Him for Who He is - for He is the eternal, infinite, holy God of love, justice and grace - Whose mercy is everlasting and Whose Word stands fast forever and ever - Who set aside His heavenly glory to reside on the earth for a season so that He could freely lay down His own precious life - so that we might live..
By grace the born-again believer is not only forgiven of their sin but they are dead to sin because sin’s power and dominion, in the life of every Christian, was forever broken at the cross.
Being part of “The First Resurrection” is the privilege of everyone who has been saved by grace through faith in God’s trustworthy Word, while the “Second Resurrection” is reserved for those who have wilfully rejected God’s Word and refused His offer of salvation.
This is not a subject that should be swept under the Church carpet, as so often happens in Christendom today – but is a serious subject that should be faced, and unbelievers should be challenged, so that they may hear the glorious gospel of grace and believe the message of redemption by grace through faith in Christ – and be SAVED.
As church age believers, we are not under the law but under grace.
however, there are many instructions church age believers have been given, if we are to honour the Lord, to walk in spirit and truth, to grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and to mature in the Christian faith.
We have been adopted as sons of God and accepted in the Beloved - as a gift of God's grace through faith.
and by God's grace we have already received revelation from the invisible God, which was kept hidden for ages, and remained concealed from previous generations.
BUT God, in His grace, has not finished with His people, despite their terrible apostasy, continuous rebellion and the rejection of their Messiah.
And we, who have been saved by grace through faith, in this Church dispensation, have received equally precious and unfailing promises - which are all YES and AMEN, in Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Many today are being destroyed for lack of knowledge, because they have rejected the truth of the gospel of grace, and have received a doctrine, that is not founded on the written Word of God.
May we develop a teachable spirit, and desire the pure milk and meat of the Word, which is able to make us strong in the Lord - so that we may be a worthy witness to His goodness and grace.
for whatever a man sows, that will he also reap. Before we were saved by grace through faith..
But now that we have been saved by grace through faith in Christ we are children of the light who are to have no part in ungodly behaviour - for to do so not only dishonours the name of the Lord Jesus but it also shipwrecks our Christian testimony.
Gently and patiently He had fully declared the beautiful attributes and gracious character of Almighty God, in the face of Jesus Christ - the incarnate Son of the Father - the Word made flesh, Who was full of grace and truth.
He argues that in the light of the amazing grace of God that has been showered upon us all, and the manifold mercies He has poured upon all His children - including our past justification, our ongoing sanctification and our future glorification - we should live a life that is worthy of our calling.
Let us love each another with brotherly affection and seek to outdo one another in showing honour and grace., to all.
The unregenerate man is born in sin and remains a slave to sin and separated from his Creator throughout his life – until and unless he is saved by grace through faith in Christ.However the man that is born from above is no longer a slave to sin.
The regenerate man is no longer in bondage to the principle of sin that entraps all who are born into the fallen race of Adam. The man or woman who has been saved by grace through faith in Christ has been set free from slavery to sin and is returned into fellowship with God from the moment of salvation.
He continued to teach His slow-learning followers that only by God's grace is salvation received, and reminded them that entrance into His Kingdom is impossible by man's merit, man's strength, man's abilities, man's wisdom, man's righteousness - yet He taught them that with God all things are possible - with God salvation and entrance into the Kingdom IS possible.
We may not have been healed from physical blindness, but the miracle that Christ has done in our lives is no less astonishing, for the eyes of our hearts have been opened to the gospel of grace.
All born-again believers are united with Christ at the point of salvation, and having been made one with Him we are instructed to abide in Christ. 'To abide in Christ' simply means that we are to mature in our spiritual life; to grow in grace and to maintain a close and increasingly intimate fellowship with our heavenly Father.
He exposes carnal Christians as spiritual babes in Christ who although saved by grace through faith, remain spiritual infants..
He who saves his life shall lose it and he who loses his life for My sake shall find it. A believer saves his own carnal life by not abiding in Christ but living for himself or by trying to produce fruit by his own merit. Such a believer loses the one opportunity he has to honour the Father by denying himself, taking up his cross and abiding in Christ as a true disciple. Instead of growing in grace and maturing in the faith he is thrown aside as an unfruitful branch and his opportunity to live for Christ withers away.
because all have been given light from God - but so many reject the light of the glorious gospel of grace.
