What happens every time you take a breath? You exhale. Wouldn't it be beautiful if God had a way for us to breathe Him in?
What if God had a way for us to breathe Him in and we changed it into something that was comfortable for us? Something that we could manage, something that we could regulate, something that was momentary?
That would be the tradition of men and their natural way of thinking: control.
It's time for us to start breathing again...
DOCTRINE #41: GRACE
Grace (charis in the New Testament) is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. Grace is allowing God to direct your actions through the Holy Spirit. These actions that God does through you result in Righteousness. God is the source of these actions. God gets the credit for these actions, not the individual. Grace is God's Wisdom.
Question: Do you believe having the correct definition of grace is essential to your salvation?
Next Doctrine: Doctrine #42
Table of Contents
If you need it, here is the support from the Word of God...
SCRIPTURE
"40 And the child grew, and waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him." (Luke 2:40)
(Jesus had the influence of God upon Him. We saw in Doctrine #37: Jesus, that Jesus chose to let God direct all His actions through the Holy Spirit. Most modern day churches believe that grace is "unmerited favor". This definition has so many contradictions, and clearly it is man's way of thinking. What did Jesus do that was unmerited? There are Greek word(s) for unmerited favor. None of them are charis. If you believe that grace is "unmerited favor", than you believe that Jesus did things that were unmerited, and therefore you are saying that He is not really Holy, nor the Son of God. Yikes!)
"1 But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:
2 that aged men be temperate, grave, sober-minded, sound in faith, in love, in patience:
3 that aged women likewise be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;
4 that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
5 to be sober-minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed:
6 the younger men likewise exhort to be sober-minded:
7 in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity,
8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us.
9 Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters, and to be well-pleasing to them in all things; not gainsaying;
10 not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;
13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:1-14)
(Verse 1 said to speak the right things to get the effects of verses 2 through 6. Ensample in verse 7 meant "having the original". It did not mean for us to act like the original (God), but to actually have a sample of the original (God) in what we DO. The works are an effect, but these works are God doing them through us. Again sound speech was mentioned: words. Verses 8 through 10 gave us more effects (WHAT). What was the cause of all these effects? Verse 11. Grace. It appeared. Verses 12-14 more specifically stated God is doing these things through us: instructing, living righteously and godly. Grace is a cause, it is a HOW and WHY. Does unmerited favor instruct us? Doctrine was mentioned three times in these passages. If we have man's definitions for words, our doctrine will be unsound, corrupt, and have no benefit.)
"1 Masters, render unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
2 Continue stedfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
3 withal praying for us also, that God may open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;
4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:1-6)
(Paul also told the Colossians that we could speak grace to others (SAY) which would include the Mystery. How could Paul speak mystery if he didn't know it? Why would someone enslave themselves to something that they did not understand? Paul also said to walk in wisdom. Knowing how we ought to answer is different for each person and ought to be God doing it through us. If we allow God to direct our speech and actions, He who measures the hearts of all can give us words to redeem the time. How does unmerited favor tell us what to speak?)
"29 Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for edifying as the need may be, that it may give grace to them that hear." (Ephesians 4:29)
(Paul also told the Ephesians that we could give grace to others for edifying/creating by speaking words of wisdom. Can we give unmerited favor to others? What creates more: favor to bring you back to zero or an influence that can direct all of you actions, including repair?)
"1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained a like precious faith with us in the righteousness of our God and the Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;
3 seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;
4 whereby he hath granted unto us his precious and exceeding great promises; that through these ye may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in that world by lust." (2 Peter 1:1-4)
(Peter said grace could be multiplied to us in the knowledge of God and Jesus. We become partakers of the divine nature when we let God direct our actions towards godliness, great promises, etc. In verse 4 Peter even mentioned that we could "become partakers of the divine nature." That sounds like all men could transform their thinking to God's Thinking through grace!)
"1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2)
(If grace was unmerited favor, then the way to grow in it would be to sin more. Paul said that being in grace meant we live not in sin, but in the Spirit. We are being led by the Spirit.)
"5 But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5)
(You can get wisdom if you ask for it. Wisdom is the action. Grace is God directing the actions. You can jump over knowledge and understanding if you let God direct your actions which is grace and God's Wisdom. Wisdom is the principle thing! Our actions determine what we believe, so if we ask God for grace to direct our actions He will give it to us. God desires that all would be saved, not a limited group.)
18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)
(We can grow in grace. We can take more direction from God. If grace is unmerited favor, how would you grow in it? If you have a definition for a word and it contradicts the word of God one time, your definition is man's and not God's. God's definitions are non-contradictory.)
16 Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
(We can intentionally ask God for wisdom in time of need to know what to DO. How does unmerited favor help in time of need? The traditional church may say "unmerited favor" allows us to still connect with God even when we sin, but that sounds a lot more like mercy than grace, doesn't it? Definitions are so important.)
"6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble." (James 4:6)
(God desires to give us grace, but we can choose to not let God direct our actions by being in pride. We can resist grace. The traditions of man make the Word and Will of God of none effect. Some people believe unmerited favor is irresistible, some people believe that eventually all will be won over by God.)
"1 I must needs glory, though it is not expedient; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.
3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or apart from the body, I know not; God knoweth),
4 how that he was caught up into Paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
5 On behalf of such a one will I glory: but on mine own behalf I will not glory, save in my weaknesses.
6 For if I should desire to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I shall speak the truth: but I forbear, lest any man should account of me above that which he seeth me to be, or heareth from me.
7 And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch.
8 Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
(Take your time as you read this summary. Paul didn't do anything wrong. In fact, he got a revelation, which was a good thing. Verses 5 and 6 showed Paul would NOT brag about this. Verse 7 said that because other people may exalt him, he was given a thorn in the flesh. Some versions of the Bible changed this passage to say that Paul would exalt himself right after Paul stated three times he wouldn't do this. Notice also, God allowing a messenger of Satan to buffet him in order to prevent him from sinning is not how God operates. This isn't Just. Paul hasn't made the choice. In the Book of Job, God didn't think Job would sin. Remember, Satan initiated the conflict, not Job. In fact, the reason why Job lost everything was to prove that Job was good and God said Job was blameless before Satan took his possessions. Paul was also blameless. God's response that His grace was sufficient was to show Paul His Plan was better than Paul's plan. Paul learned that in his weakness and humility, God was able to give Paul perfect strength because it was God's grace through him. If we are contrastive on ourselves and try to see where others are right, we are going to be that much more desperate for God being Right in our lives, while we are being humble, to give us grace to direct our actions!)
Now we have blown the man-made tradition of grace being "unmerited favor" out of the water! Grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life! This is something that we can grow in for all of eternity, and Jesus will even grow with us as He grew in grace on earth!
But why is the definition of grace so important to understand? It's just a word, right? We have seen time and time again in the Doctrines that everything comes down to words and definitions!
Grace is key to the next Doctrine...
