Faith and Grace

.... True faith is a very simple concept: It is a relationship in which we depend on God who always has our best interest at heart because He loves us (Hebrews 11:6). Thus, we are also trusting that the true power lies beyond ourselves and resides in Him. And God responds to our faith by exercising His power in our life, through His grace:

.... "Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all."

(Romans 4:16)

.... But in modern times, the term ‘grace’ has become widely misunderstood. Many Christians think of it simply as a Divine attitude toward us, or a posture of undeserved favor: basically, that God is merciful to our sins and He is polite about it. While these are certainly true qualities of God, the true definition of grace goes much further.
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.... Others think of grace as a Divine license to commit certain sins, which God is thought to politely overlook. Their way of thinking is that "the grace of God will cover it". But such an understanding is entirely false, and is actually a form of denying Him. True grace is anything but that!

.... "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."

(Jude 4)

.... On the contrary, grace is an actual empowerment by which God enables Christians to live in a righteous way, and to perform righteous acts in following Him. Consider the following quotations in evidence:

.... "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."

(1 Corinthians 15:10)

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.... "And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

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.... "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."

(2 Corinthians 9:8)

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.... "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified."

(Acts 20:32)

.... In each of these quotations, grace is portrayed in a powerful, effectual way. It will enable us to change our lives instead of a simple tolerating where we're at. This is a fundamental departure from our traditional view, and we will continue this discussion in our next posting.

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Daily Bible Reading: Romans 16