![]() Paul 'received grace' for the ministry (Ro 1:5). We must now 'continue in the grace of God' (Ac 13:43). We are 'commended' (Ac 14:26) and 'committed to the grace of God' (Ac 15:20). ![]() Those getting caught in the web of legalism are 'fallen from grace' (Gal 5:4). ![]() Jesus was 'full of grace' but now so are His people (John 1:14, Ac 6:8). Grace is a frequent part of benedictions (1 Timothy 1:2 2 Pe 1:2). 'Grace to you' is wished at least 11 times ( 5). We are brought 'into this grace' (Ro 5:2). Our lives are significantly shaped by 'the word of His grace' (Ac 14:3, Ac 20:32). These all explicitly teach us to humble ourselves at this gift of grace (Eph 2:8-9). The gospel is called 'the gospel of the grace of God (Ac 20:24). Some insist that faith is our part of salvation but the scriptures insist we have 'believed through grace' (Ac 18:27) and 'saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus' ( Ac 15:11). God brings this saving grace to our lives 'by faith' (Ro 4:16) but always in 'accordance to grace' (Ro 4:16). Jesus was known for His fullness of 'grace and truth' (John 1:14,16). God's grace simply overwhelms us with its glorious descriptions like: 'surpassing grace of God,' 'make all grace abound,' 'that grace might increase,' 'riches of His grace,' 'glory of His grace,' 'grace abounded,' and 'abundance of grace' ( 4). God the Father ( 1), Son ( 2) and Holy Spirit ( 3) are the source 'of all grace' (1 Pe 5:10). Let us now attempt to summarize this NT word grace. The OT parallel word brings even a deeper meaning to this study. Whenever anyone treats us with favor, we are filled with joy and naturally respond with thanksgiving. A close word to charis is chara which means joy ( 0). This word can also be translated ' thanks' such as in 2 Corinthians 9:15, " Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" God's goodness is so closely tied up with joy that thanksgiving is wrapped around it from beginning to the end. The Greek word charis is used 122 times in the NT when it is translated 'grace'.
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