[Biblemat] THE GRACE OF GOD"

[Jessie]

                     "THE GRACE OF GOD"                                  				                              by Jessie Daniels 
                               The Church of Christ at Wakulla FL,              							jessiefdaniels at gmail.com 
       This is one of my articles that were writhen in the Wakulla Times magazine.  
   The Bible teaching of God's grace is a much Misunderstood subject.  This has always been so with the denominational world and now it is true with a good many in the body Christ. Simply defined grace is God's unmerited favor to man. God bestows his grace but man must receive the grace of God.  Denominationalist have the idea man does nothing to receive the grace of God, that is, God's grace is received unconditionally. Some even teach that men are saved by grace alone.  God's grace provided the plan by which sinners are saved, or made righteous, and grace tells the sinner how to come into possession of that salvation. When people quit arraying the grace of God against the commands of God, they would have a clear vision of the scheme of redemption which God has provided, the grace of God is in every command he gives, and grace was in the command to Noah to build an ark Gen 7. Man was lost, a way was provided by which the sinner could get out of that lost state. That was grace. But was that enough? No, the sinner need to know how to find the way of grace, and how to walk therein, the grace of God is a teacher  "Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." The way of grace that God has giving to man is the teacher so says the Apostle Paul. As I said before there is know difference between grace of God and the commandments of God, furthermore, there is know difference between the gospel of God, and the grace of God. And there is know difference between the gospel of Christ, and the grace of Christ, for the gospel and grace are the one and the same.  In "Acts 20:24 I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." There is no difference between the word of God and the grace of God.  "Acts 14:3 Which gave testimony unto the word of his grace."  We are not saved by grace alone, the Bible does not teach such a thing; But the Bible does teach that obeying the grace of God saves us.  Seeing that the grace of God is the gospel, the apostle Paul said in "Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  For the apostle Paul said in "Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."  The phrase "not of works" is the works of the Law of Moses. "For if Abraham was justified by works, he hath whereof to glory Rom 4:2." James says, "Was not Abraham our farther justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? James 2:21" There is no conflict between Paul and James, rightly considered there is not even a seeming discrepancy between them. Paul was talking about works of Law; James was talking about works of faith. Paul was showing the Judaizing Christians that no one could be righteous, or justified, by works of Law, for no one kept the Law perfectly, and that to be justified, or made righteous, a person must believe in Christ. To the one who does not fulfill the works of the Law, but believes in God, faith is reckoned for righteousness. Paul was arguing that works without faith would not justify and James was arguing that faith without works would not justified. To exclude either is to fail of justification. Both referred to Abraham to illustrate their points.                                                                                                                                       Abraham was justified without works of Law.  But works of faith justified him. James laid down the principle that faith without works is dead, and will not justify. James 2: 20" the Apostle Paul was telling the Jews that we are not saved by the Law of Moses, but by the Law of faith, the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jude said "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered unto the saints Jude.3." The grace of God, or the faith, which was once delivered can't be delivered again, we can preach the gospel but we can't deliver the gospel, the Apostles delivered it. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come John.16:7-13."  And in John.14:16-17 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." Jesus promised the Apostles, the baptism of the Holy Spirit that the grace of God would be delivered to man kind. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men Titus 2:11." That is why that Paul said' "all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 

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