Praise God that the rest of the book of Romans gives us clear guidelines on how to be saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, the one and only Saviour..
Over and again John and the other disciples gazed on the perfection of the sinless Son of Man and the glory that was seen in Him was a reflection of the exact image of the glory of the Father - full of grace and full of truth.
The eternal Son of God in the person of the sinless Son of Man was full of God's grace and goodness, which alone qualified Him to become our perfect Saviour..
Salvation-grace came through the only begotten Son of the Father - the unique God-Man, Christ Jesus the righteous - for by grace are You saved..
Fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ can be such a blessed experience, but to enjoy fellowship with the Lord is the pinnacle of being a sinner saved by grace.
When a sinner who has been saved by grace, chooses to live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, he has made a wise decision, for he will not only enjoy blessed fellowship with His Christian brothers and sisters who are also living in God’s light, but he will have unbroken fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and sweet communion with the great Father of light and life and hope and love.
We are born of His Spirit; washed in His blood and are being transformed, day after day, into the beautiful image and likeness of the lovely Lord Jesus, as we grow in grace and in a knowledge of Him.
Paul points out that before we were saved by grace, we did not walk in holiness but were like the pagans who walked the lust of the flesh and who used their bodies dishonourably, to satisfy their carnal passions.
We who have been saved by grace should walk in spirit and truth and not succumb to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life.
It is YOU and ME, who are saved by grace through faith in Christ, who are directed to examine our faith, by reflecting on the person, work, roles, and responsibilities of this unique and holy Person, in Whom we have placed our trust.
Paul is keen to show the difference between US and THEM - between Christians and unbelievers, between those that are saved by grace through faith in Christ, and unregenerate men and women.
Like Paul, Timothy lived godly in Christ Jesus, having a desire to see believers grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
He has learned the holy Scriptures from childhood, and was saved by grace through faith..
Praise God, that His grace was not only sufficient for Paul and Timothy - but His grace continues to be sufficient for you and for me - and for all who are seeking to live godly in Christ Jesus..
an immutable God Who is unchanging and unchangeable and a God Who will never go back on His word - either the earthly promises which He gave to nation of Israel or the many precious promises ..which by grace through faith in Christ, He has given to the Church - which is His Body.
Like so many today, the Galatian Christians were turning away from the liberating gospel of grace back to the enslaving bondage of the Law.
Like the unbeliever who foolishly denies the existence of God, these Galatian Christians had no excuse for their departure from the glorious gospel of grace, for it had been clearly laid out for them by Paul, who in turn had received direct revelation from the Lord Jesus Himself - some of which were truths which been hidden before the foundation of the world.
Paul, like all the apostles of Christ, proclaimed that salvation is by grace through faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ - the eternal Son of God and perfect Son of Man.
How sad that having heard and believed the saving message of the cross and that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ's finished work alone as written in the Scriptures, that many today follow this same pattern or reverting to legalism or seek to impose the restrictions of the Law on their brothers and sisters in Christ.
We have an eternal, unbreakable union with the Lord Jesus, for we have been eternally accepted in the Beloved by grace through faith – but sweet fellowship with the Lord can be broken and our life can dishonour His name – for if we choose to walk in darkness, we are lying and not practising the truth.Holy living is not simply a spotless exterior but an inner mind that is clean, and a heart that is broken before the Lord; a heart that rejoices in the truth; a soul that delights itself in the Lord.
Paul had just explained to the Philippian believers that there were two types of teachers who were giving good instruction about the glorious gospel of grace – but the motives of these two groups were diametrically opposite.
They also expressed their loving goodwill towards Paul, knowing that He had been appointed by the Lord for the defence of the gospel of grace.
He recalled Israel's escape from Egypt; their entry into the land flowing with milk and honey; their victory over many foes and God's grace and mercy towards them, despite their apostate ways; abominable sin and outrageous idolatry.
However, God in His grace had purposed to build up the house of David, and to share this astonishing information, about the everlasting aspect of his throne, and kingly line. God promised to bless his descendants into the far, distant future and to maintain king David's genealogical lineage and his royal heritage, into all eternity.
