What exactly is grace?

[Guest harvester]

Here is an article I found on the net that sums it up!!

IS  GOD'S GRACE UNMERITED FAVOR?

      Do you understand the true Grace of Jesus Christ, and is it God's unmerited favor? Do you have God's Grace, and  are you growing in His Grace? If you don't understand what is Grace, how do know if you have it? If someone asked you to explain about the Grace of Christ could you give them a good answer? Would you answer with the widely taught and accepted meaning of grace that is given, that it is God's unmerited or undeserved favor? Christ's desire for all of His brethren is to grow in His Grace. How does one grow in God's undeserved favor? How could a believer ever come to do anything pleasing to our Father knowing we will always be  in His undeserved favor? Are you living your life based on its true meaning and its many spiritual benefits through faith,  or by what today's Christianity teaches and believes grace to be as God's unmerited favor?

    Why is it that the word GRACE is hardly mentioned in today's church fellowship and communication or in  its teaching, even though the apostle Paul used the word 100 times and more in his letters alone to the Churches of God? Is it because people professing to be of Christ  have accepted today's false, Christian teaching of the meaning of Grace, and are not growing in it due to the fact that they do not know what is God's Grace? Paul in Col. 4:6 says, "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every man."

    There are two main reasons why the true meaning of the Grace of Christ is not preached and understood, and is not freely spoken in fellowship. First:  Church people don't understand God's true grace because they are so rich in "spiritual" knowledge and have no need of truth about the true grace of God, as it pertains to true spiritual conversion and salvation. Church people are content with what they think they have because it has come to them from their God's (self-appointed) "spiritual" leader and not Christ Himself, and therefore do not need or  desire to grow in grace to achieve true spiritual maturity, in order to become spiritually born again, and  to become perfect in Christ. Christ said "be you perfect", Mat. 5:48, and in Luke 6:40 it says "every one that is perfect shall be as his Master" (Christ), and Paul said in II Tim. 3:16-17 that "all scriptural doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction is given so the man of God may be perfect."  To become perfect is an attainable, possible goal  that Christ commands us to become, and knowing what is God's Grace and growing in His Grace, helps one attain that perfection.

Secondly: Church people of the Churches of God have accepted the false, Christian world's meaning and teaching of an undeserved, unmerited grace, and by  them accepting this to be God's Grace, a stop growth has been placed on the grace  and spiritual growth in their life, and they have become bankrupt spiritually. Many church people do not know they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked--spiritually bankrupt. They are not aware they are not growing spiritually, and  are not growing in grace, and are contented to stay that way. They are too wrapped up in the flesh and all the goings on of the flesh to be made aware of the need to  take time to think soberly about  whether they are maturing in the spirit, or  are they aborting spiritually as it pertains to God's grace.

     To many of them any understanding and teaching  of the truth about  grace and growing in God's grace and His Spirit, as it pertains to  conversion and perfection, is looked upon as another way of salvation, and even deception to them because they already confess to know all about salvation and grace. However, if believers are not growing in His grace and the oil of His Spirit, Christ calls these people  foolish virgins or luke warm Christians and says, He is not living in them nor does He really know them,  and will reject them. Rev. 3:17-21, Mat. 25:11-12.  To be rejected by Jesus Christ is a very, very, serious judgment by Him and coming very soon.  

     The meaning of grace that is taught by today's false Christianity and the Churches of God is this: Grace is the unmerited, or un-deserved favor of God. Is this the truth and is this the meaning of God's Grace from God's Word? This meaning of grace is accepted by  today's Christianity, and even the churches of God around the world. Webster's Dictionary, college edition, also gives this as the meaning of grace, as God's unmerited love and favor. Webster's Dictionary does not give the inspired meaning of Words from God, but from man, and his traditions of professed, false, Christianity. Christ warns all believers to beware of the traditions of men and their commandments, Mat. 15:9. Teaching  Grace to be God's undeserved favor is a tradition of error and heresy of Christianity, and the Churches of God.  

