[Biblemat] Bulletin Article: God’s Grace And Faith And God’s Word

[Jack Wise]

God’s Grace And Faith And God’s Word

 

            God’s grace has no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness! (Eph 5:11) The only way to access God’s grace is by faith, Rom 5:2. Thus, faith is not expecting God to accept our practices but by faith we practice God’s works. Otherwise we become guilty of Eph 2:8-9! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” These works, practices, are those which man invent and expect to God accept them based upon faith because they are done in His name. Paul clarifies this in 2 Tim 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” Turning back to Eph again we read in Eph 2:11 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” God has already determined what is and what is not acceptable practices, works, before you or I were ever conceived. In the New Testament singing and making melody in the heart is God’s works ordained before the foundation of the world. Singing and making melody on a mechanical instrument is the work of man. 

            Phil 4:7 states “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” How can one have peace that passeth understanding outside of the written word of God? How do we know the mind or knowledge of God? 

            Paul said “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor 2:16) 

            Paul, writing to the Ephesians brethren said “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Eph 5:17) 

            Paul, teaching the Romans, wrote that they “…be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Rom 12:2) 

How can they have a mind transformation? 

By understanding the will of God!!! 

In Summary:

We have the mind of Christ. 

We can understand His mind, His will. 

His will transforms our minds to prove what is: 

            ►Good 

►Acceptable 

►Perfect 

The GREEK word for perfect is teleios which means:

            1) brought to its end, finished

            2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness

            3) perfect

            4) that which is perfect

                        a) consummate human integrity and virtue

                        b) of men

                                    1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature

            We conclude that God’s will revealed to man through the word for the purpose of our faith to bring us to the perfect or mature man in the scriptures! Eph 4:11-15 and 1 Cor 13:8-12 reinforces this.

            Remember, Paul revealed to us the mind of Christ that we might transform our minds from the world to  prove the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God’s! 

            Paul, with confidence, said “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” In the same context of Phil 4:7, Paul states “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding…”. (verse 9). This peace comes by imitating Paul the apostle (1 Cor 11:1) 

            We need correct and perfect knowledge of God to be saved. What we lack we should ask God to reveal to us, James 1:5; James 3:15-18. Every time we learn more of God’s word, it corrects us…it perfects us. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

            James 1:25 “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

He who is a doer of the perfect word of God, is blessed!

 

Jack Wise

 

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