Can you comment on God's grace (part 1)?
Introduction. I always am moved when I study and preach on the grace of God! Grace (charis) suggests favor. Grace, as used in the Bible, is favor which cannot be merited. The grace of God provides salvation for man (Tit. 2: 11). To be more emphatic, without God's grace there could be no salvation (Eph. 2: 1-10). Notwithstanding the beauty of God's grace, it was and is abused (Jude 4).
Origin of grace. There has never been grace such as the grace associated with man's salvation. Grace is "from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1: 3). God is said to be "the God of all grace..." (1 Pet. 5: 10). Jesus is especially associated with grace (2 Cor. 13: 14). It was He who died for sinful, undeserving man (Rom. 5: 6-10).
Some recipients of grace. Noah (Gen. 6: 8), those who love the Lord (Eph. 6: 24), Jesus (Luke 2: 40), and Paul (1 Cor. 15: 10) are expressly said to have enjoyed God's favor. It will be observed that in the case of Noah, those who love the Lord, and Paul they were all obedient children of God (Gen. 6: 5-8; John 14: 15, 21-24; 1 Cor. 9: 26, 27).
Grace versus merit. The Jew could not be saved by keeping the law of Moses (Gal. 2: 16). In order to be justified by the law, the Jew had to flawlessly observe it, which he could not do (Rom. 3: 23). Hence, the need of grace (John 1: 17; Rom. 5: 11). While Christ demands man's obedience, no man is sinless (1 John 1: 7-10; Eph. 2: 8-10).
God's grace abused. God's grace has been abused by those who contend that since we are under grace, we may sin (cf. Rom. 6: 1; Jude 4). To such doctrine Paul responded "God forbid" (Rom. 6: 1, 2). Denominationalism commonly distorts God's grace by denying that grace reigns through righteousness (man's obedience, Rom. 5: 21). (continued in part 2)
Origin of grace. There has never been grace such as the grace associated with man's salvation. Grace is "from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1: 3). God is said to be "the God of all grace..." (1 Pet. 5: 10). Jesus is especially associated with grace (2 Cor. 13: 14). It was He who died for sinful, undeserving man (Rom. 5: 6-10).
Some recipients of grace. Noah (Gen. 6: 8), those who love the Lord (Eph. 6: 24), Jesus (Luke 2: 40), and Paul (1 Cor. 15: 10) are expressly said to have enjoyed God's favor. It will be observed that in the case of Noah, those who love the Lord, and Paul they were all obedient children of God (Gen. 6: 5-8; John 14: 15, 21-24; 1 Cor. 9: 26, 27).
Grace versus merit. The Jew could not be saved by keeping the law of Moses (Gal. 2: 16). In order to be justified by the law, the Jew had to flawlessly observe it, which he could not do (Rom. 3: 23). Hence, the need of grace (John 1: 17; Rom. 5: 11). While Christ demands man's obedience, no man is sinless (1 John 1: 7-10; Eph. 2: 8-10).
God's grace abused. God's grace has been abused by those who contend that since we are under grace, we may sin (cf. Rom. 6: 1; Jude 4). To such doctrine Paul responded "God forbid" (Rom. 6: 1, 2). Denominationalism commonly distorts God's grace by denying that grace reigns through righteousness (man's obedience, Rom. 5: 21). (continued in part 2)