        Based on this meaning of grace, no one could ever be deserving of receiving God's favor. First, every sinner must come to understand there is nothing of his past, sinning, life that is deserving of God's Grace. God will never give His Grace, based on our past life, but only on one's repentance of his past life, of  living contrary to God's commandments and living by the flesh. So, in accepting this teaching and meaning of grace to mean the unmerited or undeserved favor of God, would mean that no  one  in his  life, even if  he deeply repented and changed his walk, to walk uprightly, could ever be deserving of receiving God's Grace. Why, because many do not know what constitutes God's Grace. Does God say what He requires in His Word for a person to receive his Grace, Ps. 84:11, Pro 3:33-34,  James 4:6, along with the understanding of many other Scriptures such as Acts 2:38-39, 3:19-20?  Christianity's accepted, false, teaching about God's Grace enters into deception about  God's mercy, salvation and the Gospel of Christ. God's elect need to be aware and be-forewarned of this watered down, grace of professed Christianity.

     God's Grace  to His elect means  to them His pleasing approval-His merited favor, God's acceptance with His mercy--His pleasing favor and love, with all of its represented blessings and benefits of   forgiveness, justification, gifts of His Spirit and salvation, if they as sinners have repented of their sins, and in faith, believe and accept Christ's sacrifice and promise of salvation. The Father's and Christ's will is to "make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ to whom be glory for ever," Heb. 13:21. God says when "children obey their parents in all things, this is well pleasing unto God", Col 3:20. Would it not be equally true when a believer repents and obeys His spiritual Father that this would merit His Favor, be well pleasing to Him? Study I John 3:22 for additional proof. God says even the angels rejoice when one sinner comes to repentance, Luke 15:10. It is pleasing to God and reaps His merited favor when one repents and desires to obey His Gospel.

     For a believer to accept Grace to mean God's unmerited favor, would result in a false conversion by the fact there would be nothing a man could ever do in his present life before God to be pleasing to God, to be deserving of receiving His mercy and promises of the gifts of His grace, His Holy Spirit and salvation.  This would mean that one's repentance and faith in Christ would have no value or  no worth, and no meaning, as they pertain to salvation and God's mercy in being saved from one's sins, which all constitutes God's Grace. Is this the true grace of God? This is what false Christianity and the Churches of God have accepted in their teaching, and is a case of the blind leading the blind. Is this one of the basic truths of God's Word that has been restored or needs to be restored?

      Many will reply with the statement, "But doesn't the Word of God say that Grace is a free gift of God and if it is free, is there anything that we would have to do to deserve to receive it or  pay for it?" And by this understanding,  many non-thinking people make God's Grace to mean His unmerited and undeserved favor. This is a case of not applying all Scripture that lead to this statement. The Scripture they mostly refer to is in Eph. 2:8-9 which says, "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." These verses and this letter was written to  the saints at Ephesus, who had already done what Christ requires of them to become saints,  in order to receive His Grace and salvation.

    Do saints have to do anything to become saints? Read our article "FROM SINNER TO SAINT?" Yes, they have to repent of their sins, and in faith believe that Jesus Christ will forgive them, and after this has taken place and they are baptized, Christ promises to give them His Holy Spirit and Salvation as  gifts. It is these gifts  of His Spirit and salvation that saves a saint, not one's repentance and faith. However, God requires a sinner's humble repentance, and trusting faith in order for him to be accepted and approved by God, before God gives these  gifts to a repentant sinner. A sinner realizes that there is nothing of his past life worthy of God's favor and mercy, and he repents of that fleshly, wretched, miserable, sinful life, confesses his sins, and asks for God's forgiveness. Based on this repentance, contriteness of mind and heart, and change of his life's direction, God grants him His loving favor and mercy, along with his gifts of His Spirit and salvation.

