Grace

Def.: 1)The favor and love of God(Web.)

2) The free mercy of God or the enjoyment of his favor

 

 Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

& Rom. 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

 

Many today misapply these passages and say there is no works for us to do. Hence baptism is not essential  ... church services can be any way ect.

 

This idea is in error because it contradicts other passages of scripture.  Also, these passages have been applied different from the context.

 

Consider:  Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

 

Eph. 2:4-10  In this text, the grace, the favor here is Jesus Christ, the gift of God.

 Ro 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 Ro 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

 

Jesus and his gospel is a free gift that God has given to mankind, salvation was given freely.

 

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (Gen. 6:8)  The warning & plan of the ark.  So also is our salvation.  He had to build the ark!!!! Gen. 6:22 (works)

 

Eph. 2:10 said works which God ordained.  We are to have certain works.

 

Rom. 11:5-6 &12-13

This refers to the Gentiles being brought in and the Jews being rejected.

It also tells us that where there is grace there is no works, and that where works are required there is no grace.

 

2 John 1:6-11  No grace here.  grace does not apply to the doctrine of Christ.  WE must obey and abide in the doctrine of Christ.

 

 2Thes. 1:8-9 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;   No grace here.  Grace does not apply to the gospel.  By God's grace we have the gospel, but we must obey it.

 

Gal. 1:6-9

 

Now there is a difference between what I do as an individual person and as to what the church does.  Also there is a difference between being taken by sin in the flesh and a sin of the doctrinal matters.

 

Gal. 5:1-4  The young person who was or was not circumcised was a matter of the mind and not an act based on fleshly desire.  But the person who over eats or curses is fallen to a weakness of the flesh.

 

There is a difference in a lie told trying to make a fish sound bigger and grander than one told about the doctrine of Christ or gospel of Christ.

Baptism strictly a doctoral matter, no desire of the flesh one way or the other.

 

Rom. 7:15-23  Grace does apply to the weakness of the flesh.  Remember Paul had a thorn in the flesh.  We often think that it was a physical problem but it may have been a bad habit or some type of sin.  Rom. 6:1-2

 

Here in this area we all must have grace for we are weak. "all have sinned"

 Php 3:12-15 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

 

But matters of the Law of Christ such as baptism, confession, repentance, communion, women teachers ect there is no grace.

 

 Ga 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

This verse is often taken out of context and misapplied saying that all law or that we have no works of law.

Now lets read verses 15-21

We see that the law is the law of Moses.  He is not referring to matters of the gospel nor of the doctrine of Christ.  He is speaking of the law of Moses.

 

We do have a law, the law of Christ.  Law of liberty.

 

 Ga 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 

 

Rom. 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

 

 

 

John 8:24  Heb. 11:6

Luke 13:3    2Peter 3:9

Matt 10:32-33   Rom. 10:10

Mark 16:16  Gal. 3:27  1 Peter 3:21   No grace in these things

 

 1John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.    grace here!!!!!!!