GRACE - It's more than a word, can the Bible define it?

[tsth]

Romans 1:5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

2 Cor. 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

2 Cor. 6:1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

(How do you receive it in vain?  By not believing the Power that Jesus Christ has over sin, He has conquered it)

2 Tim. 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Heb. 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Heb. 10:29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

James 4:. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Just a few verses, there are more, but I will stop here.

In His Love,

Suzanne

[elect]

Now that we have determined that grace is remission of sins; what is sin?

Sin is any want[lack] of conformity unto, or transgression of,

the law of God.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."                    1 Jn.3.4

"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them...

 And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them."                                           Gal.3.10,12

[Guest Xan]

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."

[Guest]

Blindseeker,

I think you tend to complicate everything searching for specific scriptures. . .

Well, that does not surprise me. As willfully ignorant of the scriptures the church as become, any insistence on a sure scriptural foundation for doctrine is usually met with the defense "Your complicating things . . ." or "Just a lot of head knowledge . . ."

[wordsower]

You can look at my previous post and see that I am not one who believes grace is a license to sin.   Those with the undertanding of grace know that it is a way to conquer sin and not a reason to stay in sin.

You have no right to judge my studies.  I spend a considerable amount of time in the Word daily and I am always studying!

You are trying to combine the law and grace into one and this can not be done or we would need no grace.  If the law were able to save us Christ would not have needed to die and be our sacrifice for sin.

The law deals with head knowledge and flesh ability while grace deals with our spirit and our death to sin.

The law produces death while the grace produces life.

Grace gives us an ability to be cruxified with Christ and become the righteousness of God while our flesh can not keep the law.

It's all about REST, letting Christ's work do the work for us.  I see where you are going with this and I do not have the time right now to give my full conviction on this subject as I have 3 screaming kids that need baths and bed-hallelujia-oops, sorry, I got a little distracted.

Blindseeker, you may not mean to come across as being abrasive, but you are typing like the perfect pharisee. Peace brother!!

[Guest]

You can look at my previous post and see that I am not one who believes grace is a license to sin.   Those with the understanding of grace know that it is a way to conquer sin and not a reason to stay in sin.

I never stated such was your position, nor did I think it was. I was merely quoting Jude as a reason why we should endeavor to understand what grace is. Sorry if you felt that was my intent. I reread my post and personally do not understand why you took it personally. The questions were merely presented to provoke thought, not hurl accusations.

You have no right to judge my studies.  I spend a considerable amount of time in the Word daily and I am always studying![/quote}]

I did not "judge" you, I simply ask you questions.

You are trying to combine the law and grace into one and this can not be done or we would need no grace.  If the law were able to save us Christ would not have needed to die and be our sacrifice for sin.

Who is judging who? I am not combining the law and grace into one, if you think that than you have jump to your own conclusions, or prejudged me.

The law deals with head knowledge and flesh ability while grace deals with our spirit and our death to sin.

Do not confused the Mosaic and Levitical Law full of ceremonies and rituals which were but type and shadows with the moral or Royal law given to all men.

The law produces death while the grace produces life.

• Psm 19:The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
  
  
  When that change? Or was the Psalmist wrong?
  • Psm 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
    9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
    10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
    11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
    

Grace gives us an ability to be cruxified with Christ and become the righteousness of God while our flesh can not keep the law.

It's all about REST, letting Christ's work do the work for us.

 

Hebrew 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

I see where you are going with this . . . Blindseeker, you may not mean to come across as being abrasive, but you are typing like the perfect pharisee.

I simply started a thread for the purpose of creating a format for scripturally presenting God's saving grace (something I believe very much in) so that everyone could share and reason together from the sure word of prophesy their views concerning God's wondrous grace.

You have yet to present your scriptural foundation for you "convictions." You have simply stated what you believed, accused me of judging you and then judge me as a "perfect pharisee" for requesting that everyone present their supporting scriptures. Frankly I fail to understand the standard by which you do these things.

Wordsower,  the whole purpose of the thread is to answer the questions posed in the first post and to submit scriptures to support answers. Had you started it, or perhaps a different thread then you could request what ever you wished and perhaps people would honor your requests.

If my direct speech is abrasive to you, then perhaps you are overly sensitive. I mean no offense, just clarity.

BlindSeeker

[Guest]

Tsth,

Very good response and yes, that is what I am looking for, something from God's Holy Writ to which we can look.

One of my favorite is Romans 5:8-9

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

[tsth]

"Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

[wordsower]

I'm sorry that I am so over-sensative,

Well, that does not surprise me. As willfully ignorant of the scriptures the church as become, any insistence on a sure scriptural foundation for doctrine is usually met with the defense "Your complicating things . . ." or "Just a lot of head knowledge . . ."  The devil gets a lot of mileage out of such responses.

Have you yourself not had opportunity to read any of the early church writings WordSower? Certainly they would be a taxation to the casual believer today . . . way to wordy . . . given to way too much detail.

Frankly, taxing as is may be I have read many of the early church writings.

Noah found favor because "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." Not because he was unmeritedly favored.

 Was Noah perfect?  Well, maybe you can explain his drunkedness in Gen (6 I believe).  

So you want scriptural definition of grace?  Better start at Genesis and finish with Revelation.  Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Caanan, Mary Magdelene, Peter, Paul, .....since after 4 pages no one is able to give you the definition you are looking for, how's about you go on and enlighten us poor casual christians.

[wordsower]

Psm 19:The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Yes, the law converted the soul but the GRACE perfects the spirit.  The law could never do that.