Receiving Grace

Receiving Grace

• Receiving grace
  • Being on the receiving end of God’s gracious nature
    • Romans 3:24, Ephesians 2:5, Titus 3:7, Hebrews 2:9 Justification through the sacrifice of Jesus is called grace in that God’s gracious nature was displayed by sending a sacrifice for us rather than exterminating us.
    • Romans 4:4 God’s gracious nature is who God is, so its benefits cannot be earned.
    • Romans 4:16, 6:14 God’s criterion for success is faith, which requires patience from God for development, in contrast to law which has no patience but requires swift execution of justice (wrath).
    • Romans 5:20, 6:1, 6:15, Galatians 2:21, 5:4 God demonstrated an abundance of graciousness by tolerating the sins of man for so long.
    • Romans 11:5 God could have disposed of Israel for breach of contract, but preserved a remnant due to patience and gentleness.
    • Galatians 1:6, 1:15, Colossians 1:6, Titus 2:11, 2 Peter 1:4 God solicits followers using the gracious nature of Jesus
    • Ephesians 1:6 – 7, 2:7 – 8, 3:2 Acceptance by God of faithful humans is directly attributable to God’s gracious nature.
    • 2 Thessalonians 2:16 God’s gracious nature gives us hope.
    • Hebrews 10:29, 1 Peter 5:10 The Spirit (God) is said to be of grace.
  • Receiving a gracious nature
    • Almost all letters begin and end with grace and peace as the desired outcome for the faithful.
      • Romans 1:7, 16:20 Note the connection to 1:5
      • 1 Corinthians 1:3 – 4, 16:23
      • 2 Corinthians 1:2, 13:14
      • Galatians 1:3, 6:18
      • Ephesians 1:2, 6:24
      • Philippians 1:2, 4:23
      • Colossians 1:2, 4:18
      • 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 5:28
      • 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 3:18
      • 1 Timothy 1:2, 6:21
      • 2 Timothy 1:2, 4:22
      • Titus 1:4, 3:15
      • Philemon 3, 25
      • Hebrews 13:25
      • 1 Peter 1:2
      • 2 Peter 1:2, 3:18
      • 2 John 3
      • Revelation 1:4, 22:21
    • 1 Peter 1:10, 1:13, 3:7, 2 Peter 1:4 We take on the nature of God
    • Romans 5:21 The gracious natures of the faithful will reign, not sin which has for so long dominated.
    • Romans 12:3, Galatians 2:9, Ephesians 3:7 – 8 Paul was given a gracious nature in contrast to his former legalistic and harsh nature.
    • 1 Corinthians 10:30, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 4:15, Colossians 3:16, 4:6, Hebrews 13:9, 1 Peter 4:10 We deal with the physical world with a gracious nature, as Paul did.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:8, 9:14 God is able to impart a gracious nature to us in abundance.
    • James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5 God gives a gracious nature to the humble.
    • Hebrews 12:28 The gracious nature we receive allows us to serve acceptably.
  • Both
    • Romans 1:5, 15:15, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 15:10, 1 Timothy 1:14 Paul and company received grace and apostleship.  God was patient and gentle with Paul, and Paul was given that nature
    • Romans 5:2, Philippians 1:7 Our faith gives us access to developing the gracious nature of God.
    • Romans 5:15, Ephesians 4:29, 2 Thessalonians 1:12, 2 Timothy 1:9, 2:1 The gracious nature of God (Jesus) was to be contagious.
    • Romans 5:17, 2 Corinthians 12:9, 1 Peter 5:12 Those who benefit from God’s gracious nature receive that gracious nature and will reign in life.
    • Romans 12:6, 2 Corinthians 8:1 – 9, 8:19, Ephesians 4:7 God was not required to provide help to the faithful, but has (called gifts of grace).  Alternately, these gifts only work if the recipient has a gracious nature.
    • 2 Corinthians 6:1, Hebrews 12:15 Do not receive the grace of God in vain, both the benefits provided to us by His gracious nature and the gracious nature developing in us.
    • Hebrews 4:16 We come to the throne of grace to find grace for ourselves.
    • Jude 4 Some turned the grace of God into lewdness
• Under grace
  • Under a system that is guided by the gracious nature (personality) of God.
  • Contrasted to being under law, which is impersonal.
• When do we receive grace?
  • The gracious nature of God was illustrated by the fact that Jesus was sent and was a sacrifice for sin. In that sense, all (faithful and unfaithful) received grace.
  • The faithful receive a gracious nature as the indwelling Spirit develops the character of the faithful.
• State of grace
  • Not mentioned in the Bible
  • A common phrase based on a misunderstanding of what grace is.
  • Catholic dictionary: Condition of a person who is free from mortal sin and pleasing to God. It is the state of being in God’s friendship and the necessary condition of the soul at death in order to attain heaven.
  • The New Testament calls this being alive or acceptable or in fellowship.