     This is what Paul was referring to in these verses in reminding these saints of Ephesus of these facts of truth, and that nothing else had to be added to their receiving salvation. God's mercy, forgiveness and justification, the foundational side of His grace, had already taken place in the lives of these saints at Ephesus. Paul addresses them as saints,  Eph. 1:1. This foundational part of God's grace requires this of every sinner. God requires repentance with the fruit of obedience and faith in Christ by accepting Him as one's Savior,  which is accepting His sacrifice to justify one's sins. By this, one is pleasingly, lovingly and deservingly accepted  by Christ to receive more of God's Grace. The part  of God's Grace that saves us  is the  gift of His Spirit, and the gift of salvation, not one's repentance and faith, which is the requirement for being accepted for God's Grace, Rom. 2:13. If one is saved by repentance and faith, what is the need of God's gifts of His Spirit and salvation? God's Grace is manifold, having many benefits and blessings, I Pet.4:10, and every believer must understand His awesome Grace is such a great blessing, and a miracle that our Loving Father gives to His chosen ones and it pleases Him to do so.

     The foundation for receiving God's deserved favor, His grace, begins with a sinner's repentance of breaking God's law, then having faith in Christ, that he will be forgiven and set free from the law's curses and its penalty, and then  he will be given salvation. Based on this action and change of heart and faith in Jesus Christ as savior, everyone is deserving, by the promises of God, of receiving His Grace.

These are the benefits when one receives of God's Grace, and what God's grace represents:    

God's  Grace is His mercy in forgiveness and justification of sins (Heb.4:16, Titus 3:7, Rom. 3:24).  

God's Grace is God's gift of salvation (Acts 15:11, Titus 2:11, Eph.2:8).

God's Grace is  His gift of His Spirit, that provides: help, comfort, hope, joy, peace and His inspiration, that inspires one to work out his own salvation, by making that gift of salvation sure and secure, rather than trust in some man to work it out for him (Acts 2:38, Acts 4:33, II Thes.2:16, I John 4:13).

God's Grace is  His working power of His spirit,  that will enable one to obey God's law-His Ten Commandments, to help  one to grow in His LOVE and all the fruit of the spirit that His commandments represents (Eph. 3:7, I John 5:2-5, Gal.5:22-23).

God's Grace is Christ living in us, through His working power to bring about perfection in us, by helping every saint to overcome their sins and establish greater faith, by believing God's promises, to help all of His saints overcome all temptations of sin and endure to the end (Acts 4:19-20, Acts 20:24).

God's Grace is Christ in us, helping us to develop and mature in His spirit-to be born again of the Spirit now, not at the resurrection, I John 4:13, I John 4:7, I John 5:1.

God's Grace is the fruit of Christ's Gospel working in a believer's life --the drawing of God's chosen  sons  to repent, to believe, to accept and  obey Christ's Gospel (Acts 20:24).

God's Grace is God's manifold giving and bestowing His many gifts and blessings, I Pet. 4:10,  and given to any humble and repentant man,  who trembles at God's Word. This is the man  to whom God looks, Isa. 66:2, and who can  by this GRACE become a member of His glorious Kingdom.

This is the true, deserving, grace of God that is promised to any sinner who repents of his sins, and in faith, believes and accepts  Christ and all of Christ's promises. This is God's Grace, and  it is not given to just any believer that is not deserving of receiving it.

       What are the dangers and pitfalls that "professed Christianity's" fruit and works have produced by believing in an unmerited, or undeserved Grace or favor of God? This false teaching of an unmerited and un-deserved grace of Christ, teaches a sinner can be accepted by God, and can still continue in his sins, Jude 3,4. After all, if God's grace is undeserved, there is nothing one would have to do to deserve, to receive God's favor. This false, undeserved, grace, creates a Christianity of deception about repenting and overcoming sin, because one accepts the fallacy that he receives God's grace, based on nothing he has to do or change in his life, and that overcoming his sins and the temptations to sin, is not required by God. All of this has created the false Christianity of today,   a great salvational danger and pitfall for all of the professed to be members of the Churches of God, who have been seduced to follow this false teaching.

