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Vol. 18.06.37
Grace – Graciousness (as gratifying), of manners, or act
(abstract or concrete, literal, figurative or spiritual, especially the divine
influence upon the heart and its reflection in the eye, including gratitude):
acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure thanks
(-s,-worthy)
What we take grace for is correct but not sufficient. For
example saying grace is an unmerited favour. Grace goes beyond gifts. Grace is
situated inside of God. You cannot separate Grace from God. That is grace and
God is inseparable. Grace has always been but not fully revealed. Grace is not something
far away but is encapsulated in us because we are in Christ (John 1 vs 1-5, 1 Peter 5 vs 10). Grace is the
mystery about man’s redemption. Going into grace properly, we will be using the
books of Peter as our foundation and build on it. The letter of Peter was mainly
about grace (1 Peter 5:10-13). Our God is a
God of all grace. Grace is a core teaching because without proper understanding
of it, we will fail as a Christian. The teaching of grace is very important
because it gives a Christian stability. Clear understanding of grace makes you
to stand in a platform where you can visualize all parameters (1 Peter 5: 12).
Grace is not an event but a time frame starting from the suffering of Christ to
the glory that would follow. Grace describes the sequence of God’s redemptive
plan. I will say Grace is divided in three distinct part;
I.
The Past - Grace unto salvation which entails the suffering of Christ.
The suffering of Christ entails
a) The Cross
b) The
resurrection
1 Peter 1:18-21, 23, 1 Timothy 3:16 and Romans
3:23. The concept of redemption is about
purchase or buying back. Redemption in Greek is ‘alzoraczo’, the verb from
AGORA which means a market place. Blood of Jesus is the summary of the cost
paid on the cross of Calvary for the redemption of man. The blood is the life
of God himself. How did man get to the point of buying back? Man came to the
point of buying back when Adam yielded his right to the devil when he sinned or
rebel against God. Sin makes man an article of trade (Romans
7: 14).
The only person that can satisfy God is God himself (Ezekiel 18: 14, John 3; 18, Romans 3; 19, Mathew 20; 28,
1 Timothy 2; 6). In essence, no man can rescue another man. God does not
buy us back alone but to buy us out completely. ‘EX-AGORAZO’ which means to buy
out (Galatians 3; 13, 4; 5). According to Leviticus 25; 47-54, revealed how man can be
redeemed or bought out. A man can be redeemed through the following criteria
1, He must be a male.
2, He must be the man’s kinsman.
3, He must be a free man himself
God is our creator, we belong to him and for these criteria
to be met, God himself has to come to the world. He sought to redeem man back
to himself (John 1; 1-6). Grace brings about
redemption (Ephesians 1; 1-12). God came in
human form to deliver us from the bondage of sin. He went through pain, he was
beaten, spat upon, smitten and mocked by people he created, stripped of his
robe, and a flatted crown of thorns was placed on the head and was crucified. He
said it is finished and immediately, the devil’s grip on man was finished (1 Peter 4; 1-2). This means Christ has paid our
debts completely. Grace is the basis by which God forgives our sin and is
powered by the blood of Jesus Christ that he shed on the cross of Calvary.
The Resurrection
The resurrection of Christ brings man under God inheritance.
(1 Peter 5; 3). Man became God’s inheritance
by Grace. Man is no longer under devil’s hold (Mathew
27; 53, 28; 18). All power is given to Christ both in heaven, on earth
and beyond. There is difference between being set free and being made free.
‘Christ has not only set us free but clears our records i.e. he made us free.
Grace makes you new specie. (Romans 5; 1-2, 8-21).
Therefore, every believing Christian is a product of Grace (1 Peter 2; 10, 24-25). .Man was dead in sin but
after grace met man, man became dead to sin and alive in Christ.
What more then to grace after redemption?
TO BE CONTINUED.............
Author
Opomulo Abimbola Nita
| abimbolaopomulo@gmail.com |
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The Quiver is the Official Bulletin of The Change of Taste Group (a non-denominational mission intercessory and support group ©2018
Edited-in-Chief: Ogunsuyi Opeyemi B. (opeyemiogunsuyi@gmail.com)
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