Grace, the Power of God in Salvation, Sanctification, and Service

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Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Perhaps the most commonly given definitions I've heard of Biblical Grace are,

“God's Unmerited Favor”, which it is, but it seems to me this is more that God is smiling kindly at us, pretending we don't sin. At least that's the way I've heard it taught.

Another, “Gods Riches At Christ's Expense”. I think this is a little closer, but what are those riches exactly? Salvation is a treasure, but Grace only begins there.

Chairete is the Greek word translated Rejoice, and is also the root of Charis, translated Grace.

Titus 2:11-14 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Better translated “training us”, paideuo, instilling discipline as when raising a child.

The saving grace of God has appeared . . . shown forth . . . to all humanity, training us that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, in this present world.

I say it this way, drawing from the CLV, to show the connection of the saving grace of God, and our being trained in sober, righteous and godly lives. The same grace that saves us also trains us to live better lives according to what God wants.

Grace is the power of God to sanctify us in this world, to put off the old man, to walk in the Spirit.

Later in Titus 3:5-7 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Grace is the power of God to transform us from dead children of Adam to living spirit children of God.

 

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Act 20:32 “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Grace is not only God's power to save.

Rom 5:1-2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have a pretty good idea what “standing” looks like from Ephesians 6:

Ephesians 6:10-18
(10) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
(11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
(12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
(14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
(15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
(16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
(17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
(18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Through faith we are justified, and we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Author of our faith. And by faith we have access into this grace in which we stand.

2 Corinthians 1:12 “For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.”

“Conversation”, gool ol' King James, “with verses, sentences” so our modern word, but the Greek is our manner of living, our conduct, anastrepho, that which is among our choices. What people see of us based on how we live.

And we are not to live according to fleshly wisom, instead, by the grace of God we have our conversation in the world. By the grace of God.

Galatian 5:3-4 “For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

Attempts to sanctify ourselves are nothing more than monitoring our behavior, with the intent to control it. We can walk in God's grace, the walk in the Spirit, in which we simply do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. But if we are not trusting in God, knowing that we are loved and accepted, and are instead trying to improve our standing with Him by acting nicer, thinking nicer thoughts – nothing wrong with that – but if our main effort is in fixing the way we think and act, then our focus has become on ourselves.

When we focus on Jesus . . . it's that hymn . . . Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth, they grow strangly dim, in the light of His glory and grace.

 

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1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Paul accounts his very being to the working of God's grace in him. By the grace of God, I am what I am. Not just that God smiles kindly upon Paul, and he's a better man for it, rather, God works in Paul by God's power to overcome Paul's flesh, and to sanctify Paul's life for God's use.

James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”

The prophet went on to tell the king he had been foolish, and so would have wars. We can either fight against the flesh, or set our hearts fully on God, and let Him be strong in us. For if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.

When we become finally convinced of our own helplessness, this is humilty, and our hearts look fully to God, we've already learned we can't look anywhere else. And God shows Himself strong within us.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
(7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
(8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
(9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The weaker we are, the more God's power is perfected in us. The power of Christ upon us. We are either living in our own strength, which is no strength at all, as we will learn over time, or we are living by the power of God. As we walk in God's power, we can go back to our own, failing to trust Him, looking at the waves. Or we look back to Jesus, and grace.

2 Thessalonians 1:12 “That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16 “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,”

God has something very specific in mind with each one of us, and His power – grace – is at work in our lives to accomplish it.

 

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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,”

God reconciled the world to Himself through the death of Christ. In order to make this gift equally available to all, God does not regard our works towards our salvation, but that salvation is by faith alone. Just like Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Jesus was also lifted up, and all who look to Him for salvation will receive it from Him.

Romans 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

Romans 11:6 “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

God makes this crystal clear, either we are living by His grace, or we are living according to works, and these two are mutually exclusive.

God explains this to us in Galatians,

Galatians 3:2-5
(2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
(3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
(4) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
(5) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Either you are walking in faith, or you are seeking to be made perfect by the flesh.

Living faith shows a difference in our lives, and in our minds. And you can say you have faith, but if there is no difference, what is that faith? Real love for each other lets us know our faith is real. Endurance through temptations also prove our faith genuine. If we are new creations, than we are different.

When Jesus told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness”, we don't have anything else in the Bible to tell us this is limited to one thing or another. Weakness in my body, weakness in my mind, weakness in my heart, Literally, Jesus says, My power, in infirmity, is being perfected.

God has a plan on how this happens.

1 Corinthians 3:10 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.”

God gave Paul grace to lay the foundation for the church, that foundation being Jesus Christ. According to the grace of God given to Paul he laid that foundation. Now others build on it. I think we all do, as we interact with each other. I hope we all do.

1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

Romans 12:3-6 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;”

God has given each a certain faith, and a certain grace, that is, the ability to believe God to the point of thinking and feeling entirely according to His truth, and the power of the Holy Spirit in us to enable our lives to be according to the new Mind of Christ, and what God want's for our “good works that we're before ordained”.

2 Corinthians 8:7-8 “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.”

. . . see that ye abound in this grace also . . .

As you abound in all these others, faith, utterance, knowledge, diligence, and love, abound in this grace also, that is, giving of resource.

 

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God's power in us to serve.

