Imputed righteousness;

Grace is an endowment from above to which we have access by faith. It is a gift of God because we didn't earn strength... We didn't earn him giving us the power to obey him. But it remains this!

2a) 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 the exercise of the Christian virtues

Grace then is power, by this definition, which works in us to will and to do what pleases him. It is his mercy to us because it strengthens us to do his will. To twist this definition to mean that it is unmerited favor, or in other words, what God gives to his favorites, only reveals either our lack of understanding, or our desire to use Christ to save ourselves, rather than giving our lives away. Which it be, I will not judge!

By faith, we have access to grace, grace to move mountains! Grace is an equipping, an empowering, to be as he is.

Insight said:

Heart – means mind - the seat of interlect and emotion

Insight

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One thing I would say is that the heart is NOT the mind!

The journey from the head to the heart is the most important, and many have the things of God in their heads, but do not have them in their hearts!

Prentis said:

Grace is an endowment from above to which we have access by faith. It is a gift of God because we didn't earn strength... We didn't earn him giving us the power to obey him. But it remains this!

2a) 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 the exercise of the Christian virtues

Grace then is power, by this definition, which works in us to will and to do what pleases him. It is his mercy to us because it strengthens us to do his will. To twist this definition to mean that it is unmerited favor, or in other words, what God gives to his favorites, only reveals either our lack of understanding, or our desire to use Christ to save ourselves, rather than giving our lives away. Which it be, I will not judge!

By faith, we have access to grace, grace to move mountains! Grace is an equipping, an empowering, to be as he is.

Click to expand...

I don't know how you could have misread that definition so badly. Look again. It says very clearly that grace is "the merciful kindness by which God exerts his holy influence." Once again, looking carefully at the proper lexical definition of the Greek word "charis" we see that grace is not that influence itself. It is God's disposition of "merciful kindness" toward the one who receives that influence.

Nomad said:

I don't know how you could have misread that definition so badly. Look again. It says very clearly that grace is "the merciful kindness by which God exerts his holy influence." Once again, looking carefully at the proper lexical definition of the Greek word "charis" we see that grace is not that influence itself. It is God's disposition of "merciful kindness" toward the one who receives that influence.

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You are talking about mercy, and love, which overlooks faults. Because of his love, God has given us grace, but they are not one and the same. Using these definitions with the end of cancelling out the need of running the race and walking in the power of God is faulty reasoning.

It is everywhere if we would only look!

Acts 20:24
But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
1 Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Mercy does not give one the ability to do good works! But power from God, divine influence, does.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mercy AND grace, grace being the 'help in time of need'. Unmerited favor? Not so!

Prentis said:

Using these definitions with the end of cancelling out the need of running the race and walking in the power of God is faulty reasoning.

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So you're assigning ulterior motives to those responsible for the lexical definition of "charis?" That's quite an arrogant attitude to take for someone who has no formal Greek training. Who said anything about, "cancelling out the need of running the race and walking in the power of God?" That's part of salvation, but what in the world does that have to do with the proper definition of "grace?" The problem with you, Prentis, is that you're a one trick pony. You're obsessed with works righteousness. It taints your response to each and every topic to which you reply. There's no balance with you. Your soteriology is heretical to its core. May the Lord open your eyes.

Prentis said:

One thing I would say is that the heart is NOT the mind!

The journey from the head to the heart is the most important, and many have the things of God in their heads, but do not have them in their hearts!

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You would be one very confused believer if you were speaking about the physical organ.

Heart more than often refers to the mind.

For it is with your heart(organ?) that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. Rom 10:10

Only then would we be adhereing to Gods command as the prophet Jeremiah once said.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jer 29:13

It is in this sense that the word “heart” is used in the Scriptures of Truth.

Actually a wonderful book which speaks a great deal of the heart is the Proverbs...lets look a few verses.

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes delight in my ways" (Pro 23:26).

What do you think the heart is referring to here?

Heart:

Eyes:

Ways:

Death and destruction are before the Lord: how much more the hearts of the children of men (Pro 15:11).

Heart:

Referring to an undesirable guest.

"Eat and drink, says he, but his heart is not with thee." Pro 23:7

Heart:

These passages really don’t need interpreting! (But you are more than welcome!)

The word “heart” is used today in the same way it was back then. I can hear what you say, your actions and how you appear to me as a person, but I will never know what is in your heart: how you think and feel.

The heart speaks to the intellectual and emotional disposition of a person. When the mind and feeling is stimulated by the Spirit Word of God only then can we think in harmony with Him.

Such passages like Phil 2 "Let this mind be in you..."

You could be smiling at me but inside thinking all manner of evil...only God and Jesus Christ can look upon the heart (mind) to see the purity of thought passing through it.

Our awareness that all hearts are open and naked to God is known to all His true children.

"The fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord trieth the heart" (Pro 17:3).

The analogy being applied is the revealing of a mind which through heat of trials is purged of dross like the fining of metals (of our hearts).

There is a major difference here which must be stated. I can take metal and purify through my own actions but the purifying of the human heart is a work made without hands. Only God can test us and cleanse us of sin and every impure thought.

The process of fining the heart (metals) is far more complex think people might think.

Removing dross from metal is one thing but introducing new hopes, new desires and in fact the very “newness of life” is another.

The heart (mind) must be responsive and the profound reality of this fact is spoken through these words in Isaiah 50:5

"The Lord God hath opened my ears, and I was not rebellious." [Isa 50:5]
Some of us are rebellious to the extent of making the Word of God viod in our lives. God gave to Saul a new heart so that he began his reign well, but he became rebellious and his heart turned to evil. His fall expresses perfectly the illustration of the proverb,

"A sound heart (mind) is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones." [Pro 14:30]

Perhaps he illustrated another proverb, well known to all readers though not much heeded in the world:

"He that is proud of heart (mind) is an abomination to the Lord." [Pro 16:5]

The heart is the source of reasoning and when a person is able to control their natural impulses in the flesh because of the fear of consequenses the heart will be revealed either good or evil.

The heart is the symbol of mind, thought, action and feeling which are all controlled by the heart of man. The diligent control of the heart in order that your character may develope in harmony with the divine will is essential for our well being. The heart needs regular guidance of thought and feeling and this is what is meant by "keeping the heart with all diligence".

The inmost thoughts of the heart are the greatest clarity of character.

"As he thinketh in his heart, so is he", or so will he be (Pro 23:7).

Where do we think?

The mind..and it is desireable to ensure the stream of thought passing through our minds is as clean as possible.

Take care

Insight

Nomad said:

It comes from Thayers Greek Lexicon.

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Thank you Nomad and Jigglyfly.

Prentis said:

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Mercy does not give one the ability to do good works! But power from God, divine influence, does.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Mercy AND grace, grace being the 'help in time of need'. Unmerited favor? Not so!

Click to expand...

Jesus said, "I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."

jiggyfly said:

Jesus said, "I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love."

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This speaks of her past. Just as this does.

1 John 1:10
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

This on the other hand, speaks of the new creation.

[sup]4[/sup] Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. [sup]5[/sup] And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. [sup]6[/sup] Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.
[sup]7[/sup] Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. [sup]8[/sup] He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. [sup]9[/sup] Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

Yes, there is power in the gospel.

Nomad said:

So you're assigning ulterior motives to those responsible for the lexical definition of "charis?" That's quite an arrogant attitude to take for someone who has no formal Greek training. Who said anything about, "cancelling out the need of running the race and walking in the power of God?" That's part of salvation, but what in the world does that have to do with the proper definition of "grace?" The problem with you, Prentis, is that you're a one trick pony. You're obsessed with works righteousness. It taints your response to each and every topic to which you reply. There's no balance with you. Your soteriology is heretical to its core. May the Lord open your eyes.

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I am saying that what causes man to take whatever definition and to use it in such a way that makes the power of the gospel and the necessity of purifying ourselves by his Spirit null is either out of a lack of understanding, experience, or out of the natural man, which seeks to save himself.

Unless we move towards the Lord diligently, out of faith and obedience, we are not moving in the right direction! The calling is high, and we are to overcome through him.

Prentis said:

I am saying that what causes man to take whatever definition and to use it in such a way that makes the power of the gospel and the necessity of purifying ourselves by his Spirit null is either out of a lack of understanding, experience, or out of the natural man, which seeks to save himself.

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Prentis

Most of the definitions of Charis speak to the same meaning so what exactly are you saying here?

We all agreed Nomads definition for charis was appropriate?

In what way are you questioning Thayers definition?

Insight

RichardBurger said:

We can't purify ourselves.

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I think Prentis has the following passage in mind:

1Jn 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

The idea here is that those who hope in Christ are stimulated by that hope to pursue righteousness. This comment in Vincent's Word Studies is interesting:

The kindred adjective ἁγνός pure, has a moral signification in every case. . .

What it doesn't mean is that believers are capable of purifying themselves from sin, unless we want to force John to contradict himself.

1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.