WOAC On Air – 02 May 2024 Episode 94

Inspiration brought to you by WOAC on Air ___________________________________________________________________________ Topic: Thank You God for your Grace!

 Gal 1.3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul starts his writings and ends His writings with God’s grace be upon each of the readers - Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon, Hebrews Titus 1.4 “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith “Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our savior.”

We notice in all Paul’s writings whether he is talking to the church congregation or the leaders of the church or his support team he prays that God’s grace be upon as much as peace be upon them and he ends each writing with Grace be with you all Amen!

This tells me that Grace is an essential virtue that Christians need in order to be successful now and forever more. How would you define the Grace of God Erika, Shinaaz

Definition of Grace Miriam Webster dictionary

A - : unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification B - : a virtue coming from God C - : a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance

Grace in Greek means “charis”: grace, kindness Original Word: χάρις, ιτος, ἡ Transliteration: charis - Phonetic Spelling: (khar'-ece) Usage: (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness.

5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.

What are the 3 levels of God’s grace?

A) Salvation - “Prevenient” - Jesus kindness went ahead and saved us while we were yet sinners he died for all humanity. He then presented the Gospel to restore sinners to righteousness. B) “Justification” - Jesus favour rests upon us - whereby he paid the penalty on our behalf therefore we have been justified just as if we have never sinned. We have been released from the penalty of sin. (Rev 12.10 for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. )

C) “Sanctification” - Holy Spirit extending the life of Jesus to us through anointing and God’s word which is light and life therefore thereby we are released from the power of sin.

Now that we are saved, what does God grace mean to the born again believer? A) We need God’s grace so that we can do good works Jesus prepared or us to do

•   1 Cor 1.4I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7so that you come short in no gift”

•   Ephesians 2.8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

  B) God’s grace enables us to live as overcomers whilst fulfilling God’s call upon our lives

•   2 Thess 1.4 Paul is commending the Thessolonian church for their patience and perserving during challenging times “so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

•   v 11 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would “count you worthy” of this calling, and fulfill all the “good pleasure of His goodness” and the “work of faith with power,” 12that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  C) God’s grace protects us from becoming prideful - therefore humility is a quality where His Grace is actively at work

•   Romans 5.1-2Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

•   2 Cor 12. 7Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

•   James 4.6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

  D) God’s grace clothes us with His nature

•   Colossians 3.12Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

•   Gal 5.16-23I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

E) God’s power strenghtens us in time of weakness

•   Ephesians 4.15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

•   James 4.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

•   2 Tim 2.1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

  We don’t earn or deserve God’s grace it, it is a free gift available to the born again christian in order to live victoriously.