Grace

[Tevye]

This morning I woke up thinking about the Apostle Paul's thorn
and that led me to think about God's grace, and trying to remember
if the Bible clearly defines the term grace, as it does with faith.

"Faith is the assurance of things hoped for
the evidence of things unseen."

Or is it God's intent for us to dig a little deeper
into scripture for the definition or meaning of His grace?

Is it His will for us to search out the gift, to reach out to Him
from the depth of our hearts for the full value and meaningfulness
of His favor for us, existing in His desire for a non-stop interactive relationship?
We surrender our lives, He gives us the gift of Grace out of the abundance of His love for us.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9

Is the above verse the definition of God's grace?
Is Grace defined as Christ's power imparted into us
and perfected in us in the midst of our weaknesses?
What does it really mean to live in God's grace?
Is it accepting our weaknesses, our thorns
we encounter on this path to righteousness
and then surrendering our will so that
God may transform us and make the changes in us?
How can we fully come to Him for the transformation in us
if we do not know what grace really is, and it's purpose for us?

We come to understand grace in the verses that contain the word
but do those verses define grace or just inform us that there is grace?
(that we should accept the gift and live in it, or it be with us)
How can we know we have grace, if we do not really know what it clearly is?
Like we know an apple is an apple, because we have seen it, held it, tasted it
and were educated by others that this sweet fruit is called, or defined as, an apple.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God..

- grace is a gift.
Do we have the ability to know what the fruit is before we accept the gift?
Are we called to accept it by faith without fully knowing what the gift of grace is?
Are we required to understand what grace is, before we can accept it?

We are given by God the ability to accept the gift or reject it.
God knows who will accept the gift along this path we journey upon.
Is grace like spiritual nourishment, energy that gives us the power to live life?
Is grace like a jewel with many facets or attributes that enhance and empower our life in Christ?

Do many believers (Christians) believe they are living in grace, but because they do not understand
the full meaning of grace, they spiritually walk and live outside of the full power found in the gift of God's grace?

[mark s]

Hi Tevye,

Great topic!

Do many believers (Christians) believe they are living in grace, but because they do not understand
the full meaning of grace, they spiritually walk and live outside of the full power found in the gift of God's grace?

It's my increasing experience that this is a huge problem in the church today, at least the one's I know about.

I don't know if I can define "grace", outside of saying its all that God gives us. I don't think we can understand everything God gives us, we can only know that it will be enough for every need.

I'll be thinking about this today . . .

Love in Christ,
Mark

[Keeping Alert]

G.R.A.C.E. = God's Riches at Christ's Expense