LIVING BY GRACE PART 1

 LIVING BY GRACE - PART 1

Hallelujah! This week we shall be delving into the topic "Living by Grace". We will understand what it means to live a life of Grace as well as how to. There are many truths we will be UNVEILING through the help of the Holy Spirit even as we journey through this school of the Spirit. Therefore, be at alert and enjoy the series.

One thing we must first understand is that the Grace of God is accessible to all but there is need to learn and understand how to access it. 2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work". 1 Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus...". 

Ever wonder, at times you earn certain things you feel by all standards you do not merit. Yes, this can simply be described as the working of God's grace upon your life. Queen Esther enjoyed this unmerited favour as she became Vashti's replacement of all the maidens (Esther 2:17 "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti).

We need to understand that in God's kingdom, there are Mysteries that are unveiled unto us by the Spirit of God (Matthew 13:11). One of such mysteries unveiled is that of the Grace of God. The Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:10 and Apostle Paul's message unto the church at Corinth; "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me". 

This verse was preceded by Apostle Paul telling how undeserving he was of the blessings which was now upon him and how his election was of Grace and we see from scriptures the many exploits He made in ministry. The Grace of God is a must know and a must to be enjoyed by every one who is come unto God through his son Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:3, 2Corinthians 13:14, 2Peter 1:2)

What then is the Grace of God?

Grace is all spiritual blessings that reside in heavenly places in Christ. Grace is a gift from God. Grace is God's ability made manifest in the life of a man. In another definition, Grace simply means God in your race. Life as have been created by God cannot be lived outside this Grace of God. In one of Apostle Joshua Selman's teachings, he said "Life has been wired to function in such a way that men will only live up to the fullness of Christ through the agency of GRACE".

There will always be a difference between a life operating with the grace of God and a life without it. The Grace of God in a man's life is what makes him merit that which is not his by the measures and standards of man. Grace brings the heavenly measures into the things that are earthly. It breaks the standards and protocols created by the laws of men bringing the laws of God to manifest. All these and many more are the explanation of what Grace is.

While it is important to know that Grace is given to man by God and it has been said to also mean "Unmerited favour", we must understand that there are certain fundamental requirements to operating in it as well. One way to illustrate this from God's word is that we are saved by Grace (Ephesians 2:8 "For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast"). Though the above is true, but man must still confess with his mouth and believe in God with his heart to truly be saved (Romans 10:9-10); and then man must also continue to work out his salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). 

Another very important fact about the Grace of God is that it cannot be understood by mere wisdom or knowledge of man, hence Apostle Peter in 2Peter 3:17-18 "...But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". How can we explain man having lost connection with God after the fall in Genesis 3; God still would have him saved and come into the knowledge of His truth (1 Timothy 2:4). God will have him saved and this, by sending him God's only begotten son. Therefore, only a born again, spirit filled child of God can understand clearly the manifestations of His Grace (1 Corinthians 2:14). 

In the ministry of Jesus Christ and also the apostles, it became more clear to us why the Grace of God is very important. Not much attention was paid to Grace in the old testament as it was in the new testament. The New testament preaching after the resurrection of Christ came fully fledged on the Grace of God. Why is this so? Because it is important that we understand it better to approach it better. Certain things will never be clear to us, certain mysteries of the kingdom will not be revealed except by Grace Ephesians 3:2-13 (See the book of 2 Corinthians as concerning Giving). In this kingdom, there are mysteries that lead to the revelation of other mysteries, one of such is the mystery of GRACE. If there was something spectacular about the preachings and teachings of Apostle Paul, it is on this concept of Grace (1 Corinthians 15:10, Romans 12:3). 

There are however important truths to know when it comes to living a life of Grace. One of such is that Grace is of God, and given to man from God and by Him. Philemon v3 "Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". Ephesians 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace...".  But just as it is given, there are things to do to enjoy it's full benefits. Just as we have to walk in faith to enjoy the blessedness, and walk in the love of God to receive all the rewards, we also have to abound in Grace. 2Corinthians 8:7.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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