Grace

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Author: Anthony Smith

Article source: http://www.pgfusa.com/. Used with author's permission.

Grace.
What is Grace?
(1.) Of form or person.
(2.) Favor, kindness, friendship.
(3.) God's forgiving mercy.
(4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law.
(5.) Gifts freely bestowed by Godas miracles, prophecy, tongues.
(6.) Christian virtues.
(7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed.

For the Believer in Christ, Grace is the most important substance he can posses. Why? For by Grace thru Faith are ye saved. Grace is the first gift that God delivers to the new convert to Christianity. With out grace we would all be lost. We all as Christians have problems in this life some more than others. Some Christians will go thru this life with no hindrances, sicknesses, illnesses, nor persecutions, Why? For each have been given a measure of Faith, some have High Faith some have medium faith and others have Low Faith. The more you receive the more is expected of you in return. In contrast, the less you receive the less is expected. Let put it in these words. A Person of low Faith [The Weak Christian] will be protected by God for his lack of understanding and strength and the ones that have the higher Faith, these are mostly, but not entirely, the ministers of the Word of God are allowed to be tested on their Faith. The Apostle Paul statedAct 20:24, "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Of "the grace of God", Favor, kindness, friendship, forgiveness, & mercy. "But none of these things move me." Fire, Flood, Earthquake, Hunger, all these things test the weak and the strong in Christ, persecutions are the most felt hardship in the world today. By the Grace of God is sufficient for all of us to Stand. I see four distinct periods of time for the Christian and the Church and four distinct periods for the Church, according to Grace and Faith.

1. The beginning Church after Jesus returned to the Father, the time of the Apostles and Deciples. At this period of time there was great persecution of the Church by the Jews and Romans.

2. A development time for the growing Church, where little is known, the separation of the Catholic Church and the Prodistent Church. A breaking away from all hindrances to seek out the truth in the Word of God by all men and not Just a Few,

3.The Peaceful Church, these are the times that we have lived in, where grace abounded and revival came to men. Where you could see Baptisms every where, people being saved and Faith flourished.

4. The end time Church. This is the time we live in now. Persecution, Deception, Controversy, Lies, False Religions, False Christ, False Prophecy and the devision of the Churches. Every body wants a different name and doctrine. This was not in the instructions from Jesus. "Be Ye One!"
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: "Being justified freely by his grace!" JustifiedIn theology it means, remission of sin and absolution from guilt and punishmentor an act of free grace by which God pardons the sinner and accepts him as righteous, on account of the atonement of Christ. Romans, 3:24, Would be enough for many, but not to all. God justified us unto Salvation thru the sacrifice of His Son, in whom we believe, for many around the world, just being saved is not enough. We strive to give, to all, the grace that God had showed to us, to the salvation to them. What am I saying? Many a Christian are being persecuted and tested each and every day. So we endure hardships galore, to the testimony of the Grace that God gives to each and everyone that will believe. 1Peter 4:16, "Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamedbut let him glorify God on this behalf." [NoteThe word, "Christian" is only mentioned twice in scripture.]

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. "we have access by faith" This is access to Grace or the, Favor, kindness, friendship of God that will sustain us in all perils that we endure. Grace is a substance, just as Faith is, that we possess. 1Co 10:30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
Paul was stating,"Why am I called evil when I have the friendship, kindness and Favor of God?" "When Gods Grace means all these things to the believer?" The answer again is in scripture. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:10-12, "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." The grace that you have or will receive from God, does not mean that you will never suffer as a Christian, it only means that He will sustain you thru these troubling times. You may not have all that you want, but His grace, or Favor, will give you all you NEED.

Be content with having no shoes, for there are those with no feet, be content with no home, for there are those with no hope, be content with a piece of bread for there are those who have no food, be content with your clothes for there are those that are naked, be content with your sight for there are those that have no eyes, see what I mean by Grace? I am what I am by the Grace of God. Remember what I had said earlier? "The more you receive the more is expected of you in return. In contrast, the less you receive the less is expected. Let put it in these words. A Person of low Faith [The Weak Christian] will be protected by God for his lack of understanding and strength and the ones that have the higher Faith, these are mostly, but not entirely, the ministers of the Word of God are allowed to be tested on their Faith."

Paul put it this way in 1Co 15:10"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vainbut I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." We must be content with who we are and the situation that we are placed in, for the Grace of God will sustain us. Not putting your trust in man but in Gods Grace.