Gal. 2:17.---"But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

      This grace that is taught and accepted, to mean the undeserved or unmerited favor of God,  is a traditional, heretical teaching and in reality, teaches God to be a respecter of persons in His choosing of His sons. If God chooses His sons that is not based on anything a carnal sinner must do in order to receive His favor, approval, acceptance and mercy, why would there be a need for a Gospel message? Why would there be a need for Jesus Christ and His coming to the earth, to suffer an agonizing death  for man's sins,  in order that Christ could be accepted as man's Lord and Savior?

     Anyone who desires God's truth and can still think for himself, will understand that this false teaching about Grace is in error, a heresy and a traditional, teaching inspired by Satan and his churches. God demands of all that He calls and chooses, through the teaching of His Word, and the preaching of His Gospel, that in order to be accepted by Him and Jesus Christ and to receive their Grace, which is their pleasing favor with all of its benefits, that all must repent of their sins,  the breaking  of God's Ten Commandments, and in faith, accept Jesus Christ as their Sacrifice and Savior. These are the changes and decisions of life that a sinner must do and make to receive God's Grace. This is what God demands all fleshly, carnal, sinners  must do to be deserving of receiving God's Grace.

        The saints of old, such as Noah, Abraham, Lot and others as God's Word says,"found God's Grace." What does that mean? This means, that they as carnal-fleshly men, found what they must do to be deserving of receiving God's Grace and to receive God's Spirit. These men and women came to understand true repentance, obedience and came to have a believing and saving faith, to be accepted by God in order to find and receive His grace. They acted, believed and accepted the Gospel, the good news message of Christ, the God of the Old Testament, that they could inherit and be accepted into God's Kingdom. There are not two Gospels and two Graces of Jesus Christ. As it says in Hebrews 11:13, all these saints of old died in faith, assured they will be in God's Kingdom. Peter spoke of the prophets of old, that they prophesied of the Grace that would come unto us, as it was revealed unto them, I Peter 1:10-14.

       God says in Ps. 84:11, "Grace is a good thing of God and will not be withheld from he that walks (lives) uprightly." Upright means, walking in obedience to God-His commandments, living without sin, a life unblemished, perfect by the power of His grace. God promises His grace to those deserving to receive it, to those that are willing to and are abasing themselves, and have submitted their heart to have God's law written in it. These are people that know and are growing in God's Grace.

       Paul, speaking of his life in Acts 20:24, that it  was "To testify the Gospel of the Grace of God." Paul spoke of the Grace of God as good news, as the blessing and fruit of Christ's Gospel. Grace was the good news about Christ's mercy, and His granting of salvation, through the working power of the gift of His Holy Spirit. Paul would not have received God's Grace if he had not deserved to receive it, by his total change of heart in repentance and in humbleness to God, and the accepting of Christ as Savior.

       What kind of heart does God demand of a sinner to receive His Grace-His merited and deserving favor? It is not a heart that is unwilling to change his life, who will not repent and humble himself before God, and by such deception believes that God will still accept him  in his sins. This deceived individual thinks he is special, above God's law, and that God called him without any special reason except to preach a gospel, his own gospel, and believes God's Grace is His unmerited favor upon him and will save him. The heart of this man is in total deception. Christ's inspired Word says in Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with different and strange doctrines, ( such as a false teaching about grace). It is a good thing that the heart be established with Grace (God's Grace) not with meats (poisoned spiritual food) which have not profited them that have been occupied there in."

     The heart of any pastor or member  of God's church is to be established by the truth of God's Word. The feeding of God's sheep is not to be done with teaching that is not founded and based on His word, as in following a false grace as the unmerited favor  of  God. God demands a heart that is humble, because He says in James 4:6, "God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble." Every sinner coming to Christ, must humble himself, as a small child,  Mat. 18:3-4, to receive God's Grace and His kingdom, and  he must remain humble to grow in God's Grace, or God is going to resist you and eventually reject you. God will resist the proud.

