|
Chapter 1
 OUR
GOD OF GRACE
by Daniel LeEarl Hall
Growing up in the Watchtower Society as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I thought
Grace was some lady who lived down the road. In the old days when we used the
King James or the American Standard versions, the Watchtower rarely quoted
scriptures with the word "grace" in them. The Watchtower Society removed the
word grace from their New World Translation, removing God's greatest gift from
the Bible. They replaced it with the term "undeserved kindness."
This term does not describe grace. You might show me kindness that I do not
deserve, so even humans can show undeserved kindness. But grace is much more.
The word grace (in Hebrew, chen; in Greek, charis) appears 166 times in the pure
Word of God. It is basically charity, a free gift of benefit, favor, and
blessing.
The root meaning of the Hebrew word is beauty or favor. The root meaning of the
Greek word is to rejoice, be cheerful, and is foundational to the words charisma
and charismatic.
God's grace is unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor, blessing, kindness,
mercy, forgiveness, and love, which only comes from God. The only grace of
lasting benefit is sovereign grace.
Of all God's gifts, His grace, as expressed in the person of Jesus Christ, is
His greatest love gift of them all. John 1: 14 says, "And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. "
What we have earned and what we deserve is God's justice, not His grace. God's
grace is opposed to all human reasoning, and even though our flesh is the
constant recipient of grace, it makes no sense to the flesh.
By God's grace through Jesus Christ, He accomplished all things in our behalf.
All gifts come from God by means of His grace, including forgiveness,
redemption, reconciliation, justification, sanctification, regeneration, and
eternal life. Note these grace facts:
1. Grace is a free gift from God, but only through Jesus Christ. We stand in
this grace. "Through Him (Jesus Christ) we have obtained access to this grace in
which we stand... For if the many died by the trespass of one man, how much more
did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ,
overflow to the many." (Rom. 5:1,2,15)
2. We have grace in abundance. "How much more will those who receive God's
abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life
through the one man, Jesus Christ... but where sin increased, grace increased
all the more." (Rom. 5:17,20) God's grace is unlimited, infinite, without end.
3. We cannot be under both law and grace. "Sin shall not be your master, because
you are not under law, but under grace. "(Rom. 6: 14)
4. We cannot earn grace. "If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of
works; other wise grace would no longer be grace." (Rom.11: 6)
5. Grace is in Us. “The: surpassing grace of God, in you." (2Cor. 9: 14) 6. We
are "saved by the grace of Jesus Christ." (Acts 16:11) The grace of Jesus Christ
is the grace of God. for Jesus is God the Son.
7. Paul opened and closed every letter, except one, with the phrase, "May the
grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
8. God is the only source of grace. "The God of all grace... " (1 Pet 5:1 0)
9. We -Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "
(2Peter 3: 18)
10. We are "Stewards of the manifold grace of God. "(1 Peter 4:10)
11. In the last verse of the Bible, God is still emphasizing His grace. "The
grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with aI/ the saints. Amen." (Rev.
22:21)
12. Galatians 5:4 says, "You who are trying to be justified by law have been
alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace."
We need to let go of our flesh-works, our works-of-law, for they are opposed to
God. All good things are from God and not from us. We have nothing good to
offer. It is God who is loving, kind, merciful, and full of grace. It's all
God's grace! Live in His grace, for God is wonderful and gracious beyond your
wildest dreams.
Grace and flesh-works are opposed to each other just as the spirit
and the flesh diametrically opposed.
At John 3:6, Jesus said, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh,
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "
Galatians 5:17 says, "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against tha flesh, and these are contrary to one another." Flesh is flesh and
spirit is spirit and the two cannot be mixed.
To understand the Word of God, first, our spirit must be alive. If we don't have
the Spirit of Christ, (Rom. 8:9) which is the Spirit of God, we don't belong to
Him and we cannot ascertain the truth of God's Word. (1Cor. 2:14) If you are not
sure that you have God's Holy Spirit, pray for God to send the Holy Spirit. He
is faithful; He will send Him. (Luke 1.1: 13)
When we read God's Word, we will either view it from the standpoint of legalism
or from the standpoint of grace. If we attempt to read the Bible from the
standpoint of law, we will not understand God's Word, because it is spiritual
and comes from the God of pure grace. We cannot read God's Word from both
viewpoints.
Peter said, "No prophecy of scripture springs from any private interpretation."
(2Peter 1:20,21) With the Holy Spirit as our teacher, (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13)
God's Word interprets itself.
By properly identifying the context of scripture, checking the word meaning,
allowing the Word of God to interpret itself, and viewing God's Word from His
standpoint of grace, the Holy Spirit will teach us all truth regarding this
precious and valuable gift from God, His grace, as revealed In His Holy Word.
|
