Grace, Grace - Marvelous Grace!

[steaver]

With all the threads the past few months attacking God's Grace, I thought it might be refreshing to remind us all of the foundational truth of the Gospel - that it is by Grace ye have been saved through faith, and this NOT of yourselves, it is the Gift of God (Eph2:8).

Grace and the Law of Moses are at enmity one with the other. The Jews were given a choice, either continue to place their faith in the OT Law, or repent of this and place their faith in the Grace of God through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only one way can save. Not either or and not a combination of the two. Ye who would be justified by the Law are fallen from Grace (Gal5:4) - Grace would be no more Grace (Ro11:6). And God has extended this Grace unto the Gentiles.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Whether it be the Law unto condemnation and death, or whether it be the Grace of God through Jesus Christ unto liberty and life everlasting! (2Cr3)

Joseph Prince

Immediately after Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River, the Bible tells us in Mk 1:11 that a voice came from heaven saying, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I... am well pleased.” Notice that at this point, Jesus had neither begun His ministry, nor performed any miracle. Yet, the Father was well pleased with Him. Beloved, today, your Father in heaven loves you the same way. Because you are in Christ, the Beloved, the words that the Father spoke over Him at the Jordan River are the very same words He is speaking over you right now! Your Father’s love for you is not dependent on your qualifications, your looks or your achievements. His love for you is unconditional. He delights in you even before you have done a single right thing! So take some time to meditate on this thought today: “I am my Father’s beloved and He is well pleased with me!” http://josephprince.com

God speed! :thumbsup:

 

[evangelist-7]

Herein lies the trinity of grace ...

The first demonstration of God's incredible grace
That any person at all had/has any chance at all of gaining eternal life.

The second demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose a special people (the Israelites) to try to bless and save.
However, most failed to satisfy Him and were destroyed along with the heathens.

The third demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose some Gentiles to be given an opportunity to be blessed and saved.
However, whomever of them fails to satisfy Him will be destroyed along with the heathens.

Welcome to the real world of Christianity ...
and you have less that 5 years to get ready, assuming you don't die first!
.

 

[plain_n_simple]

With all the threads the past few months attacking God's Grace, I thought it might be refreshing to remind us all of the foundational truth of the Gospel - that it is by Grace ye have been saved through faith, and this NOT of yourselves, it is the Gift of God (Eph2:8).

Grace and the Law of Moses are at enmity one with the other. The Jews were given a choice, either continue to place their faith in the OT Law, or repent of this and place their faith in the Grace of God through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only one way can save. Not either or and not a combination of the two. Ye who would be justified by the Law are fallen from Grace (Gal5:4) - Grace would be no more Grace (Ro11:6). And God has extended this Grace unto the Gentiles.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Whether it be the Law unto condemnation and death, or whether it be the Grace of God through Jesus Christ unto liberty and life everlasting! (2Cr3)



God speed! :thumbsup:

Awesome truth!:godisgood::jesus::thumbs: http://josephprince.com

 

[DHK]

A man who owned the city's newspaper had 3 sons. He offered ownership of the paper to the son who could write the most sensational headline of only three words.
The first son's headline was, "Reagan Turns Communist."
The second son concocted this: "Khomeini Becomes Christian."
But the third son inherited the newspaper when his headline was submitted. It had only two words, "Pope Elopes."
Fortunately, we don't have to earn our spiritual inheritance by sensational works. God's grace is sufficient.

 

[steaver]

Herein lies the trinity of grace ...

The first demonstration of God's incredible grace
That any person at all had/has any chance at all of gaining eternal life.

The second demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose a special people (the Israelites) to try to bless and save.
However, most failed to satisfy Him and were destroyed along with the heathens.

The third demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose some Gentiles to be given an opportunity to be blessed and saved.
However, whomever of them fails to satisfy Him will be destroyed along with the heathens.

Welcome to the real world of Christianity ...
and you have less that 5 years to get ready, assuming you don't die first!
.

Could you demonstrate for the board your qualification to teach about Grace by first giving us the definition of Grace? This would be most helpful. Thank you!

 

[evangelist-7]

Could you demonstrate for the board your qualification to teach about Grace
by first giving us the definition of Grace? This would be most helpful. Thank you!

Scriptural grace means God's unmerited favor.

Other types of grace just refer to unmerited favor.
.

