APOSTOLIC ACTING OUT

GRACE

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Scripture textRomans 6:1-5 – “1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

            Grace – unconstrained and undeserved divine favor or good will; God’s loving mercy displayed to man for the salvation of his soul.

            I think the definition used most in the Bible is the second definition, which is how God, despite how we willfully sin against him and disobey his commandments, still finds it in his heart to forgive us and bless us because He is a God full of grace.

            I think what Romans 6:1-5 is trying to say is that we sometimes go against God’s will knowing, or at least believing, that God will forgive us. That is what grace is defined as. If God had no grace, we would have no eternal life. If God had no grace, then if we messed up one time and sinned, then if God would not have grace, which the first definition states is undeserved favor or just forgiveness without deserving it, He would say that we do not deserve to be forgiven and we would be lost. But He does have grace and a lot of it. If He did not have a lot of grace and mercy and compassion and love, I would not be here right now.

            Which is where we come to 1 Corinthians 15:10 – “10But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

            Here the grace of God is shown to be very big. Here the grace of God helped Paul to do everything as Paul says in Philippians 4:13 – “13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

            Another example of God’s awesome grace is shown in 2 Corinthians 8:9 – “9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

            God did not have to send Jesus down to die for us, but he had grace. He was already rich and almighty, but for our sakes, He had grace and became poor when He came down to Earth and became like us. He did that so we might be rich through His poverty and we could have eternal life with and through Him.

Attributes of the Lord Jesus Christ
  1. Affection – Jesus has plenty of affection for his creation. Genesis 2:7 – “7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
  2. Beauty – Jesus’ beauty is endless because He created us in His own image, and I am sure no one thinks they are ugly, and if you do, then you are calling God ugly. Genesis 1:26-27 – “26And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
  3. Care – Jesus cares so much for us that He died for us. John 3:16 – “16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  4. Comfort – Jesus gives us comfort because He said that He would not leave us comfortless, He would come to us, and that Comforter is the Holy Ghost. John 14:16-18,26 – “16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
  5. Compassion – Jesus has compassion for us because no matter what we go through, He has gone thru worse. Mark 15:17-20 – “17And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
  6. Consolation – our consolation prize from Jesus will be a mansion in heaven. John 14:2-3 – “2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
  7. Desire – Jesus desires to be with us because He is not willing that any perish, but all come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 - “9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness: but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
  8. Excellence – Jesus is excellent in everything He does. Isaiah 12:5 – “5Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
  9. Forgiveness – come to Jesus with a repentant heart and He will come to you with forgiveness. Psalm 130:3-4 – “3If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
  10. Glory – Jesus is the King of Glory. Psalm 24:10 – “10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.
  11. Grace – we have already explained that Jesus is full of grace and truth. John 1:14 – “14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
  12. Healing – Jesus is the Great Physician. Matthew 4:23 – “23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
  13. Instruction – Jesus gave us the Bible, Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth, which is His infallible Word. 2 Timothy 3:16 – “16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
  14. Joy – find Jesus and you will find joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8 – “8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
  15. Kindness – Jesus is full of kindness, He only hates sin. Isaiah 54:8 – “8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
  16. Love – love never fails, and Jesus is love, so Jesus never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8 – “8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
  17. Mercy – Jesus has mercy that endures forever. Psalm 136:1 – “1O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
  18. Name – Jesus’ name is the only name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12 – “12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
  19. One – Jesus is the One True and living God. Deuteronomy 6:4 – “4Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord:John 10:30 – “30I and my Father are one.
  20. Patience – Jesus is patient, but He will not wait on you forever to repent. 2 Peter 3:10 – “10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
  21. Quick – Jesus is going to come back quick. Revelation 22:20 – “20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
  22. Redemption – Jesus will have our redemption ready for us when He raptures His church out. Luke 21:28 – “28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
  23. Salvation – Jesus has salvation waiting for you as a free gift, all you have to do is open it. Acts 2:38 – “38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  24. Triumph – Jesus triumphed over death, hell, and the grave just before the first Easter. Revelation 1:18 – “18I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
  25. Understanding – Jesus understands everything you are going thru, no matter how much you think He doesn’t. Philippians 4:7 – “7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
  26. Victory – when we come to Jesus and are bought with His blood thru water baptism in His name, we have won the victory over the devil. 1 John 5:4 – “4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
  27. Wisdom – Jesus knows all. 1 Corinthians 1:24-25 – “24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
  28. X-mas – Jesus Christ is the reason for the season, not presents, Christmas trees, lights, Rudolph, Santa, or any elves. Matthew 2:2 – “2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
  29. Yours – Jesus is yours, if you answer His call. Revelation 3:20 – “20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
  30. Zest – Jesus is not boring, just ask Him, He will give you the spark that you need. Acts 1:8 – “8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.