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There are many definitions of grace. For example, using the 5 letters to describe grace as G.R.A.C.E. God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. OR God’s Resources Available in Christ.
A more common definition is “God’s unearned and unmerited favour.”
God in His grace provides us in Christ everything we need to know and do His will for us. |
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| 1. THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S GRACE TO US IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST |
| There is more and more of God’s grace for us to experience. John 1:14-17.Joh 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” God’s grace dwells in Christ fully and it is from Him that we receive abundant supplies of grace, or “grace upon grace!” |
| The blessings which are ours in Him. Ephesians 1:6-8. |
| · God’s grace was freely given to us in Christ. Eph 1:6 “to the praise of his glorious grace [charis], with which he has blessed [from charitoō] us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”· The verb [χαριτόω, charitoō] means to grace, to indue with special honour, or make accepted, be highly favoured. |
| · God’s grace is lavished upon us. “…the riches of God’s grace which he has lavished on us.” “Lavished” is from [περισσεύω, perisseuō] meaning to superabound, to be in excess, be superfluous; also to cause to superabound or excel, to abound. |
| · Grace is from eternity to eternity. 2 Tim 1:9-10. God’s grace is an eternal gift to us in Christ. 2 Timothy 1:9 “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” |
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| 2. WE CAN FIND ONGOING GRACE IN CHRIST TO HELP US IN OUR NEED |
| · As believers we have access to God and to His grace. Heb 4:16 “”Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” |
| · We have access to grace and are standing in it. Rom 5:1-2, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” We live as believers in the sphere of God’s grace. |
| · Human weaknesses are overcome by God’s grace. 2 Cor 12:9. God addressing St Paul, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Paul knew that when he handed his weaknesses over to God, He supplied him with more than enabling grace. |
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| 3. HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S AMAZING GRACE TO US? |
| · By humbling ourselves before Him. Prov 3:34, “Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favour.” [Here “favour” is charis = grace in the Septuagint.] |
| · God gives grace to those who humble themselves before Him, “Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:6-7.· God exalts the humble, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” James 4:10. |
| · By absorbing His word to us. Acts 20:32. Bible reading. “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” |
| · By scrutinising His word and acting on it. James 1:25. Bible reading & obeying His word, Jas 1:21-22,25, “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. … 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” |
| · By abiding in Him and in His word. Jn 15:7. Bible reading & prayer. “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” |
| · By praying for one another for greater enlightenment and more experience of His resurrection power. Eph 1:16-21. Praying for one another, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” |
| · By praying for one another that we might be strengthened by the Spirit, indwelt by the Son and knowing God’s love. Eph 3:14-19, “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,· Eph 3:16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”· Eph 3:20 Praying with expectancy. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us….” |
By living continually and thankfully in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Eph 5:18, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
4. SHARING THE GRACE OF GOD IN BEING MADE COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS ALL PEOPLE.
The gracious attitude of “compassion.” The word means the seat of the emotions. Its outward expression. It marked the life and ministry of Jesus. It has to mark ours as well. Jesus told how compassion works in practice in His parables about compassionate people. (Notice action verbs underlined below) |
| The father of the prodigal son. (Luke 15:20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. |
| The good Samaritan Lk 10:33 But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put himon his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Recognising need. Being moved by the need. Doing something about it. |
| Paul was a recipient of God’s grace. Phil 1:7 “all of you share in God’s grace with me.“ From God’s grace came compassion. Phil 1:8 “For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus.” |
| He wanted his readers to be compassionate towards others (Phil 2:1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” Compassion involves looking outward and recognising and being moved by human need. |
We should be characterised (clothed with) compassion. Col 3:12 “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” (See also Heb 10:34 for compassion towards prisoners).
Paul encouraged Philemon who had refreshed the hearts of the saints to refresh his heart. The word for “heart” here is compassion [splagchnon; σπλάγχνον] meaning the intestines, or the seat of the emotions. Paul encouraged Philemon who had refreshed the hearts of the saints to refresh his heart. (Philemon 1:7 “I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. “ AND 1:20, “Refresh my heart in Christ.” Onesimus was his “heart” as Paul expressed it in his letter to Philemon, Phile 1:12 “I am sending .. my own heart” was the description he gave of Onesimus as he sent him back to his former master, Philemon.
Christian love recognises human need and is moved to meet it. 1 Jn 3:17 “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
How do we rate in terms of showing compassion in every situation? We should. We must. We can! By the grace of God alone.
We need His grace every moment of our lives in order to express it to others.
Blog No.450. Walking In The Fullness Of God’s Amazing Grace. [Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 1]. Posted on Thursday 15 December 2022 |
holbeck 
450. Walking In The Fullness Of God’s Amazing Grace. [Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 1].
A more common definition is “God’s unearned and unmerited favour.”
God in His grace provides us in Christ everything we need to know and do His will for us.
4. SHARING THE GRACE OF GOD IN BEING MADE COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS ALL PEOPLE.
The gracious attitude of “compassion.” The word means the seat of the emotions. Its outward expression. It marked the life and ministry of Jesus. It has to mark ours as well. Jesus told how compassion works in practice in His parables about compassionate people. (Notice action verbs underlined below)
Paul encouraged Philemon who had refreshed the hearts of the saints to refresh his heart. The word for “heart” here is compassion [splagchnon; σπλάγχνον] meaning the intestines, or the seat of the emotions. Paul encouraged Philemon who had refreshed the hearts of the saints to refresh his heart. (Philemon 1:7 “I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my brother. “ AND 1:20, “Refresh my heart in Christ.” Onesimus was his “heart” as Paul expressed it in his letter to Philemon, Phile 1:12 “I am sending .. my own heart” was the description he gave of Onesimus as he sent him back to his former master, Philemon.
Christian love recognises human need and is moved to meet it. 1 Jn 3:17 “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”
How do we rate in terms of showing compassion in every situation? We should. We must. We can! By the grace of God alone.
We need His grace every moment of our lives in order to express it to others.
Blog No.450. Walking In The Fullness Of God’s Amazing Grace. [Core Teaching Stage 4 Topic 1]. Posted on Thursday 15 December 2022
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About Jim Holbeck
Once an Industrial Chemist working for the Queensland Government but later an Anglican minister in Brisbane, Armidale and Sydney. Last position for eighteen years before retirement in 2006 was as the Leader of the Healing Ministry at St Andrew's Cathedral Sydney.