The Aaron Papers www.the-aaron-papers.net |
||
Home
Feedback
|
||
UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF GRACE
GRACE
GRACE--WONDERFUL GRACE Talking points: It would seem that whenever we attempt to bring ourselves into conformity to the Word of God, we begin immediately to sense the absolute need for God’s grace. It should become evident at that time, that the total depravity of our nature is one basic reasoning behind this necessity for God’s unlimited and unmerited grace. We cannot begin to understand God’s grace, until we come to understand the total depravity of our own corrupt human nature. Only then will we understand that God’s grace extends far beyond our widest expectations. So
for grace to be grace, it must stand by itself: unaided and unimpeded.
Our common salvation comes through the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts
15:11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they. Throughout all dispensation, God's free and unmerited grace flows out through the propitiatory work of Christ upon the cross. All salvation is according to God's grace, grace, wonderful grace.
The evident grace of God is the gospel, and/
The evangelized gospel is the manifestation of the grace
of God.
Acts
20:24 But I hold not my life of any account as dear unto myself, so that I may
accomplish my course, and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to
testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Grace brings God’s
justification through the redemption that is in Christ’s death and
resurrection.
Romans
3:24 (Nevertheless, we are) justified
freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Grace is complete within
itself,
Grace is a free gift from God,
and
God’s grace covers all of
our sins.
Romans
4:4-8 and 16 Now to him that works, the reward is not counted as of grace,
but as of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies
the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Even
as David also pronounced blessing upon the man, unto whom God counted
righteousness apart from works, saying,
Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, And whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not reckon sin.
Gal
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith
which should afterwards be revealed.
Hebrews
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
Rom.4:16
For this cause it is of faith,
that it may be according to grace;
to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which
is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the
father of us all,
Jesus’ propitiatory work is the only way for anyone to get to God’s grace,
then faith is our only instrument of access into God’s grace, and grace
is the only place where we can stand and rejoice in God’s glory.
Romans
5:2 through whom (Christ) also we have had our access by faith into this grace
wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Gal 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you are fallen away from grace. This simply means that the individual, because of their legalistic approach to God, has forfeited the liberty that comes with God's free and unmerited grace. They are choosing rather to yoke themselves with the impossible burden of the Law/ or legalism. Because of its obvious visibility, legalism will always have its adherents.
grace brings us the gift of
righteousness and eternal life: Because
God’s grace always exceeds
the measure of our sin.
Romans
5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much
more shall they that receive the abundance of grace
and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even
Jesus Christ.
Romans
5:20-21 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound;
but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly: that, as sin reigned
in death, even so might grace reign
through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are completely clothed in God’s grace:
in that
God’s grace gives us
complete absolution from our sin.
Romans
6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under law, but
under grace.
Faith is given as a free gift
from God: and then the gift of
Faith is given to every person
by measure.
Romans
12:3 For I say, through the grace
that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more
highly than he ought to think; but to think as to think soberly, according as
God has dealt to each man a measure of faith. Remember Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Our
believing faith is the first evidence of the presence of the invisible Creator God
within us.
God’s grace motivates our
various individual gifts: Where the measure of our faith determines the
functional proportion of our various gifts.
Romans
12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy
according to the proportion of our faith;
Our individual labor for the Kingdom that can be visibly seen, is the
evident manifestation of God’s grace that is working within us.
Then recognizing the futility of our own efforts in this labor, we must
be constantly constrained from taking any of the credit.
Only then will we be able to give God the whole glory for all of the
successes that we ourselves might experience.
1
Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I
am what I am: and his grace which was
bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all:
yet not I, but the grace of God which
was with me.
God’s grace, in every
circumstance, is all-sufficient for each of us.
2
Cor 12:9 And he has said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Grace is that secure abode for
us to reside in. Gal 1:6 I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Considering
this with respect to the entire book of Galatians, this is speaking to those who
were moving back towards the Jew's religion and the Law. Giving
way to judging things by sight and not by faith is a huge mistake!
God’s grace is the
instrument by which we are first called.
Gal
1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called
me by his grace,
Grace is in fact a Spiritual
encounter.
Gal
6:18 Brethren, the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Redemption, forgiveness, and salvation are all intimate attributes of
God’s grace.
Eph
1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
Eph
2:5 Even when we were dead through our trespasses, He made us alive together
with Christ, (by grace have you been
saved;)
God’s grace is the
instrument by which we are saved, and
God’s
gift of faith is the
conduit through which grace is
delivered.
Eph
2:8 For by grace have you been saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
God's expanded grace is a specific
dispensation in God’s table of time. Eph 3:2 If you have heard of that dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Grace is a gift that comes
directly from the throne of God.
Eph
3:7-8 whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace
of God which was given me according to the working of his power. Unto me, who am
less than the least of all saints, was this grace
given, to preach unto the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
Eph
4:29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for
edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace
to them that hear.
God’s grace is exactly the
same for all.
The gospel of God’s grace is confirmed by our defense of it.
Phil
1:7 even as it is right for me to be thus minded on behalf of you all, because I
have you in my heart, inasmuch as, both in my bonds and in the defense and
confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
God’s grace was predestined
before the worlds began.
2
Tim 1:9 Who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace,
which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
God’s grace brings salvation
to us all.
Titus
2:11 For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men,
God’s grace is the
instrument of justification/ or salvation.
Titus
3:7 That being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Grace is the essence of God.
Grace extends God’s mercy.
Grace is our only real help in
time of need.
Hebrews
4:16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy, and may find grace
to help us in time of need.
The Holy Spirit of God brings God’s grace
to each of us:
The Holy Spirit is the manifestation of God’s grace.
Hebrews
10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, think you, shall he be judged worthy, who
has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant
wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the
Spirit of grace?
Grace was prophetic.
1
Peter 1:10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace
that should come unto you:
The full manifestation of grace
is predicted with Christ’s return.
1
Peter 1:13 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your
hope perfectly on the grace that is
to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
All saints are stewards of God’s abundant grace.
1
Peter 4:10 According as each has received a gift, ministering it among
yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace
of God;
Our sanctification is openly manifested, when we grow in God’s grace.
2
Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and
knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be
the glory both now and for ever. Amen. |
||
Home Top Feedback | ||
All text copyright © 2005 Aaron Randall. All rights reserved. Photos, unless otherwise credited, are the property of the auth, all rights reserved. Originally posted February 24, 2004. Revised: February 24, 2009. |