Review
DNA is a molecule that resides in each of the hundred trillion cells in your body and each strand of DNA contains the blueprint- the genetic instructions- that enable your body to live, develop, and function.
What is Grace?
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- Charis: unearned (not pay), unmerited (didn’t do anything to deserve it), undeserved (actually deserve the opposite) favor and blessing of God.
- Favor is God’s attitude toward you
- Blessing is Gods resulting action toward you.
God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Physically we received our DNA through our parents, but spiritually, our human spirit has been born of God and re-generated by His Spirit. As we grow and develop spiritually, we will express more and more of his nature and his character that we received in our new birth.
As we mature we have to grow in RECEIVING AND EXTENDING GRACE.
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16-17 AMPC
The Manifold Grace of God
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
I Peter 4:10 NKJV
Strong’s Definitions: ποικίλος poikílos, poy-kee’-los; motley, i.e. various in character:—divers, manifold
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- God’s grace in its various forms (NIV)
- The varied Grace of God (HCSB)
- God’s various gifts of grace (NCV)
- God’s many sided kindness (WEY)
- The extremely diverse powers and gifts (AMP)
- The variegated grace of God (Wuest)
Peter’s use of the word “manifold” indicates that God’s grace is expressed in varied and diverse ways; it is truly multi-faceted.
The word “manifold” originally meant “many folds.” It was used in the 1800s to describe a musical instrument involving a “pipe or chamber with several outlets.”
A cut diamond with many facets also illustrates the meaning of manifold. As you turn the diamond, each facet will refract light differently and express a unique view of the gemstone. Yet, no matter which facet or group of facets you are viewing, in reality you are seeing the same diamond. In the same way, you miss so much if you hastily arrive at a single, simplistic definition of grace, and then look away. I would rather gaze long and admire the diamond of God’s grace in order to see and appreciate every facet.
Five areas God desires His grace to be at work in our lives.
- Saving Grace is God’s power and ability to justify us, forgive our sins, and make us new creatures in Jesus Christ.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
- Sanctifying Grace is God’s power and ability to purify us and enable us to live holy lives in a corrupt world.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.
Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV)
- Strengthening Grace is God’s power and ability to energize and inspire us to live victoriously, to reign over the challenges and circumstances of life.
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:17 (NKJV)
- Sharing Grace is God’s power and ability to meet our needs and take joy in giving to others.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)
- Serving Grace is God’s power and ability to serve Him and others with His divinely imparted gifts and aptitudes.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.1 Peter 4:10 (NKJV)
Saving grace keeps us from being lost; it’s the importation of God’s forgiveness.
Sanctifying grace keeps us from being contaminated; it’s the importation of God’s Holiness.
Strengthening grace keeps us from being defeated; it’s the importation of God’s might!
Sharing grace keeps us from lack and selfishness; it’s the importation of God’s generosity.
Serving grace keeps us from being unproductive; it’s the importation of God’s ability.
God’s Grace is love acting.
There is nothing passive about God’s grace, just like there is nothing passive about His love toward us. God, who is love, has been and continues to act on our behalf, and His love in action is what grace is.
I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
Jeremiah 31:3 NLT
Can we comprehend what “an everlasting love” is?
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- God’s love for us has no beginning and no ending.
- God will never stop loving us.
- There is nothing we can do to make God love us more, and there is nothing that we can do to make God love us less.
- He loves us with an everlasting love!
- He draws us to Himself with unfailing love.
If God’s grace, in its general sense, is love acting, then:
Saving grace is Love Rescuing.
Sanctifying grace is Love Cleansing.
Strengthening grace is Love Empowering.
Sharing grace is Love Supplying.
Serving grace is Love Assisting.
When you understand God’s grace as His love acting for you, in you and through you, you can easily see how grace is more than an intellectual doctrine or theory. His grace is abounding toward you right now, let’s respond and receive it by faith.