2 Corinthians 8:9 “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Think about what Jesus gave up, becoming poor for our sakes. Philippians teaches He emptied Himself, but of what? He did it, so we could be rich, how?

Acts 4:33 “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Great grace was upon them to testify.

God can make all grace abound toward you, so that you have everything you need to do everything He wants you to do. This can lend a focus on how to know His will. What is the grace He is giving to you? What are you able to do?

Ephesians 3:6-8 “That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

Galatians 2:9 “And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.”

There was a power in Paul, a power people could recognize.

Philippians 1:7 “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

When the Philippian Christians sent resources to Paul, they joined in his work, and shared in the power coming from God given to accomplish that work.

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

God gives greater grace, and His power is help indeed! We never need hesitate.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

There is the communication that comes from the flesh, and the communication that comes from the Spirit, which is empowered by grace. What a loss to all if my words come from my flesh! But this grace which is to be empowering me, does so that you may find God's grace empowering you.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

One more . . .

1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

There is a grace remaining . . . “it does not appear what we will be, but we know we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is”, “who will exchange our vile bodies for one like unto His glorious body”, “when the day dawns, and the Morning Star rises in your hearts”, “til Christ be formed within you”.

Much love!

 

[Lady Crosstalk]

The New Testament is all about grace--we are wholly unable to save ourselves--which means we are wholly unable to be righteous without grace, going forward in our life. Grace does not stop at the new birth. Faith is a work of grace and it is through grace that our faith is increased. Grace will bring us home to heaven. Without the ongoing work of grace, not one of us would be eligible to go to heaven.

 

[Jay Ross]

There is a grace remaining . . . “it does not appear what we will be, but we know we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is”, “who will exchange our vile bodies for one like unto His glorious body”, “when the day dawns, and the Morning Star rises in your hearts”, “til Christ be formed within you”.

Mark, very lovely words strung together, but it is not until the word is strung together as the visible bible in our lives, that we actually live out, that the reality of what you write about will be visible for people around you to see.

Others often see the hypocrisy that we cannot and will exhibit their feelings towards us through anger. When they exhibit this anger towards us then we believe that they have a problem that we should not deal with, when in reality they are screaming out for help and we do not have the tools to actually help them.

 

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Mark, very lovely words strung together, but it is not until the word is strung together as the visible bible in our lives, that we actually live out, that the reality of what you write about will be visible for people around you to see.

Others often see the hypocrisy that we cannot and will exhibit their feelings towards us through anger. When they exhibit this anger towards us then we believe that they have a problem that we should not deal with, when in reality they are screaming out for help and we do not have the tools to actually help them.

All is answered by faith in God. I do think that what others see in us is a real reflection of the degree that we walk in the Spirit, in God's grace.

Much love!

 

[Jay Ross]

All is answered by faith in God. I do think that what others see in us is a real reflection of the degree that we walk in the Spirit, in God's grace.

Much love!

All that you have said is true. It is whether or not, we listen to what others tell us about their observations of our walk. Remember hypocrisy is very difficult to see in ourselves to correct.

Shalom

 

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All that you have said is true. It is whether or not, we listen to what others tell us about their observations of our walk. Remember hypocrisy is very difficult to see in ourselves to correct.

Shalom

There are many voices which say many things, sometimes like the trumpet which sounds an uncertain note.

This is twice you've mentioned hypocrisy. Was there something on your mind? Or would you like to post to the topic?

Much love!

 

[Jay Ross]

Mark, as found later in Ephesians, we are to renew our minds in the spirit and to then put on the refurbished body created according to God in true righteous and holiness.

Many learn much knowledge and wisdom, but when they do not put on the refurbished body created according to God in true righteousness and holiness, they do not receive God's Grace, even though they may declare that they have received it, they have not necessarily wrapped themselves into the renewed creation of who God intended us/them to be so that only God is seen in and through our/their living.

They know the steps but their Hellenistic minds are not the minds that God intended us to keep. Thereby comes the hypocrisy on show in their lives, they know that they have to cry out "Lord, Lord," but Jesus' response is that He never knew them.

Shalom

PS: - God's Grace requires that we humble ourselves and repent of our sins and when we do that honestly we are no longer Goats, but that we have receive the gift of Life.

 

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Thereby comes the hypocrisy on show in their lives, they know that they have to cry out "Lord, Lord," but Jesus' response is that He never knew them.

Well we should be very careful, should we not, to be sincere in all things, so we don't get into the habit of fooling ourselves.

You seem to have something on your mind, but don't really want to say it out loud. That should say something. Maybe I'm wrong. If so, just ignore.

Back to topic . . . please.

 

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1 Corinthians 15:10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

This is very similar to Galatians 2:

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

"I'm dead, crucified with Christ, yet I live! Yet not I, it's Christ living in me."

"I work harder than the rest, yet it's not me, it's the grace of God which is in me."

I live, but it's not me living, it's Jesus living in me. And I labor, but it's not me laboring, it the grace of God which labors.

Righteous does not come through our labors, it comes from Jesus. The same grace that brings us righteousness, that gives us new life, is the same grace that makes us fruitful.

Grace that saves is grace that sanctifies. Trying to obtain righteousness through our good behavior frustrates grace.

Much love!