       God will resist any one proudly wrapped up in himself, and all that he has done, as he thinks he is everybody's spiritual leader, instead of Jesus Christ. Any  member, professed believer or minster, who thinks he is special, the spiritual leader over the rest of God's anointed,  and so dominates them to make them "his church," is a proud man and God will resist. Church people are God's sheep, who God has chosen to be His people  through His GRACE, His SPIRIT, His POWER  and His SACRIFICE.  Any proud person,  or minister, who loves to have the pre-eminence among  God's people  is usurping Christ's authority and leadership over His people. God will resist and humble this person, that he might know and  learn about God's true Grace through His great trial coming upon all the earth.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[wordsower]

Blindseeker,

I do not wish to offend you in anyway, but I must say what I believe.

God's grace is unmerited because I can not do anything to get it.  I know you think there is something you have to do to get it or keep it or walk in it, but no, God's grace is.  I don't deserve it, I can't buy it, behave well for it or earn it.

You had asked a few times how one walks in the Spirit.  Seemed like a really strange question to me but the more I thought about it I realized, "But if you are led by the Spirit you are not under the law." Galatians 5:18

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

"You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by the law, you have fallen from grace." Gal. 5:4

Faith working through love, my brother.  

It is a lot easier to keep a list of rules than it is to walk in faith and wherever there is a substitute for faith in the finished work of Christ it is a doctrine of demons.

[BlindSeeker]

Greetings Harvester,

Thank you for submitting the article.  I read it in entirety and will not express my position with it as it is not your personal comments.  However, there were many excellent verses mentioned, yet not quoted, that perhaps you could collect and resubmit as a scriptural foundation for your own faith and convictions.

It is my desire to truly get to know and understand you and others here,  as well as the subject at hand.  Therefore we need your input.

Again, thanks for submitting it and peace to you and yours,

William

[BlindSeeker]

Greetings Shilou,

I appreciate your participation, as well as your obvious love and zeal for God.

Still, the purpose of the thread is for everyone to support their beliefs with scripture, for as I stated, "My intention is pretty much just to listen to the responses and to only ask questions of declarations which I feel are not presented with a sound scriptural foundation.If we are saved by grace, and grace alone, I think we owe it to ourselves and to each other to at least attempt to biblically define it that we all might embrace it with one mind and heart."

I wish not to discourage you, rather to again encourage you to please seek out and take those verses which are the foundation of your faith in God and His grace and submit them to us all as a basis for your beliefs concerning God's

[Guest Michael]

It appears from the older thread and this one there are some who see grace the way I do. Since scriptural backing is asked here we go.

The grace taught by the apostles of our Lord is truly amazing. However it is quite different than the grace men are teaching now. Is it true that grace means "unmerited favor"?

The Greek word for grace is "charis". This is the same as the root word in charisma meaning gifts of the Spirit.

Strongs concordance lists various possibilities to the meaning of grace. Not once is unmerited favor listed as a meaning of grace! If it is not thus defined why are so many preachers telling people that is the meaning?

The definition given for "charis" by Strongs that I believe is closest to the biblical concept is this.

THE DIVINE INFLUENCE ON THE HEART, AND ITS REFLECTION IN THE LIFE. Word no.5485

Grace is Gods influence or his workings in our lives. Is it in any sense unmerited? In the sense of WHO HE CALLS yes it is.

And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth

12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. Romans 9:10-16

So God in his purpose and election shows his compassion on whom he wills. As in the case of Jacob who had not yet been born God chose to love him. This was unmerited favor because the recipient did nothing to deserve it. He wasnt even born yet. So in the sense of someone coming initially to Christ it can be said they have received unmerited favor.

Certainly this was the case with the apostle Paul. Here he is out killing Christians and Yashua knocks him off his horse and saves him. This is unmerited favor at work. The grace Paul received is the same grace we received. None of us would have come to God unless he had "INFLUENCED" our decision.

