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Abundant Grace |
Dear Brethren,
Is the subject of
“grace” a Protestant concept, or is it one that we in God’s Church
should have a good understanding about? Does the New Testament
concept of “grace” allow that Christians shouldn’t worry so much
about sin in their lives, because all sin has been forgiven and
covered? Is “grace” really amazing? What should a Christian know
about the Biblical concept of “grace?” The little understood word,
“grace,” is translated from the Greek word charis.
Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8) accepted the doctrine of “grace” for the
forgiveness of sin (which the pagan religions of the world never had), but he turned
the grace into license to sin with impunity - to disobey God. "There
are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained
to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our
God into lasciviousness, [license to sin] and
denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." (Jude
:4) This "license to sin," which is literally the ecclesiastical
permission to sin, is the broadly accepted approach toward sin in
the world's churches today.
The apostle Paul uses the phrase, “abundant grace.” Paul
says that in comparison to our reward that we will receive in the Kingdom of
God, today’s trials are insignificant. Paul can say that because we
will be the Children of God in the Kingdom of God – possessing Godly
character and eternal life at that time.
“All things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the
thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which
are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not
seen are eternal.” (Corinthians 4:15-18)
When Paul says, “Though
our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day,”
we can see the active working of grace in our daily lives. But what
is this grace? Grace, is much more than unmerited pardon – that
definition is not sufficient to explain God’s grace. Grace is,
however, the free undeserved favor of God that not everyone has
received. Grace is God’s generous forgiveness of past sin in our
lives and the taking away of the penalty – but it is also the
opening of our minds to recognize what sin is, and the ability to
repent of sin. No one decides to repent of his sins on his own –
that only takes place by the grace of God. When we repent (turn and
stop breaking God’s laws) and receive God’s grace, which was made
possible through the sacrifice of Christ, we are pardoned. At that
time, we are no longer under the penalty of death (under the law)
for breaking God’s commandments.
God’s grace is the
free and undeserved gift of forgiveness and acceptance of God the
Father through Jesus Christ. Being under grace means to be
continually receiving God's goodness, undeserved favor, blessings,
sustenance, intervention and interaction – in short, God’s divine
love]. A Christian believer comes under the grace of God through
faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his
sins. Through grace, the true believer's sins are forgiven and the
righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to him, making him
righteous in God the Father’s sight.
How important is grace? Without God’s grace there would be no salvation, no Children
of God, no Christians, and no eternal life in the Kingdom of God for us.
“Favor” is a very good translation of the Greek word charis, and “favor”
retains the fundamental meaning of the word “grace.” Charis
is correctly translated “favor” a number of times in the King James
Version. Charis means: That which causes joy, pleasure,
gratification, favor, acceptance, and kindness granted. Charis
is the "Divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the
life," the absolute expression of the loving kindness of God to
mankind. Charis also means: God’s divine, gracious, favor
and blessing; gracious care, help, goodwill, benefit, gift,
goodness, benefaction and endowment.
Grace, is a multifaceted word, showing many aspects of God the Father’s gracious
love as mercifully manifested through Jesus Christ. Grace, is much
more than unmerited pardon – that definition is not sufficient to
explain God’s grace. Grace is however, the free undeserved favor of
God that not everyone has received. Grace is thanks… Grace is
acceptance – as in being accepted, of finding acceptance, or being
made acceptable.
It is important to have a good grasp of this concept of Grace because it occurs over
130 times in the New Testament. Grace is God’s generous forgiveness
of past sin in our lives and the taking away of the penalty – but it
is also the opening of our minds to recognize what sin is, and the
ability to repent of sin. A good way to define grace is to think of
it as God's unearned and undeserved favor toward us. Grace is His
love and concern for those of us who accept His invitation to enter
into a relationship with Him.
A Christian believer comes under the grace of God through faith in the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. Through grace, the
true believer's sins are forgiven and the righteousness of Jesus
Christ is imputed to him, making him righteous in God the Father’s
sight. Through, Jesus Christ, God’s gift of grace is granted to us
so that we may spiritually grow up unto Him - Christ in us, the hope
of glory!!!
We can grow in God’s good graces – and we can also fall out of favor with
God. Paul gives this example: "Christ is become of no effect unto
you [Paul is speaking to those who believe that they earn their
own salvation apart form Christ’s sacrifice], whosoever of you
are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace." (Galatians 5:4)
"None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of
the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of His grace." (Ephesians 1:7) "Even when we
were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved)." (Ephesians 2:5)
Through His grace, God grants spiritual gifts to His people for His purposes and the
benefit of the brethren. "Unto every one of us is given grace
according to the measure of the gift of Christ." (Ephesians
4:7) "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the
same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
(1Peter 4:10)
"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:24) Through grace God allows us to
have a relationship with Him – we are reconciled to Him. "By
whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God... For if by one man's
offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance
of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one
- Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:2, 5:17)
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Sermon: "Abundant Grace"
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