GRACE
"FOR BY GRACE ARE YOU SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS
THE GIFT OF GOD" (Eph 2:8).
PART I.
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The word grace has always been given as the only means of salvation! But, there is always more to the story then
meet the eye at first glance.
The word grace is found in the Holy Bible, God's written Word, 131 times. According to the Zondorvan Pictorial
Dictionary 1967 edition, we must consider the variety of meanings: 1).Speaking which affords: joy, pleasure,
delight, charm, loveliness; 2). Good will, loving kindness, mercy: 3). Kindness of master toward a slave-analogy-
God's kindness to man' 4). God's gracious favor; 5). Kindness bestowed on someone undeserving thereof; 6).
A degree of favor; 7). Grace is employed as a reward or gift. Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong always referred to grace
as the undeserved pardon for our sins.
When reading a scripture that has the word grace in it, we must always look at the content of the verse. Several have
a different meaning for grace.
In the Old Testament, the word grace is Strong's Number 2580. Meanings: 1. a). favor, grace of elegance; b). of
speech; 2. Favor, acceptance a). With men; b). With God; Gen 6:8, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the
LORD." Meaning of this verse in the New Brown Driver-Briggs―Gesenius Hebrew and English Lexicon is, that
Noah found favor in the eyes of God.
In the New Testament the word grace, Strong's Number 5485, has so many meanings: Basically, we must look at
the scripture used in the verse. According to the Thayer Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, Verse
Romans 3 :24, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The meaning here
is: pre-eminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners
the pardon of their offences, and bids them accepted of eternal salvation through Christ.
In Romans 4: 16, "Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the
seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us
all." The meaning here is: kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved.
And in 2 Cor 4:15, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of
many redound to the glory of God." Is used of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence
upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection and
kindles them to exercise of the Christian virtues.
Let's look at the beginning: "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 any thing made
that was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men" (John 1 :1-4). "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 bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred
before me: for He was before me. And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given
by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1: 14-17). The meaning in these scriptures is: styled "as
grace of Christ,” in that through pity for sinful men Christ left His state of
blessedness with God in heaven, and voluntarily underwent the hardships and miseries of human
life and by His suffering and death procured salvation for mankind.
Eph 2:5-8, "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And
hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He
might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Meaning: kindness by which God bestows
favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon.
As we look further into the Protestant belief of grace, we see that it only accepted that we must have the grace of God
to be saved. There are no works of God's laws involved! But we see further that the Apostle James said through the
Holy Spirit, that we show our faith by our works! "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you
say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may
say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by
my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou
know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he
had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made
perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent
them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James
2:14-26).
The works that most of the world has said to be done away is the obedience to God's laws, statutes
and judgments. It is by our faith that works grace from God in us! We live to God the Father and Jesus the Christ
through God's Holy Spirit that works in us! We are to follow God's word given to the Apostle Paul. "But the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there
is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let
us also walk in the Spirit" (Gal 5:22-25). ☜
COGIT
SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE
How often have we stumbled in our walk because we did not think.
This world is not a goal to reach, but a highway to travel.
Every day has purpose because it is one more precious opportunity to prepare for eternity.
HOW TO HAVE A CHRIST LIKE MIND.
1/ Develop a strong desire for the mind of Christ.
2/ Submerge yourself in the Word of God. Read the Scriptures to learn them, love them, live them.
3/ Let Scripture rebuke you.
4/ Cultivate habits that encourage Christ-like thinking.
5/ Set goals to keep your mind actively thinking Christ-like thoughts.