 

[evangelist-7]

Awesome truth!:godisgood::jesus::thumbs: http://josephprince.com

I flipped through a book by Joseph Prince recently ...
and was discouraged that it seemed to be focusing only on the positive,
which is what the easy-believism verses like John 3:16 do.

Okay, great, this is basic evangelism ... catching the little fishes who are looking for a tasty reward.

Super start ... but, new believers must graduate from drinking milk to eating steak.

Eventually, the Holy Spirit will reveal to them that OSAS is untrue,
and that they need to be a viable part of their salvation process,
which is co-operating with the Holy Spirit in being sanctified towards holiness!

Such a lifestyle maintains their status of remaining in grace, in Christ, etc. with the end result being eternal life.

Hint: this is what Paul was often commenting about ...
staying the course, striving towards the goal that he might attain Christ (permanently), etc.

WARNING ...
Most churches today desire to remain popular by ignoring the deeper serious issues,
such as fleeing from sin by confessing and repenting of it.

After all, it's nice if half the church does not leave ...
and both the church mortgage and the pastor's mortgage get paid down!
Nice right? Right.

Hint: the grace of such pastors eventually runs out, if their abominations are not repented of.
Just like all of the other sins that BACs are involved with.
Yes, BACs do not get disqualified and killed outright ... there is a grace period.
.

 

[steaver]

Scriptural grace means God's unmerited favor.

Other types of grace just refer to unmerited favor.
.

Ok, Great! Good start!

Now let's compare the definition of God's Grace with these statements from a poster....

Herein lies the trinity of grace ...

The first demonstration of God's incredible grace
That any person at all had/has any chance at all of gaining eternal life.

The second demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose a special people (the Israelites) to try to bless and save.
However, most failed to satisfy Him and were destroyed along with the heathens.

The third demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose some Gentiles to be given an opportunity to be blessed and saved.
However, whomever of them fails to satisfy Him will be destroyed along with the heathens

Let's take the first one...

The first demonstration of God's incredible grace
That any person at all had/has any chance at all of gaining eternal life.

Does this agree with the definition of Grace? :thumbs: I would say yes. Excellent "demonstration of God's incredible Grace".

Second one....

The second demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose a special people (the Israelites) to try to bless and save.
However, most failed to satisfy Him and were destroyed along with the heathens.

:tear: Not good. Total opposite of the definition of Grace. Here the poster has added "merit" in the form of "failed to satisfy God". This is in direct violation of the definition of Grace which is "Unmerited" favor.

Third one....

The third demonstration of God's incredible grace
That He chose some Gentiles to be given an opportunity to be blessed and saved.
However, whomever of them fails to satisfy Him will be destroyed along with the heathens

:tear: Ouch! Strike two. again we see the exact opposite of the definition of Grace given when the poster says "whomever of them fails to satisfy God will be destroyed". This statement attacks "Unmerited favor" and is so plainly seen by anyone to be outright error.

Now, we can see that to outright oppose the definition of Grace as one attempts to teach Grace, it is super easy to expose and avoid that teaching and teacher.

Let's keep in mind, God's Word declares "by Grace are ye saved through faith, and this NOT of YOURSELVES (NO MERIT,NO "I SATISFIED GOD" Therefore I get Grace) It is the GIFT of God".

 

[steaver]

I flipped through a book by Joseph Prince recently ...
and was discouraged that it seemed to be focusing only on the positive,
which is what the easy-believism verses like John 3:16 do.

Okay, great, this is basic evangelism ... catching the little fishes who are looking for a tasty reward.

Super start ... but, new believers must graduate from drinking milk to eating steak.

Eventually, the Holy Spirit will reveal to them that OSAS is untrue,
and that they need to be a viable part of their salvation process,
which is co-operating with the Holy Spirit in being sanctified towards holiness!

Such a lifestyle maintains their status of remaining in grace, in Christ, etc. with the end result being eternal life.

Hint: this is what Paul was often commenting about ...
staying the course, striving towards the goal that he might attain Christ (permanently), etc.

WARNING ...
Most churches today desire to remain popular by ignoring the deeper serious issues,
such as fleeing from sin by confessing and repenting of it.

After all, it's nice if half the church does not leave ...
and both the church mortgage and the pastor's mortgage get paid down!
Nice right? Right.

Hint: the grace of such pastors eventually runs out, if their abominations are not repented of.
Just like all of the other sins that BACs are involved with.
Yes, BACs do not get disqualified and killed outright ... there is a grace period.
.

