Grace

Daily Bread

Daily Devotions with Pastor Chuck

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A most familiar verse for this new day,

“For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8 – NASB)

Yesterday I noticed and read some notes I had made in one of my two Bibles (I have a much-used NASB 1977 and a much-used NKJV) regarding “grace.” I thought I might share them with you.

GRACE – “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits on the undeserving.” (A. W. Tozer)
GRACE – (is) “the unmerited operation of God in the heart of man, effected through the agency of the Holy Spirit.” (Berkhoff)
GRACE – “At the heart of the term grace is the idea of divine favor.” (J. MacArthur)
GRACE – The Hebrew for “grace” is chen, translated “favor” in Genesis 6:8 (NASB).
GRACE – In the New Testament the Greek for “grace” is charis, meaning gracefulness, graciousness, favor, gratitude.
GRACE – “It is favor bestowed on sinners who deserve wrath” (J. MacArthur)
GRACE – Grace is not dormant or some abstract quality . . . it is an active, working principle (Titus 2:11-12, Ephesians 1:5-6; Romans 5:2; Hebrews 13:9; II Peter 3:18).
GRACE – “The free and benevolent influence of a holy God operating sovereignly in the lives of undeserving sinners.” (J. MacArthur)
GRACE – “Two extremes to be avoided in the matter of grace. We must take care not to nullify grace through legalism (Gal. 2:21) or corrupt it through licentiousness (Jude 4).” (J. MacArthur)
GRACE – “Grace” is efficacious – meaning it is sure to produce the intended results.
GRACE – Charles Hodge defined it as “The almighty power of God.”

Just a gathering of writings and thoughts regarding “grace.” Why the gathering and the writing of them in my Bible? That’s easy! I am a “wretch” that by God’s “Amazing Grace,” has become a saint.

“Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within,
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!”

Oh there is so much more that can be written for definition and recognition of God’s “grace,” but for now I will share a few of the notes I have recorded. How about you, what do you have written down about that “by” which “you have been saved?”

Have a good day brethren . . . I’m praying that it strikes deep in your heart and in mine, the wonderful truth of the grace of God, the amazing grace of God!