Grace: An Exposition of Gods Marvelous Gift

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Romans 12:3-8 TPT

In our text he associates with himself all believers, as being conscious of a power working in them, which is really the limitless power of God, and heartens them to anticipate that whatever limitless power can effect in them will certainly be theirs. God does not leave off till He has done and till He can look upon His completed work and pronounce it very good. This boundless grace is in each individual case bounded for the time by our own faith.

We Christian people have, as it were, our own small, cultivated plot on the boundless prairie, the extent of which we measure for ourselves and which we can enlarge as we will. We have as much as we desire; we have as much as we take; we have as much as we use; we have as much as we can hold. We are admitted into the treasure house, and all around us lie ingots of gold and vessels full of coins; we ourselves determine how much of the treasure should be ours, and if at any time we feel like empty-handed paupers rather than like possible millionaires, the reason lies in our own slowness to take that which is freely given to us of God.

For so, on the one hand, should we be encouraged to expect great things from God, and, on the other hand, be humbled by the contrast between what we might be and what we are. The river that rushes full of water from the throne can send but a narrow and shallow trickle through the narrow channel choked with much rubbish, which we provide for it. It is of little avail that the sun in the heavens pours down its flood of light and warmth if the windows of our hearts are by our own faults so darkened that but a stray beam, shorn of its brightness and warmth, can find its way into our darkness.

The first lesson which we have to draw from the contrast between the boundlessness of the gift and the narrow limits of our individual possession and experience of it, is the lesson of penitent recognition and confession of the unbelief which lurks in our strongest faith. Not less surely will the recognition that the form and amount of the grace of God, which is possessed by each, is determined by the faith of each, lead to tolerance of the diversity of gifts.

We have received our own proper gift of God, that which the strength and purity of our faith is capable of possessing, and it is not for us to carp at our brethren, either at those in advance of us or at those behind us.

We have to remember that as it takes all sorts of people to make up a world, so it takes all varieties of Christian character to make a church. It is the body and not the individual members which represents Christ to the world. The firmest adherence to our own form of the universal gift will combine with the widest toleration of the gifts of others. The white light appears when red, green, and blue blend together, not when each tries to be the other.

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The contrast between these two must be kept vivid if we would live in the freedom of the hope of the glory of God, for in the contrast lies the assurance of endless growth. A process is begun in every Christian soul of which the only natural end is the full possession of God in Christ, and that full possession can never be reached by a finite creature, but that does not mean that the ideal mocks us and retreats before us like the pot of gold, which the children fancy is at the end of the rainbow. Rather it means a continuous succession of our realisations of the ideal in ever fuller and more blessed reality.

In this life we may, on condition of our growth in faith, grow in the possession of the fulness of God, and yet at each moment that possession will be greater, though at all moments we may be filled.

Benson Commentary Ephesians 4: But — Though there be so many, and those infinitely important particulars, in which the true members of the church agree, and which furnish such powerful motives to love and unity, yet there are some things wherein they differ. These distinctions, however, ought to be regarded by them, not as matters of emulation, and causes of contention, but rather as additional obligations to love and union, considering the great source and design of them all.

For unto every one is given grace — Or some particular endowment proceeding from grace; according to the measure of the gift of Christ — In such a measure as seems best to him, the great Head and Governor of the church, to bestow it; whose distributions, we know, are always guided by consummate wisdom and goodness; so that all his disciples have the highest reason to acquiesce entirely in what he does. Wherefore he saith — That is, in reference to which God saith by David, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive — He took captive those who had held mankind in captivity; he conquered and triumphed over all our spiritual enemies, especially Satan, sin, and death, which had before enslaved all the world.

Dispensationalism And Free Grace: Intimately Linked, Part 3 -- By: Grant Hawley

This is spoken in allusion to the custom of ancient conquerors, who led those they had conquered in chains after them. And as they also used to give donatives to the people at their return from victory, so Christ gave gifts unto men — Namely, both the ordinary and extraordinary gifts of the Spirit: Now this expression, that he ascended, what is it? Into the lower parts of the earth — That is, into the womb of the virgin at his incarnation, and into the grave at his passion; including, however, all the other steps of his humiliation. Bishop Pearson on the Creed, p. He that descended — That thus amazingly humbled himself; is the same that ascended up — That was so highly exalted; far above all heavens — Above the aerial and starry heavens, into the heaven of heavens; or, as the meaning rather is, above all the inhabitants of the heavens, above all the angelical hosts; which is the meaning also of Hebrews 7: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary 4: All is given as seems best to Christ to bestow upon every one.

He received for them, that he might give to them, a large measure of gifts and graces; particularly the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Not a mere head knowledge, or bare acknowledging Christ to be the Son of God, but such as brings trust and obedience. There is a fulness in Christ, and a measure of that fulness given in the counsel of God to every believer; but we never come to the perfect measure till we come to heaven.

And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion.

by Lewis Sperry Chafer | PB | LikeNew

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Free Reading Plans and Devotionals related to Romans Don't Settle For Safe. Finding Freedom From Stress. The Biblical Meaning Of Success. Stop Going To Church. I could go on but you get the picture. Thank you my sister in Christ for the brick in the head Gayla. Grace is God waking me up every morning, loving, healing and teaching me like I never did any wrong! Shirley Raymond June 24, at 6: Patricia June 25, at 6: Nancy Seibert June 25, at 9: Paula June 24, at 6: His Grace is underneath and Around me holding me up.

Kim Eriksen June 24, at 6: Grace is Gods undeserved favor to those who only deserve wrath. Blanche Hake June 24, at 6: DORI June 24, at 6: Carol King June 24, at 6: Jennifer June 24, at 6: Cindy June 24, at 7: Valerie June 24, at 7: Susan Peterson June 24, at 7: Ann Blomgren June 24, at 7: Mary Landis June 24, at 7: Elaine June 24, at 8: Grace is like rain falling softly down on me and it feels so good.

Cynthia June 24, at 8: Mindi Huebner June 24, at 8: Louisa June 24, at 8: Krystal June 24, at 9: Grace is a free gift of love, but we must be willing to accept it with a humble heart. Sharon June 24, at 9: Sheri Brewer June 24, at 9: Judy Gatehouse June 24, at 9: Diana June 24, at 9: Grace cost Jesus Christ his life, but it is free to us who believe in Him. AnnMarie June 24, at 9: Kathy June 24, at 9: It keeps me afloat. Thank you Lord Jesus. Alana Morgan June 24, at Hannah June 24, at Liz H June 24, at June 24, at Grace is so humbling…and I am so thankful.

Thanks Liz — Bless you! Paula Timpson June 25, at 1: Karen June 25, at 5: Shirley June 25, at 5: Grace is love beyond what we could remotely imagine!

Debbie Johnson June 25, at 6: Sunshyne June 25, at 6: Judy June 25, at 8: Amy Boucher Pye June 25, at 8: Grace is hope in the darkness, knowing God will find a window even if the door seems shut. Elizabeth Hoagland June 25, at 9: Praying for Monday to come together!

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Erica June 25, at 9: Beckie Turner June 25, at Tami June 25, at Jan June 25, at Cam June 25, at Where would any of us be without it. Kathy June 25, at 1: Grace is joyfully living an undeserved life through Christ. Chris Heidegger June 25, at 2:

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