- Some say unmerited favor, some forgiveness. For me, grace has multiple meanings. 1. God's merciful intervention: "There but for the grace of God, go I." 2. God's equipping: power, endurance, patience, restraint, and more. God gave Paul the grace to endure his thorn in the flesh. 3. And more.
- I BELIEVE WE APPLY GOD'S GRACE IN OUR LIVES BY EXTENDING IT TO OTHERS. WE HAVE BEEN FREELY FORGIVEN SO LET US FREELY FORGIVE. WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE AND ARE FREED FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH, THUS WE SHOULD WANT TO KEEP GOD'S COMMANDS AND LAWS, AS OUR SACRIFICE AND OFFERING TO HIM.
Understanding Grace
On Wednesday Night, May 18th, at 6:30pm, we will study "Grace." Grace is a word that is easy to say or sing but difficult to understand. We sing lots of songs about God's "Amazing Grace." Grace translates the Greek word "charis" which means "unmerited favor or undeserved gift." Ephesians 2:8 clearly tells us that our salvation is "the gift of God" that we have be given and it is not based on anything we have done. In Romans 5, it is referred to as a "free gift."
All those definitions seem to be simple enough - until you try to apply it. Some Christians believe that this free gift of God's Grace is given forever. Other Christians believe that God can take away His grace and that you can "fall from grace." Some Christians believe that you are saved by grace, but you must maintain this grace through good behavior and keeping Biblical commandments. Other Christians say that we are freed from the Law and you don't have to keep any rules in this free grace relationship with God.
That will be our Wednesday Night question for the Evening:
How do we apply God's Grace?