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January 8: We Rule in Life by the Grace of God
We rule in life by the grace of God. Rom. 5:17, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who received abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”
- Grace is salvation
- Grace is empowerment. 2 Cor. 12:9, “My grace is all you need, for my power is greater when you are weak.”
- 2 Peter 1:2-3, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power [grace] has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,”
Grace, Charis=Gift: benefit, favour, gracious and liberality, the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. God’s free empowerment that gives us the ability to go beyond natural ability.
After the stoning of Stephen the church was scattered. They would need supernatural enablement to keep going. Some of them ended up in Antioch. Many were being saved and it states that the hand of the Lord was with them. Acts 11:22-24, “then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” The Main purpose of grace is empowerment. John 1:16, “Of His [Jesus] fullness we have all received and grace for grace.” Not only have we received salvation, which is wholeness, prosperity, strength, healing, and deliverance, etc, but we have received of His fullness—all that Jesus is, was, and ever will be. We are co-heirs with Him. His grace for each situation will never run out. It is inexhaustible. We must reach in for it. It has been provided for us, but we must exercise our faith to receive it. Of his fullness we have received. 1 Cor. 1:4-7, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,”
It is the richness of the abundance of grace which gives us all that Jesus has made available to us. We receive his ability and power through the holy Spirit to be exactly who God needs us to be in the moment. This incredible gift of grace enables us to walk as He walked in the earth. The early church understood this. They understood that it was Christ in them, the hope of glory. It was not about their righteousness because they had none; it was His righteousness purchased for them on the cross and freely given to them. This grace had made them partakers of His divine nature. The essential qualities and character of Jesus had been freely given to them.
Grace speaks of ability and power. 2 Peter 1:2-4, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” As Jesus is so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17.
Pastor Gerrie Armaly
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