Meditations On Grace

[votivesoul]

Hello, Brethren

In this post, I thought it would be great if any who are willing, would share some thoughts, insights, or revelations about the grace of God. Once posted, we could all read and meditate upon His grace, and see where the Spirit of the Lord leads.

I will go first.

Titus 2:11-14,

11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13. Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

I note something in this passage that seems rather ignored by many believers today.

The fact that God's grace is given to us as a teacher. The divine influence upon the heart (from the Greek word charis), which has appeared to all men, is not merely given to cover us when we sin and justify us when we believe, it's also given to deliver us from ungodliness and worldly lusts.

Grace affects the moral character of our hearts. Grace ought to be leading us to not just a one time, past salvation of our souls, but rather to a continued redemption from all iniquity, so that we can be/become the unique, zealous people God wants us to be/become.

[thephnxman]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Hello, Brethren
In this post, I thought it would be great if any who are willing, would share some thoughts, insights, or revelations about the grace of God. Once posted, we could all read and meditate upon His grace, and see where the Spirit of the Lord leads.
I will go first.
Titus 2:11-14,
I note something in this passage that seems rather ignored by many believers today.
The fact that God's grace is given to us as a teacher. The divine influence upon the heart (from the Greek word charis), which has appeared to all men, is not merely given to cover us when we sin and justify us when we believe, it's also given to deliver us from ungodliness and worldly lusts.
Grace affects the moral character of our hearts. Grace ought to be leading us to not just a one time, past salvation of our souls, but rather to a continued redemption from all iniquity, so that we can be/become the unique, zealous people God wants us to be/become.

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for
ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another."

It is GRACE, which we know as the Holy Spirit that is imparted to the Church,
that teaches us to do His will. We do not learn doctrine by the preaching and
teaching of men, as much as the preaching and teaching of God's men has
confirmed His GRACE and His will in us!

[shazeep]

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?"

so I'm not sure of that measure of grace, wadr.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Hello, Brethren

In this post, I thought it would be great if any who are willing, would share some thoughts, insights, or revelations about the grace of God. Once posted, we could all read and meditate upon His grace, and see where the Spirit of the Lord leads.

I will go first.

Titus 2:11-14,



I note something in this passage that seems rather ignored by many believers today.

The fact that God's grace is given to us as a teacher. The divine influence upon the heart (from the Greek word charis), which has appeared to all men, is not merely given to cover us when we sin and justify us when we believe, it's also given to deliver us from ungodliness and worldly lusts.

Grace affects the moral character of our hearts. Grace ought to be leading us to not just a one time, past salvation of our souls, but rather to a continued redemption from all iniquity, so that we can be/become the unique, zealous people God wants us to be/become.

Thanks for this! Beautiful!

[JoReba]

Originally Posted by thephnxman

"But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for
ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another."

It is GRACE, which we know as the Holy Spirit that is imparted to the Church,
that teaches us to do His will. We do not learn doctrine by the preaching and
teaching of men, as much as the preaching and teaching of God's men has
confirmed His GRACE and His will in us!

Did you forget to meditate on how Jesus never said the word "Grace?" Lol. Not much of a leader on this topic, are you?

[shazeep]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Grace affects the moral character of our hearts. Grace ought to be leading us to not just a one time, past salvation of our souls, but rather to a continued redemption from all iniquity, so that we can be/become the unique, zealous people God wants us to be/become.

it is unusual to me that in a time where all of our other definitions have become corrupted, that we even use this term "grace" to apply to people in a secular sense, with the same basic meaning--unflappable, not rude or boorish, etc. "Church" might mean Living Stones, or a building; "pastor" might mean to shepherd in a mature way, or the leader of a church; but "grace" seems to be incorruptible.

[KeptByTheWord]

The meaning of Grace has been understood to be "unmerited favor", and the scripture you refer to, is simply the action of grace working in our lives. The unmerited love and favor of God is His grace that comes to us, loves us, and begins to teach us how to be like Him. We don't deserve any of that... but His unmerited favor is able to transform the ugliness of our sin nature into a holy and righteous overcoming heart that brings glory to God through His grace. Thank God for His Grace!

Beautiful post Votive... very edifying!

[votivesoul]

Originally Posted by JoReba

Did you forget to meditate on how Jesus never said the word "Grace?" Lol. Not much of a leader on this topic, are you?

First:

So Luke's testimony that the grace of God was upon Jesus in Luke 2:40 isn't authoritative?

Or John's testimony that Jesus was full of grace and truth, or that we have received the fullness of Christ, even receiving "grace for grace", or that grace and truth came by/through Jesus Christ isn't valid (See John 1:14, 16, and 17)?

If so, you stand refuted.

If not, by what means do you determine much of anything about Jesus if you dismiss 50% of the canonical Gospels we have available to us?

Second:

Jesus did use the word grace, albeit, not as translated in English. Rather the testimony of Holy Scripture uses the Greek word for grace, namely charis.

An example:

Luke 6:32-34,

32. For if ye love them which love you, what [grace, i.e. charis]have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what [grace, i.e. charis]have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what [grace, i.e. charis]have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

What "grace", i.e. if you only love, do good to, or lend to someone hoping for a payback, you have no more grace in your life then the average sinner. We must therefore rise above being average sinners, and have MORE GRACE in our lives as followers of Jesus Christ.