GRACE — favor or kindness extended without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. "The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" (Ex. 34:6). Grace is always associated with love, mercy, compassion, and patience.
"It is because of God's love that grace was (and is) extended toward us."
In the Old Testament, a supreme example of the grace of God was the redemption of the Hebrew people (Israel) from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land (Canaan). This did not happen because of any merit or righteousness on Israel’s part, but in spite of their unrighteousness.
(Deut. 7:7-8) - The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
(Deut. 9:5–6) - Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.
Now in the New Testament, the grace of God was fully revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the very embodiment of God's grace (John 1:14), bringing it to mankind for salvation (Titus 2:11). By His death and resurrection, Jesus made possible the restoration of the broken relationship (sonship) between God and His offspring (mankind). This is salvation. So the only way for any person to have a 'restored relationship' with God is "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:11). It was therefore Jesus which brought the "gospel of grace" fully into the world (John 1:17). Thank you Jesus!
"God is love, and in this dispensation He has extended His grace to all mankind in the person of Jesus Christ."
The theme of grace is especially prominent in the letters of the apostle Paul. He sets grace radically over against the law and the works of the law (Rom. 3:24, 28). Paul makes it abundantly clear that salvation is not something that can be earned; it can only be received by grace (Rom. 4:4, Eph 2:8-9).
{Reference: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary}
To be continued.....in the meantime, if you haven't already - check out the scriptures mentioned above and take a look at the story of Nicodemus in John 3:1-8.
DSW
Simply powerful is all I can say. Praise God for his grace!
ReplyDeleteSo we're reborn as sons...I got it!
ReplyDeleteDo you believe grace is an act of faith for a believer? One must have faith to complete tasks that are seemingly impossible, however, love is the substance faith comes from. I believe that some must have faith to love someone that don’t like much.
ReplyDeleteGalatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. So faith worketh by love, but how can you love some people without the faith of God? 1 Timothy1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Please help me connect the dots. What role does faith play in terms of grace.
I hope I did not go to far offcourse.
Best Regards,
Gianno Caldwell
Draper, although I'm a stern baptist and we've had our talks on some theological issues, I must agree with you here.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back to my memory, the power of God's mercy and grace. If we look at Isaiah 43:25, when he was talking to the Israelites, "I, even I, blot out your transgressions for my sake, and remember them no more." Now that is powerful, simply to the fact that I think of all the sins that I have done and his forgiveness came in and restored me. This is my interpretation of what God was telling "me", may not be for you though. My daughter, I forgive you of your sins and I cleanse them from you and MYSELF. So when I look at you or when you come to me in prayer and meditation time, I only see MYSELF IN YOU> NOT THAT SIN(S) THAT WAS COMMITTED!!!GOD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR MERCY/GRACE.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
His Queen
All I can say is thank God for his grace.
ReplyDeleteMarcus H Barnhill
Reading this blog, I noticed an interesting parallel between the Old and New Testament examples given. Israel's redemption from Egyptian bondage and mankind's redemption from spiritual death by Jesus were made available via God's grace (favor). If you examine further, Israel's promised land in the Old Testament and the return of the Governor (the Holy Spirit) into the earth realm in the New Testament are both indicative of God's favor toward us in that He's always desired a relationship with man. Since His Kingdom (or way of doing things) ruleth over all, it's safe to say that, while we were yet sinners, God's love for mankind was His impetus for removing our guilt and freely giving us what we do not deserve: God's rulership (or Kingdom living). Therefore, our posture should be that of extreme gratitude to God for making available to us what we could neither attain nor obtain ourselves. Thank God for His grace!
ReplyDeleteSomething you can pullfrom the Old and New testament grace is that it is constant and God seeks to place grace over death. When the law changed hands from Moses to Jesus I notice that it stays the same and the only difference is that grace reigns after Christ gets up.
ReplyDeleteGrace allows us to be accepted into the Kingdom of God. Jesus died so that we could live and our sins could be forgiven. We should be thankful and extend Grace to others. Thanks again these blogs are really making me evaluate my day to day life:>)
ReplyDelete