But as we follow the concept of grace through scripture we shall see that grace includes MUCH MORE THAN UNMERITED FAVOR.

We have seen that grace is the INFLUENCE of God working in the life of his people. Paul described the concept of grace to the Phillipians like this.

For it is God which WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do HIS GOOD PLEASURE. Phil.2:13

So again grace is the power or influence God exerts in our lives that we may become what he wants us to be.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Eph.2:8-10

God gives his grace as a gift to unworthy people. They cannot boast and say, "because of my own righteousness God has saved me". All men are unrighteous before God. But God has a way to make them righteous when he brings them to himself. Matter of fact we are HIS WORKMANSHIP created in Christ for THE VERY PURPOSE OF doing the good works he has ordained for us to do.

This is THE PURPOSE OF GODS GRACE. Wicked men have now ful filled the prophetic words of Jude when he said this.

For there are certain men crept unawares who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, TURNING THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4

Almost without exception the churches of today deny GODS GRACE TO LEAD MEN TO DO HIS WILL. Their doctrine is that grace is ONLY UNMERITED FAVOR. They say it is normal for Christians to go on sinning. Their favorite line when commanded by the truth to BE YE HOLY FOR I AM HOLY is usually something to the effect of this.

"You are adding works to grace and therefore you are a heretic". All the while they deny the very purpose of God in giving grace which is to work in them BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.

This  doctrine has engulfed almost all churches and has

brought men to believe they cannot overcome sin and that it is wrong to even think that they can!

Do not be fooled friends. Biblical AMAZING GRACE will never contradict the commandments of Yashua our God.

Grace will not reject his commands but will EMPOWER or INFLUENCE us to obey them.

Wherefore my beloved AS YE HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED, NOT AS IN MY PRESENCE ONLY but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phil.2:12

                                                             peace, michael

[Guest Michael]

Romans chapter 11 is usually cited by those trying to prove that Gods grace is unmerited favor only. Lets take a look

for ourselves.

I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I HAVE RESERVED TO MYSELF seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:1-6

Paul's subject here is the grace of God. Grace is GODS INFLUENCE in the lives of his people. In context of Romans 11 what did Gods grace accomplish? It caused 7000 men to be faithful to God! It kept them from bowing their knees to Baal! This is AMAZING GRACE!

The way the modern grace teaching presents itself it would have ended like this. The 7000 were unfaithful to God and bowed their knees to Baal BUT since grace is unmerited favor only God simply forgave their sin.

See what a huge difference there is between truth and error?

When Paul contrasts works against grace he is contrasting works done in mens own strength with grace AS GODS INFLUENCE WORKING in a persons life.

God does not condemn good works. He has ordained certain works for his people to do. What are these good works?

He that hath MY COMMANDMENTS and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:21

Keeping the words of the Lord is described by Paul as OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH. This is what the Christian does BECAUSE HE LOVES YASHUA. That is his motivation.

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH among all nations, for his name.

The uninspired works men do APART FROM the leading of the Spirit are in the bible called DEAD WORKS. This has no value in pleasing Yashua. But obedience to Yashua out of HIS GRACE is required for all who desire the kingdom of God.

Blessed are they that do HIS COMMANDMENTS that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city.

[Guest JRT]

As simple as it gets.

"For GOD so LOVED the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON so that whomsoever would believe on HIM would have eternal life!"

Now the Free Gift is called GRACE = JESUS

Salvation  is  =

1. By JESUS BLOOD = (forgiveness of past sin, permanent)

                                               +

                                     (ability to have future sins forgiven permantly)

2. By JESUS FAITH   = (ability to believe)

3. By JESUS LOVE     = (Laid aside His will and obeyed HIS FATHER even to laying down HIS                                         showing HE LOVED HIS FATHER and that HE also LOVED us)

4. By JESUS POWER = (over came the world by being raised from the dead so that we to who                                         were once dead in our sins can be made alive through JESUS)

A. We are  asked to accept! (by our will) called free choice.

B. Taking up GOD'S will 1. thru 4 above called being born again!

Maintaing ongoing appling of 1. thru 4 above on ones life!

