BIBLICAL GRACE

Lesson 5

Other Aspects Of Grace

As we have seen and learned, grace is a multifaceted gift from God. Grace is designed to work in our life every day.

SPEAKING WITH GRACE

As Christians living under the dispensation of grace, we should take heed to and have a thorough understanding of the grace of God and how it should work in our lives.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body. – James 3:2

James promises us that our mouths can, will, and do offend people. Since so much of our life is defined by the words of our mouths, we can expect to find scriptures teaching us how grace can affect our mouths. Don’t forget the definition of grace: good-will, loving kindness, favor, cheerfulness; to rejoice and be well and thrive.

Let no corrupt communication proceed forth out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4:29-30

According to the Bible, corrupt communication isn’t just dirty words and foul language; it is anything that does not edify or administer grace to the hearer. Therefore, incorrupt communication will always be filled with edification and grace (elegance, charm, favor, sweetness, that which affords joy). Corrupt communication grieves the Holy Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29). A mouth that lacks grace will always get you in trouble.

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. – Proverbs 15:1
The wrath of the king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. – Proverbs 16:14
By long forebearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance. – Proverbs 25:15 AMP
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. – Proverbs 22:11
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. – Ecclesiastes 10:4

Grace-filled words can deliver you from many bad circumstances, but a voice of attitude and arrogance will only dig you a deeper pit.

Scriptures: Proverbs 9:13; 11:16; 21:9, 19

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. – Romans 12:3

Paul only spoke what he had grace to speak. Many people hurt themselves by opening their mouth without having the grace (or permission or liberty) to say something. Even a fool is counted wise when he keeps his mouth shut (Proverbs 17:28). Without grace to speak, many times you will only be intruding into someone’s life and they will not receive what you have to say.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. – Colossians 4:6

Colossians takes it further and says that we must always have grace in our speech. Grace knows how to answer every man. We season our answers with gospel salt to make the hearer thirsty for the Living Water.

SINGING WITH GRACE

Just as there is to be grace in our speech, so there must also be grace in our singing. Without grace in our singing (praise and worship), the singing will just be singing. The ingredient of grace (humility) turns a worship song into worship. Without grace, there would be no difference between our singing and heathen singing.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. – Colossians 3:16

Without a heart of grace, a worship song is just a performance. Many heathen are much more talented singers than many Christians, but their songs don’t glorify Jesus, nor do they manifest the presence of God. The quality of the sound doesn’t make the song pleasing unto God. It is the quality of the heart singing the song that makes the song pleasing unto God.

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: – Psalm 66:1

Seven times the Bible tells us to make “a joyful noise” unto the LORD. Remember that the root word for grace in the Greek is joyful.

Scriptures: Psalms 81:1; 95:1-2; 98:4, 6; 100:1

PARTAKING OF ANOTHER MAN’S GRACE

God has designed the Body of Christ to benefit from one another. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you (1 Corinthians 12:21). We can rub off on one another, as iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. – Philippians 1:7

The Philippian Church was a partaker of Paul’s grace. It would have been evident that they were founded and pastored by the Apostle Paul. His imprint would have been upon them. This church would have looked and would have been governed and administrated differently than one of the Apostle Peter’s churches.

God places graces upon individuals so they can go and minister that grace to the rest of the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10).

Examples:

Timothy and Titus would have ministered and preached a lot like Paul. He was their spiritual father, and they partook of his grace.
Paul desired that Titus would return to the Corinthian Church so that they might abound in Titus’ grace (2 Corinthians 8:5-8, 17).
Paul desired to minister to the Roman Church in person so he could impart into them some spiritual gift (chárisma—grace gift) (Romans 1:11).
The LORD called me to Dr. Sumrall’s Bible school so that I could receive from his grace and catch his vision for world missions.
I, at times, minister and even feel just like each of my former pastors. I believe this is the manifestation of the deposit of their ministry and grace in my life.
Our church has been partakers of the graces of many fathers in the faith over the years. Because of this, we are much more organized, disciplined, and doing more for the Kingdom of God than at any point in our church’s history.

It is my prayer that through these lessons we have been able to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

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BIBLICAL GRACE

Lesson 5

Other Aspects Of Grace

As we have seen and learned, grace is a multifaceted gift from God. Grace is designed to work in our life every day.

SPEAKING WITH GRACE

As Christians living under the dispensation of grace, we should take heed to and have a thorough understanding of the grace of God and how it should work in our lives.

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able to bridle the whole body. – James 3:2

Let no corrupt communication proceed forth out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. – Ephesians 4:29-30

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

The wrath of the king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it. – Proverbs 16:14

By long forebearance and calmness of spirit a judge or ruler is persuaded, and soft speech breaks down the most bonelike resistance. – Proverbs 25:15 AMP

He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. – Proverbs 22:11

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. – Ecclesiastes 10:4

Grace-filled words can deliver you from many bad circumstances, but a voice of attitude and arrogance will only dig you a deeper pit.

Scriptures: Proverbs 9:13; 11:16; 21:9, 19

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. – Romans 12:3

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. – Colossians 4:6

Colossians takes it further and says that we must always have grace in our speech. Grace knows how to answer every man. We season our answers with gospel salt to make the hearer thirsty for the Living Water.

SINGING WITH GRACE

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. – Colossians 3:16

Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: – Psalm 66:1

Seven times the Bible tells us to make “a joyful noise” unto the LORD. Remember that the root word for grace in the Greek is joyful.

Scriptures: Psalms 81:1; 95:1-2; 98:4, 6; 100:1

PARTAKING OF ANOTHER MAN’S GRACE

God has designed the Body of Christ to benefit from one another. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you (1 Corinthians 12:21). We can rub off on one another, as iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17).

Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. – Philippians 1:7

God places graces upon individuals so they can go and minister that grace to the rest of the Body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10).

Examples:

Timothy and Titus would have ministered and preached a lot like Paul. He was their spiritual father, and they partook of his grace.

Paul desired that Titus would return to the Corinthian Church so that they might abound in Titus’ grace (2 Corinthians 8:5-8, 17).

Paul desired to minister to the Roman Church in person so he could impart into them some spiritual gift (chárisma—grace gift) (Romans 1:11).

The LORD called me to Dr. Sumrall’s Bible school so that I could receive from his grace and catch his vision for world missions.

I, at times, minister and even feel just like each of my former pastors. I believe this is the manifestation of the deposit of their ministry and grace in my life.

Our church has been partakers of the graces of many fathers in the faith over the years. Because of this, we are much more organized, disciplined, and doing more for the Kingdom of God than at any point in our church’s history.

It is my prayer that through these lessons we have been able to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

Listen Along: