I always hear people talk about being saved by grace but what does that really mean? So I researched all aspects of it so that I could completely grasp what the meaning really is. The Definition of Grace: the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God, the influence or spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them, a virtue or excellence of divine origin.
Synonyms for Grace are: clemency, compassion, generosity, goodness, kindness, love, tenderness.
The grace that the lord gives is free and overwhelming: For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14 ESV
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6 ESV And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16 ESV
Why is Grace so important
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20 ESV for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 ESV
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. James 3:2 ESV Everyone has done some kind of wrong.
We have looked at someone and thought wow that person looks good, those little white lies, taking something that is not yours because you feel justified that it is.
Talking down to a wife or husband, treating a child wrong, or making fun of someone. Breaking a law, speeding, cheating on taxes, this seems like a daunting list but we are all guilty of sin.
The human race is driven by ego, one extreme can’t see past themselves while the other extreme does not think that they are good enough for anything.
Most people fit somewhere in-between, it’s all ego, in some way we all tend look to ourselves for some kind of affirmation for the way we act. Back when Moses was around God created the law, the first five books of the Old Testament, this was almost impossible to follow.
When someone would sin, they would sacrifice an animal to atone and repent for their sin. We are told it is impossible to keep every aspect of the law James 2:10. As humans, we know how we are. Would there be any animals left?
For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. Leviticus 17:11 ESV Then about 2000 years ago God sent His son to the earth to replace this system by showing each and every one of us what true worship is.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 ESV
Jesus then lived His life and by dyeing on the cross became a sacrifice for all of humanity, yes all of us. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7 ESV
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:14 ESV Because of this grace that we have been given from God we have a mediator, Jesus Christ.
God’s Grace
There is a throne of grace set up, a way of worship instituted, in which God may with honor meet poor sinners, and treat with them, and they may with hope draw night to him, repenting and believing. God might have set up a tribunal of strict and inexorable justice, dispensing death, the wages of sin, to all who were convened before it; but he has chosen to set up a throne of grace.
A throne speaks authority, and bespeaks awe and reverence. A throne of grace speaks great encouragement even to the chief of sinners. Their grace reigns, and acts with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty. Hebrews 4:16
The Duty of Grace
It is our duty and interest to be often found before this throne of grace, waiting on the Lord in all the duties of his worship, private and public. It is good for us to be there.
Our business and errand at the throne of grace should be that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Mercy and grace are the things we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify our souls.
Graces Dependence
Besides the daily dependence we have upon God for present supplies, there are some seasons in which we shall most sensibly need the mercy and grace of God, and we should lay up prayers against such seasons – times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially a dying time: we should every day put up a petition for mercy in our last day. The Lord grant unto us that we may find mercy of the Lord at that day, 2 Timothey 1:18 ESV.
Invited by Grace
In all our approaches to this throne of grace for mercy, we should come with a humble freedom and boldness, with a liberty of spirit and a liberty of speech; we should ask in faith.
Nothing doubting; we should come with a Spirit of adoption, as children to a reconciled God and Father. We are indeed to come with reverence and godly fear, but not with terror and amazement.
Not as if we were dragged before the tribunal of justice, but kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns, and loves to exert and exalt itself towards us.
Graces Mediator
The office of Christ, as being our high priest, and such a high priest, should be the ground of our confidence in all our approaches to the throne of grace. Had we not a Mediator, we could have no boldness in coming to God; for we are guilty and polluted creatures.
All we do is polluted; we cannot go into the presence of God alone; we must either go in the hand of a Mediator or our hearts and our hopes will fail us. We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.
He is our Advocate, and, while he pleads for his people, he pleads with the price in his hand, by which he purchased all that our souls want or can desire.
Faith Brings Grace
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, Ephesians 2:8 ESV
Faith is: confidence or trust in a person or thing; belief that is not based on proof; belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion; the obligation of loyalty or fidelity to a person. Christian Theology the trust in God and in His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures by which humans are justified or saved.
In other words; acceptance, belief, confidence, conviction, hope, loyalty, or truth. Faith is looking beyond yourself, seeing that there are too many coincidences to believe that we have not been designed by intelligence greater than ours.
When the bible told us that the earth is round everyone thought that it was flat: It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. Isaiah 40:22 KJV This is just one example in the bible there are many more. We have been told in the bible that
He does not change: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 ESV
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. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:1-4 KJV Put simply faith is trust, and with that trust He gives us grace..
Not to Brag
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24 ESV
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. James 4:10 ESV
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 ESV
Pride: a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, the state or feeling of being proud, a becoming or dignified sense of what is due to oneself or one’s position or character; pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by or belonging to oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself.
In contrast, dignity can live inside us regardless of our successes and failures. We don’t have to prove anything to anybody, or even to ourselves. If an enterprise fails, this doesn’t mean that we’re a failure. If an attempt to communicate our feelings to our partner falls flat, we might feel sad, but we can feel good knowing we did our best. We can experience the dignity of having reached out to connect or to repair an injury to the relationship. We can experience the dignity of living with integrity, regardless of the outcome. John Amodeo Ph.D., MFT
As humans we have a tendency to focus on what “I” did and not always seeing what others have done for us. Most importantly we lean towards not recognizing all of the awesome things that God does for us on a daily basis that without someone guiding them would have never happened (which lends the question, who is your guide?).
Humble: not proud or arrogant; modest, having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, low in rank, importance, status, quality, lowly, courteously respectful. I am not saying that we should loathe ourselves I am saying that we can have dignity without arrogance and that is what the bible says to. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 ESV
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ESV Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
Getting to Know Him
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Citations
Esword
“Sword: Free Bible Study for the PC.” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary , e-sword.net/.
Bible Gateway
“BibleGateway.” BibleGateway.com: A Searchable Online Bible in over 150 Versions and 50 Languages., http://www.biblegateway.com/.
ESV
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
King James
Public Domain
Thesaurus
Roget’s 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
Dictionary
Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope. Accessed 20 May. 2020.
Open bible info
Editor: Stephen Smith. Publication date: Apr 10, 2020. Publisher: OpenBible.info.
Why Pride is Nothing to be Proud of
Amodeo, John. “Why Pride Is Nothing to Be Proud Of.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 6 June 2015, http://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intimacy-path-toward-spirituality/201506/why-pride-is-nothing-be-proud.
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