Ok, this is a perfect example of how "redefining" Grace leads to all sorts of wrong thinking and wrong teaching when it comes to Grace. As we can see from this post, it is void of teaching God's Grace. The focus is all about "self" and what man must "DO" to receive God's Grace. Let's stay with the Scripture though and test this man's preaching, what does the Word say about God's Grace?

Here it is again...

"By Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

When a foundation is faulty, so will be all that is built there upon. This poster needs to pause, reflect, tear down the house of cards, correct the foundation, and then begin to rebuild upon a sure and solid rock.

 

[evangelist-7]

"By Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Some of you might like to understand how God's grace works.

God's grace (His unmerited favor) is given to SOME.

Through NO merit of their own, they have been given God's grace,
which has put them in a condition of being accepted by God!

They are now sanctified (set apart) to be worked on ...
to be progressively sanctified unto holiness so they will be suited to enter heaven.
This obviously is God's Plan for them.

There they have it ... God's grace ... Super!
Okay, so far? ... Yes, okay, they have become the recipients of God's grace!

Just think about this for a few moments ... and then we will continue.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, time's up! ... Hope the above truth has sunk in.

Yes, the above is God's merciful plan for them ... but they have free will to NOT co-operate!
God created then to have free will ... they were not created to be robots!

MANY Scripture verses warn about the things Christians can do ... to lose eternal life.
We are warned that believers can "fall from grace", fall away from the faith, and etc.

Dozens of Scriptures make it clear that receiving God's grace is NOT a one-and-done salvation deal.

Receiving God's grace is a very special blessing ...
and it must be appreciated enough to respond to it in a way which is pleasing and acceptable to God.

Just for starters, there are 10 verses which warn Christians ...
they must endure with their faith until the end of their lives to gain eternal life.

Note:
el Roberto just keeps posting the same truths over and over again, hoping people will come to see it.
Perhaps, this is wisdom and I need to be using the same technique.
.

 

[steaver]

Some of you might like to understand how God's grace works.

God's grace (His unmerited favor) is given to SOME.

Through NO merit of their own, they have been given God's grace,
which has put them in a condition of being accepted by God!

They are now sanctified (set apart) to be worked on ...
to be progressively sanctified unto holiness so they will be suited to enter heaven.
This obviously is God's Plan for them.

There they have it ... God's grace ... Super!
Okay, so far? ... Yes, okay, they have become the recipients of God's grace!

Just think about this for a few moments ... and then we will continue.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, time's up! ... Hope the above truth has sunk in.

Yes, the above is God's merciful plan for them ... but they have free will to NOT co-operate!
God created then to have free will ... they were not created to be robots!

MANY Scripture verses warn about the things Christians can do ... to lose eternal life.
We are warned that believers can "fall from grace", fall away from the faith, and etc.

Dozens of Scriptures make it clear that receiving God's grace is NOT a one-and-done salvation deal.

Receiving God's grace is a very special blessing ...
and it must be appreciated enough to respond to it in a way which is pleasing and acceptable to God.

Just for starters, there are 10 verses which warn Christians ...
they must endure with their faith until the end of their lives to gain eternal life.

Note:
el Roberto just keeps posting the same truths over and over again, hoping people will come to see it.
Perhaps, this is wisdom and I need to be using the same technique.
.

Excellent example of what happens when one does not except the definition of Grace. The poster begins jumping into areas having no understanding all because they did not build their foundation upon Jesus Christ and Him crucified - ie. Grace.

Here it is again folks....

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Eph2:8

Learn what Grace means and you will begin your house built upon the Rock!!

 

[evangelist-7]

Learn what Grace means and you will begin your house built upon the Rock!!

It is abundantly clear that your understanding and/or acceptance of spiritual truth
does not go beyond a grade 1 level, i.e. able to see/accept only Eph 2:8-9.
As I said before, this is quite pathetic.
.

 

[DHK]

It is abundantly clear that your understanding and/or acceptance of spiritual truth
does not go beyond a grade 1 level, i.e. able to see/accept only Eph 2:8-9.
As I said before, this is quite pathetic.
.

"Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord."
That is in Genesis 6:5. It is verse 4 where God decides to destroy the earth. Noah hadn't done anything to prove his righteousness. He hadn't preached a word, or lifted a hand in work. And yet he found grace in God's sight. There were no works involved.

