Saved by Grace

What does grace mean exactly? The dictionary defines grace as:

1. Free and unmerited favor or beneficence of (or help from) God.

2. A disposition to kindness and compassion; benign (a want to do good) good will.

3. A state (the way something is with respect to its main attributes) of sanctification (making something Holy) by God.

What does the Bible teach us about grace? Let's start with a parable from Jesus Christ. The Parable of the Vine and the Branches; which can be found in John 15:1-11

First Jesus Christ compares himself to a vine and compares God to the husbandman or farmer who tends to the vines.

Jesus then teaches that those that "beareth not fruit" the husbandman or God will take them away. Everyone or every branch that "beareth fruit" the husbandman will purgeth; meaning to test; so that we may "bring forth more fruit."

From this we learn we become clean when we listen to the words of God. As we keep Christ in our lives He uplifts us.

For example, when we go to school we have to take tests. How do we pass the tests? We study all that we have learned before the test. That way when we get to the test we know we did all we could do to pass; by studying. As we take the test we remember what we studied. If we don't study we won't learn what we need to pass the test.

In this aspect when we apply that to life when we do all we can to follow the commandments of God when we fall it is Christ's sacrifice that picks up where we left off. It is at this point that by putting our faith in God that the grace of Christ works.

Without Christ we wouldn't get anywhere. Now, I'm not saying that all those famous celebrities are religious or that without Christ we would be homeless. I am saying that in an eternal perspective without Christ we can't live with God. We must be tested or purged by the husbandman before harvesting.

Next we learn that those that turn away from the teachings of God will be gathered and placed in a symbolic fire to be burned. In reality they will be cut off by the presence of God.

Listening to the words of God will produce the answer we want and or need, but in God's time. By following the commandments we glorify the Father (husbandman); God; and become disciples. We are taught to love one another as Jesus loves us; as God loves us. This requires action. To love someone you must show it.

There are always two sides to each promise. Our side and God's side; to which God always keeps his promises, do we?

After all that is done come the blessings and the process of purging starts again. It is not until judgment day that the harvesting will occur.

What have we learned so far? That we must produce fruits to show our love of God so he can test us so we know where our faith is and produce more fruits to gain the waiting blesses God promises from obedience. So what are fruits?

Fruit is defined as it applies here as: the consequence of some effort or action.

I don't know about you, but to me that sounds like works. The parable of the vine and the branches teaches us that we must put forth good fruits or good works through our efforts of faith for grace to work.

Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches that works in which a man or woman boasts is not through faith in God. That the faith we show we have of God produces the works spoken of in James 2:14-26; who teaches "faith without works is dead."

Romans speaks of grace throughout its chapters. Let's go over just a few. I will be inserting the definition of grace and other words as they apply within [these markings].

1:5 reads: "By whom we have received grace [or help] and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations for his name."

We gain grace through obedience to the faith.

3:24 "Being justified freely by his grace [help] through the redemption [salvation] that is in Christ Jesus."

Through the redemption or salvation of Christ we gain grace freely.

4:16 "Therefore, it is of faith, that it might be by grace [help]; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all."

Through faith like unto Abraham comes grace.

5:17 "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace [help] and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"

Just because Adam sinned does not make us sinners. Through Jesus Christ's sacrifice comes grace.

6:15 "What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace

We can control our natural man through the grace [help] of God.

11:6 "And if by grace

Grace and works need to be equal.

12:6 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace [help] that is given to us, whether prophecy let us prophesy according to the proportion [balance among the parts of something] of faith."

We need to have a balanced faith for grace to work.

16:15 "Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some [part] sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace [help] that is given to me of God"

Paul needed help, but he put forth an effort and was rewarded for that effort. Much like Moses in Exodus 4:12 "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say."

God promised He would be with Moses as long as he put forth the effort to go to Pharaoh to let His people go.

There is part of a Psalm that reads: "13 The LORD looketh from Heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works." Psalms 33:13-15

Philippians 4:13 explains grace very well:

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Just like John 15:5 from the parable of the vine and the branches.

We also need to remember what John 1:17 teaches us: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

One Bible Dictionary defines grace as the following: "It is through the grace of the Lord Jesus, made possible by his atoning sacrifice, that mankind will be raised in immortality, every person receiving his body from the grace in a condition of everlasting life. It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means. This grace is an enabling power that allows men and women to lay hold on eternal life and exaltation after they have expended their own best efforts.

"Divine grace is needed by every soul in consequence of the fall of Adam and also because of man's weaknesses and shortcomings. However, grace cannot suffice without total effort on the part of the recipient...It is truly the grace of Jesus Christ that makes salvation possible."

(cite:www.lds.org)

When we put forth an effort towards anything we qualify for the grace or help from others. For example, when we learn to play a sport the coach teaches us all we know. We then show the coach we are listening by using what the coach teaches us. This allows the coach to then show us where to improve even more.

How do we learn? By watching others.

How do we teach? By doing for others.

Watching is an inactive action while doing is an active action. By being active we gain or increase grace or help from Jesus Christ.

Are you doing all you can to gain grace from Christ?

Citing:
www.lds.org
www.definr.com