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The Word of God The Word of God
The Word of God The Word of God The Word of
God The Word of God The Word of God
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The Word of God
Grace
A right premise upon which to base our Faith
The word of God states “But God, who is rich in mercy,
for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins,
hath quickened us together in Christ, (by grace you are saved)”.
Ephesians 2:4-5. “For by grace you are saved, through faith, and
that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God”. Ephesians 2:8
What is this grace by which we are saved, through faith? Often
“grace” is defined as the “unmerited favor of God,”
and many Christians believe this is the definition applicable in Ephesians.
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for grace is chen, (khan), as is found
in Genesis 6:8, “Noah found grace in the sight of God”.
It’s meaning here is favor, well favored, precious, objective beauty,
and it comes from the root word in Hebrew chanan (khawhan), which means “to
stoop in kindness to an inferior, to have mercy on or upon, have pity
upon”.
For too long Christians have believed that the grace by which they have been
saved and the grace that is being dispensed in our present lives is the Old
Testament grace. We are going to examine the word of God a little
closer to see exactly what grace really is.
John 1:14 says, “and the
Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”.
John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with
God”.
Since we know that Jesus Christ was and IS the word of God, WAS and IS God,
and according to Philippians 2:6, “who being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God,” then it does not seem at
all reasonable to think that the grace He was full of was
“unmerited.” If there was ever anyone worthy to receive
favor, who merited the favor of God the Father, it was indeed His son, Jesus
Christ.
The Greek word for grace in the New Testament in John 1:14 and in all but one
verse where grace appears, means the same thing, and it does not mean
“unmerited favor”, nor does it mean stooping down in kindness to
an inferior nor does it mean that God had pity or mercy upon. The Greek
word for grace in the New Testament is charis (khar-ece), and it means
“the divine influence upon the heart, and it’s reflection in the
life, (including gratitude).” It also means, acceptable, benefit,
favor, gift, joy, liberality, pleasure, thanks and worthy.
Thus it is an easy thing to see that the grace that Jesus was full of, was
indeed, “DIVINE INFLUENCE UPON HIS HEART, AND IT’S REFLECTION IN
HIS LIFE”. Jesus said of Himself in John 12:49 “For I have
not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, He gave me a commandment,
what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His
commandment is life everlasting; (verse 50), whatsoever I speak therefore,
even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.”
This is the grace that we have been saved by, not the Old Testament
grace. And this same grace which abided to the fullness of all
God’s ability in Jesus Christ IS the same grace that God has given to
you. It was God’s purpose before the foundation of the world that
you should be His child. He predestined you according to Ephesians 1:5
“having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to
Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will”.
The Father’s Divine influence upon your heart is what enabled you, by
the Holy Spirit, to hear Him when He called you. It is that influence
upon your heart that enabled you to respond to that call. Look at
Ephesians 2:8 again, “for by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that
not of ourselves; it is a gift from God.” Read it with a new
perspective upon that word grace. Paraphrased it might read something like
this, “By the divine influence upon your heart and it’s
reflection in your life, are you saved, through faith, and that not of
yourselves; it is a gift of God.” Now look at verse 9 “not
of works, lest any man should boast.” You didn’t come to
God because of anything you did or thought about, but rather He influenced
your heart to agree with His heart so that you might receive His son Jesus
Christ as your savior. The very fact that you are a child of God today
is because GRACE moved from heaven upon your heart. You merit the gift
because God said the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s
cross and His resurrection was sufficient to bring you back into right
standing with Him.
For too long Christians have held onto a “sinner man”
mentality. Blinded to the truth that Jesus redeemed us totally from the
curse of the law and bondage to sin. He has restored us back to the
Father. This AMAZING GRACE is what influences your heart everyday and
by the Holy Spirit is reflected in your life every day.
Ephesians 4:7 says “but unto every one of us is given grace (Divine
influence upon the heart and it’s reflection in our lives) according to
the measure of the gift of Christ.” How much grace was
that? As much grace as Jesus was full of. John 1:14 “and the Word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of
the Father, full of grace and truth”, that’s how much grace you
have been given.
Perhaps with this new understanding of the grace of God which you have been
given, it will be a little easier for you to do what Ephesians 4:23-24 says,
“and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that ye put on the new
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
It is my sincere prayer that you will search the scriptures for more evidence
of this AMAZING GRACE which you have been given, and through prayer, praise
and worship, our father will increase your comprehensive understanding of
this wonderful gift.
I also am praying that your very heart will be moved to yield quickly to His
divine influence, in order that it’s reflection in your life will be
unimpaired and that the knowledge of God in you, by the power of the Holy
Spirit will equip you to take the message of His grace, love and peace
through Jesus Christ to the lost in this world.
Sincerely,
I remain your faith-filled, grace-filled sister in Jesus Christ.
Susan Atkins-Whitehouse
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