Grace

Unmerited….undeserved…unearned favor

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Luke 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

John 1:16-17 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Acts 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Ephesians 2:8-9 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.


Recommended reading Romans 6:1; Ephesians 2:1-9

Amazing Grace

Last week we just briefly touched on the topic of "Gracious Words".

This week my mind turns to the Grace of God...defined as unmerited favor. I have heard it defines thus so long that I start to further define it to fully grasp the meaning.....I did nothing to earn His grace. I am nothing to deserve His grace. As the hymn writer, Issac Watts described us ...just a worm...and John Newton...a wretch...not worthy of much...huh? No merits of our own making.

It is hard for me to differentiate between the love and the grace of God. I suppose it is due to the grace of God that the love of God is bestowed upon us and made real to us. The grace of God, by definition is granted to us for no other reason than to honor and glorify the One who has redeemed us and rescued us from our depraved selves.


"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.



T'was Grace that taught...
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear...
the hour I first believed.



Through many dangers, toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.



The Lord has promised good to me...
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be...
as long as life endures.



When we've been here ten thousand years...
bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise...
then when we've first begun.



"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me....
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.


Thanks to the makers of the movie about William Wilberforce, Amazing Grace, (a movie I highly recommend) I cannot sing Amazing Grace anymore without wanting to breakout into, "MY CHAINS ARE GONE, I'VE BEEN SET FREE....MY GOD, MY SAVIOR HAS RANSOMED ME... AND LIKE A FLOOD, HIS MERCY RAINS UNENDING LOVE, AMAZING GRACE." It is such a beautiful rendition and reinvention of the beautiful old hymn.

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (II Corinthians 9:15)!