The Lord could easily have done all these great things, without informing David - but in His grace and love, and according to His knowledge and wisdom, the Lord shared this information with the shepherd king of Israel - who recognized the loving-kindness of his Creator - in giving him this information.
These precious women were to have their spiritual vision extended when they also realised that Christ's glorious resurrection is as much a part of the gospel of grace as His sacrificial death.
How true of so many today, who hear the gospel of the grace of God but can see no further than the good works Jesus did and the moral teachings Jesus taught.
Paul taught the Galatian believers that salvation is from the Lord and that it is received as a free gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Paul had also taught that salvation was to glorify God and yet despite his clear teaching on the gospel of grace, he was shocked to discover that the Galatian Christians had turned away from the gospel of God - Who calls us all to Himself through the loving mercy of Christ.
Paul was shocked that having been saved by grace through faith in Christ that they were now reverting to a gospel of works, which perverts the gospel of Christ.
Paul challenged the speed with which these believers turned from the truth of the gospel of grace to this false, legalistic works-based teachings and confronted this serious error head-on.
The error that so quickly leached into the Galatian church in Paul's day is still polluting the good news of the gospel of God's grace today.
Today as then, men and women are removing themselves from God's grace and placing themselves under God's curse - because of false teachers that continue to pervert the truth of the Gospel of Christ with this false, legalistic, works-based, meritorious teachings - a 'gospel' that causes dear believers to fall from grace and places them back under the curse of the Law.
May we who were born again by the Spirit of God by grace through faith in Christ ..live and walk and pray in spirit and truth - by grace through faith in Him.
May we who were called into the gospel of the grace of Christ by faith..
He confessed the sins they had committed and recognised they were not worthy of God’s grace and deliverance – but his prayer was founded on the holy name and the unchanging faithfulness of God towards His people and he wept - do not delay, because YOUR city and YOUR people are called by YOUR HOLY NAME.
and through Whom the great wisdom of God; the pure holiness of God; the wonderful grace of God; the tender compassion of God and the unutterable love of God had been poured forth as refreshing streams of living waters to all who came to see Jesus.
We are set apart for a specific purpose in this dispensation of grace.
Each believer is a living stone, with our own peculiar gifts and grace and our own unique part to play, in the ever-expanding Temple of the most high God.
Each of us are to lay aside the deceit and hypocrisy of this fallen world and grow in grace and in a knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.
However, God in His grace even used Mordecai and Hadassah to save Israel from destruction and forward His redemptive plans and purposes for His chosen people.
In His grace, they were given victory over their enemies when they cried out to Him in their distress, and despite their compromise, God's people continue to celebrate the victory Mordecai and Esther were given, as each year they keep the feast of Purim and the book of Esther is included in the canon of Scripture.
May we, who live in a society that is deeply flawed, have the courage to stand fast in the faith to which we hold, and trust in the Lord to bring us through to victory, even when our circumstances appear to be hopeless - for God is able to make all grace abound unto each one of us and to provide His sufficiency in everything.
But it is those with poverty of spirit, humility of heart, and a childlike faith in Him, that can approach His throne of grace, with a simplicity that is so precious to our Lord.
After the pre-eminence and superiority of Christ has been systematically laid out, the reader's focus is drawn to the future, and we are exhorted to hope in the Lord, and be submissive to God's chastening in our lives, for the Lord corrects and disciplines those He loves, so that we will grow in grace and become increasingly like our Lord and Saviour - for we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.
The inspired Word of God similarly lays claim to Christ's deity, for we are told that He is the visible image of the invisible God - full of grace and truth. Many do not believe that Jesus is fully God because they are unwilling to come to Him so that they might have life..
When the good news of the Gospel of the grace of God is distorted and twisted with false, legalistic, works-based, meritorious teachings - it is denounced by the apostle Paul in the strongest language possible: But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached, let him be ACCURSED!
There is only ONE message of SALVATION from our Father in heaven and that is: Salvation is a free gift of God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone - where a man or woman is saved..
