Page 18 - GRACE
P. 18

Grace Defined



                                    to being used by God. What qualifies anybody to be
                                    used by God is grace. Studying the Scriptures, you
                                    will  observe  diversity  in  the  various  people  God
                                    called  and  enabled  to  represent  Him  in  various
                                    spheres of influence. The enabling factor is always
                                    principally  the  grace  of  God.  From  illiterate
                                    fisherman Peter, to scholar Paul, grace was the basis
                                    for representing God. God used house-girl Esther,
                                    lame  Jacob,  rich  pedigree  fishing  magnates  James
                                    and John, socially rejected Matthew Levi, gentleman
                                    Moses; each received grace in order to represent God.


                                       Expressions of Grace in Scriptures


                               There are several words used in Scriptures which describe
                               how God’s enabling comes upon human beings to be able
                               to: i) Walk with God, ii) Please God, and iii) Represent
                               God.  The  following  words,  used  in  different  contexts,
                               convey  the  basic  meaning  of  grace  as  God’s  ability
                               coming upon man.

                               i. BLESSING:  The  blessing  was  generally  an  Old
                               Testament term which shows God’s willingness to equip
                               man with His enabling as the man walked in the will of
                               God and fulfilled certain fine standards. The blessing was
                               God’s  enabling  in  man,  but  it  came  only  after  man’s
                               obedience  to  God.  God  made  the  promise  to  bless
                               Abraham based on his obedience to God. Gen. 12:1-3
                               reports,



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