faith and grace

[pjsubbie]

hi all!
I was reading some other threads yesterday... and it got me thinking.
Are there any specific chapters in the bible that really discuss faith and grace in depth? Or would one really have to look for individual pieces to get an understanding?
thanks in advance!
pj

 

[Episkopos]

Greetings!!!!! :)

The trouble with bible study is the pre-conception of the meaning of certain words together with a determination to stamp one's own understanding on the message. People tend to read the bible like a catalogue in order to pick out favourite verses that encourage them to remain as they are.

One needs the Holy Spirit in order to understand what God means by faith and grace. Dictionaries do not replace revelation from God. A person can read that one is saved by grace through faith and think they understand what this means. But 9 times out of ten...they will merely use a verse to justify where they are already...

But we must read the bible according to the Spirit and the rules of God. No man can justify himself for what he reads. A person who likes to self justify should stay away from the bible.

 

[Angelina]

Hi pj!

One of the greatest chapters on faith can be found in Hebrews chapter 11

Grace chapters are sprinkled all through the bible but can be found predominantly in the NT. Mainly in Acts 4-20, Romans 1-16,
1 Corinthians 1-16, 2 Corinthians 1-13, Galatians 1-6, Ephesians 1-6, Philippians 1-4, Colossians 1-4, 1 Thess 1-5, 2 Thess 1-3, Timothy and Titus, Philemon 1, Hebrews 1-13, James, 1 Peter 1-5, 2 Peter 1-3, 2 John - 1, Jude 1 and Revelation 1 and 22.

It has everything in it pertaining to life


Be Blessed!!! ^_^

 

[dragonfly]

Hi pjsubbie,

Taking into account Angelina's and Episkopos' comments, I would add that a good way to build up an understanding of a word in scripture, is to look for its first use, and think about what that verse is saying. An example would be:

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

It has been said that Bible words don't so much have definitions, but histories. With that in mind, you are looking for the story in a word. I don't mean 'story' as fiction or fib, but as narrative.

So, just looking at the truth on the surface of the page, we can pick out a few things. First of all, Noah had a right attitude of heart in seeking God at all. And God responded by ministering something back to Noah. Noah found something good from God, which the Bible calls grace.

Just staying in the story of Noah, knowing that it was the expression God's grace which Noah experienced... you can add to this foundation.

How did 'grace' impact Noah's life? What did it enable him to do, or be? Did Noah become gracious as a result of experiencing God's grace?

(Make up your own questions to thrash out more meaning.)

Some people will say it's the grace of God that Noah ever sought him. That too. ;)



Faith has a useful Bible dictionary definition which should start you off in the right direction of thought about what is being believed.

 

[joshhuntnm]

here is a classic verse:

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)
[sup]8 [/sup] For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- [sup]9 [/sup] not by works, so that no one can boast. [sup]10 [/sup] For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.