GRACE CAME?

GRACE CAME?

Friday, April 10, 2015

Matthew [MKJV] 5:38-48 [Jesus explained] … You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy." But I say to you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who despitefully use you and persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father in Heaven. For He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax-collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax-collectors do so? Therefore be perfect ^G5046, even as your Father in Heaven is perfect ^G5046 [τέλειος; teleios; tel'-i-os -- From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: - of full age, man, perfect.]       Philippians [GW] 2:3 Don't act out of selfish ambition or be conceited. Instead, humbly think of others as being better than yourselves. Don't be concerned only about your own interests, but also be concerned about the interests of others. Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality. Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross. This is why God has given him an exceptional honor- the name honored above all other names- so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. My dear friends, you have always obeyed, not only when I was with you but even more now that I'm absent. In the same way continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him. Do everything without complaining or arguing.

1John [MKJV] 4  … God is love. … Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

“grace” is total of 170 times in 159 verses in KJV OT & NT.

  Did grace come with the doctrinal Covenant of Grace? (A phrase never used in KJV or any other of 9 version/translations I investigated. I did find “covenant” and “grace” in Heb.10:29.)

  I have a problem with idea held by some that there is latter day era of grace. I consider it problematic to narrowly frame thinking by specified era.

  Was there ever time without God’s grace?

  Sovereign God Almighty’s grace has ever been and always will be. As He is timeless so is His grace. His grace is inseparable from His eternal character: grace being unearned undeserved favor and blessing from and by Him.

  God’s grace is evidenced in His creating Adam, then Eve. Did they earn or deserve to be created? Did they earn or deserve to live with free-will in His garden in Eden? Did they earn or deserve a life after sin?

  Did murderer Cain earn or deserve God’s protection?

  Adam, Eve, Cain and all since benefit in and by God’s undeserved unearned favor and blessing.

  Yes, a difference, the distinction being in His manifestation of grace in way promised and now accomplished. Romans [GW] 5:8 “Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God's love for us.”

  Did we or anyone else now or ever earn or deserve that Christ should sacrifice Himself for us? NO, not then, not now, not ever! (Ephesians 2:8-10 is not limited to after-the-fact, it states eternal fact.)

  Grace, agape’ love, is inseparable from the character of The Timeless One. As with Him, ever and always, without beginning or end.

  Let us accept and dwell in His eternal grace, striving toward His completeness.

EBB4

 

For further thoughtful consideration: Though “covenant of grace” is not, “new covenant” is in KJV et al, but take note that it is “to the house of Israel” and later explained in an epistle to those of the house of Israel. Jer.31:31; Heb.8:8; 13; 12:24.