God commissioned the teaching of the gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord to the apostle Paul, and we do well to take note of his sober warning.
As we seek to grow in grace and live godly in Christ Jesus let us choose to adopt an attitude in stark contrast with the foolish, fretful, disobedient and rebellious ways of the world and discover the unfathomable value of that little word 'BUT' - BUT as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
Nothing is more thrilling for a Christian parent, or a believer who has been influential in pointing one younger in the faith to the truth of the gospel, than to see them living according to the truth – walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus – living in submission to the Holy Spirit’s guiding hand – living under the influence of the new man in Christ (and not the old sin nature), and reflecting the grace and truth - love and humility that flows to them, from their Saviour - as they live their Christian lives in spirit an truth.
He has broken the suffocating power they exerted over us, and by grace through faith, has equipped us with His own sufficient strength to triumph over them in this life.
The enemy of our soul may not be in a position to remove or invalidate our eternal salvation, which is ours is by grace through faith in Christ, but he comes as a roaring lion to tear our testimony to shreds, and also as an angel of light peddling many deceitful tactics and subtle deceptions, to cause us to stumble and render our testimony null and void.
His prayer request was not for his own safety or to escape from prison, but that the gospel of grace and the mystery of Christ could reach more people.
Paul was a man who interceded for others in the body of Christ and often we discover him to be lifting up Christian brothers and sisters in pleading prayer ..earnestly asking the Lord that all who are born from above might mature in the faith, grow in grace and in accordance with the riches of God's super-abundant glory and His perfect will.
into their inner soul - so that we may we all die to self and live for Christ as we all mature in the faith, grow in grace and ..
Humankind is a race of guilty sinners but God in His love and grace gave His only begotten Son to be born as 'Jesus' - Messiah of Israel and Saviour of the world.
for you and for me, so that all who believe in Him are no longer under the curse of the Law, but under God's gift of grace.
Our seeking is designed by God to enable us to grow in grace and in a knowledge of Christ, for it is the glory of God to conceal a matter; but it is the glory of kings to search it out – and we who believe are of the glorious household of God.
Also in those early days of the Church, Peter, John, and the other apostles had to transition from teaching the pre-cross Gospel of the Kingdom, to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, to proclaiming the post-cross, Gospel of the Grace of God, to everyone.
There was much for believers to learn during this transition from Law to Grace.
God in His grace used these early days of the Christian Church to teach these people that a new dispensation had begun and that God was starting a new thing through the Body of Christ - which is the Church.
We have been saved by grace through faith, and are called to live our lives by grace as well.
We are to exercise our spiritual gifts by grace through faith, and are not to rely on our own strength, but to depend upon our heavenly Father in all things, for without faith it is impossible to please Him.
and it is all because of God's grace.
Our salvation has nothing to do with what we have done, but depends entirely on what Christ has done, on our behalf - and it is all by grace.
and so Paul rightly reminds us: that through the grace given to me (i.e.
the grace given to Paul) I say to everyone among you, not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think.
We are saved by grace through faith in Christ's work on Calvary, and there is no ritual, religious activity, Sabbath rule or Church-imposed regulation that could ever elevate our position before God or exaggerate our spiritual importance.
has been given to us by God's grace.
All spiritual gifts are given by grace and all are exercised by faith.
the dispensation of the grace of God, and the precious mystery that had been hidden for ages and generations, but had now been revealed to him - that Gentiles should be brought into God's family and be made fellow heirs with Christ - that Jew and Gentile alike might become part of the same body and be made partakers of God's promise in Christ - through believing the glorious gospel of God.
John rejoiced because the truth of the glorious gospel of grace abode and remained and rested in the heart of this precious sister in Christ and her family, (as it does in all who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ) and John gave additional assurance that this gospel truth would remain with them all forever.
The Galatians heresy was of deep concern to Paul, because Judiazers had entered the region, infiltrated the church community and discredited the true gospel of the grace of God, by substituting a false one, which demanded a works-based salvation, centered on the Mosaic Law, and not the true grace-based teachings of the Bible.
Others suggest that it refers to the whole nation of unsaved Jews… and that in some way they do not need to be saved by grace through faith in Christ but are automatically redeemed