1. Confessing, repenting and asking JESUS our HIGH PRIEST sitting at the right hand of the         Father to forgive a future sin after it happens.

2. JESUS believed so we to believe using JESUS Faith!

3. JESUS LOVED so we to Love by obeying GOD'S commands thereby showing we love GOD     and by which we show we to love our brethen!

4  JESUS POWER overcame the world so we to have the ability through JESUS to overcome!

The act of Maintaining = over time changes ones image to that of our LORD JESUS!

The act of Maintaining = also called remaing steadfast to the end!

You see all the work was done for us that no man can boast! No pride in ones self is possible! So to GOD be all the GLORY Forever and ever! In JESUS NAME!

[BlindSeeker]

I do not wish to offend you in anyway, but I must say what I believe.

My Dear Sister,

You are a long way from offending me, for it is obvious you have no such intent, nor is it part of your character.

[Guest Michael]

The apostolic greetings to the churches contain greetings similar to this.

Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Col. 1:2

What is this "grace" the apostles impart to us when we read their writings? Are they imparting to us "unmerited favor"

or THE INFLUENCE of God?

Lets look at some scripture in context to find out.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I LABOURED more abundantly than they all: yet not I but THE GRACE OF GOD which was with me. 1 Cor.15:10

Here Paul says his labours for Christ were driven by GODS GRACE not by his own power. Is Gods influence or power the meaning of grace here or "unmerited favor"?

Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Whereunto I also labour, striving according to HIS WORKING which WORKETH IN ME MIGHTILY. Col.1:28-29

Here in Colossians Paul again speaks of his LABOURS and again credits them not to himself but to the MIGHTY WORKING of God in him. Do you suppose that mighty working in Colossians is the same GRACE that worked in him in 1 Corinthians? No doubt the grace of God is his influence manifesting his POWER or STRENGTH in the believer.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

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 mine infirmities, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST may rest upon me. 2 Cor. 12:8-9

Here Paul makes it crystal clear that Gods GRACE IS THE SAME AS HIS POWER AND STRENGTH working in us.

Thou therefore my son, be STRONG IN THE GRACE that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim.2:1

Paul speaks to Timothy that grace is something that will MAKE HIM STRONG.

Ephesians 2:8 tells us we are saved by GRACE THROUGH FAITH.

Check what apostle Peter says.

Who are kept by THE POWER OF GOD through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter:1:5

Do you see the connection between the GRACE OF GOD and the POWER OF GOD? It is there because grace is not passive in the believers life just waiting to be used whenever they sin. It is an active power source flowing from God to his people.

For it is God WHICH WORKETH IN YOU both to will and to do HIS GOOD PLEASURE. Phil.2:13

So when the apostles said "Grace be unto You" they were imparting MORE POWER TO YOU! grace to you,mike

[wordsower]

Blindseeker,

I would conclude that what God offers one cannot buy with money or a set price, yet cannot be received one without selling all, figuratively.

EXACTLY!!!

I am crucified with Christ and yet I live, NOT I but CHRIST who lives in Me.

There is none righteous, not one. So, If I am the righteousness of God in Christ, it is only the Christ in me that is righteous.

As I said, God's grace gives us power to overcome, but it's not our fortitude that causes us to overcome, it is simply God.  I just want to be sure we are not confusing the two.

And Michael,  What church tells it's congregation they can sin because of grace?  I've been in a lot of churches and I have never heard anyone preach that you can sin because of grace, that is a ridiculous idea, because of Grace, you don't want to sin.

For those that continue in sin, I don't know, maybe they aren't saved, maybe they are miserable and want to change but don't know how to access God's grace.  I'm glad God knows their heart and I don't have to judge them.