The Grace of God
As we saw in the scriptures it is man that is responsible for faith and that is how man pleases God. In Faith we are to believe that God is, and that he is the rewarder of those that seek him. As we saw with the phrase Your Faith or Hymon Pistus, we also see that Grace is clearly the work of God and Only God, and is often declared the Grace of God.
What is most critical when it comes to the Grace of God is the order for which it is recieved, for we recieve Grace through Faith.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
As we continue we can see the discription that is is the Grace of God. Yes, it is always God who decides to give the Grace that leads to salvation and it is never the work of man.
Colossians 1:3-6
3 We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints; 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel 6 which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;
I Peter 5:8-12
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT! In Romans 5 we see the clear order for which the Grace is bestowed upon us for “we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand”. It is not that we are given a special grace for which we then come to faith.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
We can also see a very similar phrase used in the process of Grace, with it being “Grace of God” translated from the Greek words Charis and Theos. Of the 114 verses that use the word Grace, 20 of them use this exact phrase.
G5485 - charis- khä'-rēs - χάρις
1. Grace
1. that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2. good will, loving-kindness, favour
1. of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3. what is due to grace
1. the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
2. the token or proof of grace, benefit
1. a gift of grace
2. benefit, bounty
4. thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
• G2316 – theos - the-o's - θεός
1. a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities
2. the Godhead, trinity
1. God the Father, the first person in the trinity
2. Christ, the second person of the trinity
3. Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity
3. spoken of the only and true God
1. refers to the things of God
2. his counsels, interests, things due to him
4. whatever can in any respect be likened unto God, or resemble him in any way
1. God's representative or viceregent
1. of magistrates and judges
Titus 2:11-15
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
I Peter 4:9-11
9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
It is the responsibility of Man is to stand firm in his grace as we saw in I Peter 5:12, but we are also build on the foundation of Grace as we will see in I Corinthians 3.
I Corinthians 3:10-15
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. 14 If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.