Grace is a terminology that is frequently used in
the religious circle, but it is misapplied by many. It is God’s unmerited favor,
mercy and compassion which He bestowed upon man for a distinctive purpose.
Grace stands between two extremes:
The extremity of the rough and turbulent waters of
legalism
Where God’s grace have been received in vain by
those who attempt to be justified by the works of the law, and have
unfortunately fallen from grace. Because, as it is written, “If anything is by
grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. And
if anything is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer
work” (Romans
11:6).
The extremity of the calm, placid, but extremely
toxic waters of liberalism
Where, the grace of God has been turned into a
license for disobedience even denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus
Christ by those who are using their liberty as an opportunity for the flesh,
and as a pretext for evil.
The grace of God is simply His unmerited, undeserved favor, compassion, and mercy which He bestowed upon humanity without their help, their input and participation, for their ultimate salvation.
This undeserved favor is descriptive of:
The favor of His only Begotten Son, who reconciled
us to the Father when we were dead in trespasses and sins
His forgiving mercy by forgiving us of the sins of
the past, and being faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us
of all unrighteousness, if we confess our sins
His gift of eternal life so that we can grope for
Him and find Him, and come to know Him, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom
He has sent
His divine gifts and talents, as His divine power
has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the
knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue: He has given to all without
exception, life, breath and all things.
The Gospel, the medium by which we can grow in grace
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Because without faith
it is impossible to please God, and faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.
Grace therefore establishes the foundation by which
man can serve God, without his own input and involvement, so that no one can
boast. As it is written; “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior
toward man appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of His mercy, He saves us through the washing of rebirth and renewal
by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ
our Savior” (Titus
3:4-6).
It is by grace we have been, and are being saved,
through faith (hearing the word of God and believing), and this is not from
ourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. But
the reason why everything is by and through the grace of God it is because, “We
are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for the purpose of good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We have been saved by grace so that those who have
trusted in God by hearing and believing His word may be careful to devote
themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for
everyone.
Doing what is good is not according to each man’s
imagination of what is right and wrong, but according to the good which has
been prepared in advance for us to do. Because, there is a way which seems
right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. Therefore, being
justified by grace does not nullify, or make obsolete the way of life which has
been ordained for man to follow.
https://www.amazon.com/author/luciusjoseph
To be continued
With brotherly love
Lucius joseph
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