GRACE EXPLAINED
by Kenneth Bray

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”. Hebrews 4:16 N.I.V

The concept of grace has been widely misunderstood and misconstrued by many. In this article, I seek to explain in the best of my knowledge what the concept of grace is.
Grace can be defined as the love and mercy given to us by God because he wants us to have it; not because of anything we have done to deserve it or earn it. It is a gift from God to man which is free and undeserved. It is an exceptional kindness of God towards human beings in making their forgiveness and salvation possible (Ephesians 2: 8). Grace also includes the divine gifts which flow from this favor such as this new life, God’s indwelling presence and the ability to bear spiritual fruit.
Grace is used in the bible to signify many different things. It is a manifold, as Paul puts it in 1 Peter 4:10. In 2corinthians 12:1 Paul referred to it as “sufficient power in weakness”. In Hebrews 13:9 and 2 Timothy 2:1, we see grace to be our strengthener. In Rom 5:2 and 1 Peter 5:12, it is what enables us to stand firm. Finally in Hebrew 4:16, it is our helper in time of need.

PURPOSE OF GRACE
Grace did what the law could not do. The law revealed our sins and limitations and ultimately how far we have come short of what God calls holiness. By grace our sins are forgiven. In Paul's teaching to in Galatians, he speaks of the fact that the law was a school master to teach us how far we have failed and come short of God's perception of righteousness. This was done so we can better understand and appreciate the grace of God. Our sins and unfaithfulness reveal to us how righteous and faithful God is, so we can in turn acknowledge him for who he is. Grace is not a carte blanche to sin as many think. In as much as our unrighteousness reveals how righteous our God is, it doesn’t mean we must continue to live in sin.

"Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self'. Francis of Assisi

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This article is written by kenneth Bray
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS