G5485 GRACE χα´ρις charis khar'-ece From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy). · Would you say Grace makes us “acceptable”? · Would you say Grace is a “benefit”? · Would you say Grace is “favor”? · Would you say Grace is a “gift”? · Would you say Grace is just sometimes “Gracious”? · Would you say Grace is “joy liberality”? · Would you say Grace is “pleasure”? · Would you say Grace is a “thanks”? So, how does one receive Grace? Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We receive Grace by our FAITH in JESUS CHRIST! What is Faith? G4102 FAITH (Strongs - Greek) πι´στις pistis pis'-tis From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. Who is JESUS CHRIST? HE is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14) We must have “RELIANCE UPON THE WORD OF GOD FOR SALVATION”. Jesus is the WAY, TRUTH, and LIFE! John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The WORD is TRUTH, that leads the WAY to ETERNAL LIFE! So if Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, then Jesus Christ is GRACE! HE is the “GIFT” from God to us, HE is our “BENEFIT”, HE is our “ACCEPTANCE”, HE gives us “FAVOR”, HE is our “JOY”, HE is our “PLEASURE”, HE is “GRACIOUS”, HE is even our “THANKS”. Want more proof that JESUS is GRACE? John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. “full of grace and truth” Jesus Christ is the embodiment of “TRUTH” (which leads the WAY), and GRACE (with all its attributes) that is our SALVATION here and ETERNAL SALVATION to come. Which brings us to Eph. 2:8 Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: We are “SAVED” through FAITH! Because of our FAITH we have accessed GRACE which is JESUS CHRIST! Eph. 2:8 tells us what type of GRACE, “THE GIFT OF GOD”. For by GRACE… it is the GIFT of God: 1Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. “Grace for grace” means what? John 1:16-17 And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. · If you accept Him, He accepts you! · If you benefit Him, He benefits you! · If you have joy in Him, He has joy in you! · If you give Him favor, He favors you! · If you are thankful to Him, He is thankful to you! · If you have pleasure in Him, He has pleasure in you! · If you give (gift) yourself to Him, He gives (gifts) Himself to you! · Finally this sums it up: if you are gracious to Him (meaning acceptable to Him, benefiting Him…), He is Gracious (SAVIOUR) to you! Want Proof? James 4:8-9 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. FIRST - Draw close to God! Then He draws close to you! HOW? “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded. Matthew 5:24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. What must be done first? REPENT, turn away from the flesh and world. Stop sinning and renounce those sins, then come and follow Jesus. You CAN'T follow and reflect Jesus with those sins. If you say, "Well I am struggling and can't seem to stop" YOU are denying the power of God and making excuses. The Word teaches to repent first. Q: What does it mean to repent? A: Turn to God and away from "YOUR" sins. What did the prophets always preach to a sinful society? Repent or your destruction awaits! GOD's JUDGMENTS!!! Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 1. Deny yourself (repent). Turn to God! 2. Take up your cross (give up your life, to obtain eternal life). Death to self, and live for Jesus Christ! 3. Then follow. (blind faith, complete trust in the Jesus/the Word) Obedience to the Word and Spirit! Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. · HOW MUCH OF YOURSELF WILL YOU DENY? · HOW MUCH OF THE CROSS WILL YOU CARRY? · HOW MUCH OF HIS WILL, WILL YOU DO? · HOW MUCH OF YOU WILL MAKE IT TO HEAVEN? Mark 3:25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

2015-01-28