 

[evangelist-7]

"Noah found grace in the sight of the Lord."
That is in Genesis 6:5. It is verse 4 where God decides to destroy the earth. Noah hadn't done anything to prove his righteousness. He hadn't preached a word, or lifted a hand in work. And yet he found grace in God's sight. There were no works involved.

You haven't been following/comprehending what I've been saying.
I've never said works preceded anyone receiving God's grace.

Gen 6:8 ... Noah is given grace
Later, Noah is given instructions re: da ark.
Noah obeyed, and constructed it.

If Noah had not obey, he woudda lost the grace that God had give to him.

Grace Lost ... Paradise Lost ... DKH Lost ... so what else is new?

Nuttin' ... Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun!
Wisest man in history.
.

 

[steaver]

It is abundantly clear that your understanding and/or acceptance of spiritual truth
does not go beyond a grade 1 level, i.e. able to see/accept only Eph 2:8-9.
As I said before, this is quite pathetic.
.

This would be a good experiment for you.

Find a first grader that you know, maybe in SS even. Give that child a Gift, explain to the little one how that this is a FREE Gift, you do not have to do anything right to have it, I am just giving it to you because I love you, I did not see you do anything to deserve this Gift, but it is yours.

Then explain to the child that if he does anything bad at all, and does not follow your righteous commands, you will snatch that gift right back out of his hands and take it back.

I would wager that even this little first grader would look up at you and say "but you said I didn't have to do anything to have it, you said it was a free gift".

Did I really??? Too bad little boy!!!! And that is how your loving Father and Jesus Christ your loving Lord will do to you if you do not behave and do good!!! God will send you right to hell!!! Isn't God good and merciful, giving you such a free gift??

 

[steaver]

It's sad E7 - your Christianity is a religion. Ye have fallen from Grace.

 

[steaver]

If Noah had not obey, he woudda lost the grace that God had give to him.
.

Didn't see that verse in any translation I ever read. Another example of a faulty foundation.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

It ain't that hard to understand, even first graders can get this much.

 

[DHK]

You haven't been following/comprehending what I've been saying.
I've never said works preceded anyone receiving God's grace.

Gen 6:8 ... Noah is given grace
Later, Noah is given instructions re: da ark.
Noah obeyed, and constructed it.

If Noah had not obey, he woudda lost the grace that God had give to him.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Noah lived by faith, was given righteousness, was found in grace, all before he lifted a finger to do any work or preached a word.
It was not dependent on his works--future or past.
Had he died of a heart attack just after being declared righteous without doing a single work he would still be righteous. Works don't make one righteous.
How many works did the thief on the cross do?

Grace Lost ... Paradise Lost ... DKH Lost ... so what else is new?

Grace cannot be lost.
An example of grace is the rain that falls on the just and the unjust alike.
Does God take away the rain that he has already given. No.
Grace cannot be lost, for grace is something given. It is unmerited favor. It is given. It is not taken back. How is sunshine or rain, once given, taken back?
Your concept of grace is in the Biblical sense is entirely messed up?

 

[Amy.G]

Maybe E-7 doesn't know what grace is because he's never received it.

 

[steaver]

Maybe E-7 doesn't know what grace is because he's never received it.

There are many testimonies of people who have found themselves living a religion rather than a relationship who have realized their lostness, repented and then truly received Grace, even pastors and evangelist.

There are two kinds of Christianity in this world. There is the true Christianity which is a Father/child relationship, this relationship is based upon Grace through faith in Jesus Christ. As the child grows, stumbling and messing up, the Father lifts the child up, over and over and over, never forsaking the child, for the child belongs to Him and God will never fail the child, even when the child rebels at times, God will continue to correct until maturity is reached, God never stops. This is Grace.

But wherever true Christianity exist, the father of lies creates his own plan to deceive, kill and destroy what God has done. Satan attacks God's plan, he says "did God really say?", and he implements his own plan to draw people unto himself and snatch away the Word before it can take root and grow in good soil.

When Jesus taught, two things the Pharisees hated. (1) Jesus claimed to be equal with God declaring He was the Son of God, a title that only God Himself could have. (2) Jesus claimed eternal life came through Grace by faith and NOT by any performance from self. The Pharisees hated this one because it meant that all of their righteousnesses was nothing more than filthy rags.

One lesson that even the disciples had to learn was when Jesus said "Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Salvation was not a complex issue as the Pharisees had turned it into. It was not hidden somewhere in the Law. Even a simple child could understand Grace.

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

"But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;"

"Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:"

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"