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Understanding Grace: A Fundamental Concept in Christianity Part Two: The Biblical Basis of Grace

Last week, we looked at the key characteristics of grace. This week, we will consider its biblical basis. Grace is undeniably a recurring theme in the Bible, running like a thread throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Biblical examples and key verses tie together the overarching narrative of God's relationship with His people. 

Grace in the Old Testament

The presence of grace in the Old Testament is a precursor to Christ's ultimate act of grace in the New Testament; the offer of salvation and reconciliation to all who believe. 

Examples:

+God expressed grace by creating and gifting us everything (Genesis 1)
+God’s grace protected Noah and his family (Genesis 6)
+God showed grace to Abraham by making a covenant with him (Genesis 12)
+God graced Joseph with perseverance (Genesis 50)
+God delivered the Israelites to The Promised Land (Exodus 6)
+God graced Rahab with His mercy (Joshua 2)
+God utilized Ester as a tool to save the Jews. (Ester 4)
+God’s grace overlooked David’s multiple shortcomings (Psalm 51)
+God’s grace mirrors His character (Psalm 103)
+God’s grace saved Daniel (Daniel 6)
+God’s grace never gave up on Jonah (4)

Key Verses:

Grace in the New Testament

In the New Testament, the concept of grace is most prominently revealed through the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. His interactions with sinners, outcasts, and those considered unworthy by societal standards demonstrate God's boundless love and forgiveness.

Examples:

+God shows us grace by providing us with His Word (Matthew 4)
+God’s grace healed a paralyzed man (Mark 2)
+God taught grace through parables (Luke 15- The Prodigal Son; Luke 10- The Good Samaritan)
+God expressed grace by sending His Son to save us from sin (John 3)
+God’s grace expressed unconditional love for Peter (John 21)
+God’s grace transformed Saul into the Apostle Paul (Acts 9)
+God’s grace is used to serve Him (Romans 1)
+God’s grace exemplifies Christian living (2 Corinthians 12)
+God’s grace denotes salvation (Ephesians 2)
+God’s grace provides for our needs (Philippians 4)
+God’s grace helps us through trials (James 1)

Key Verses:

As You Can See

Throughout the Bible, grace encapsulates the core message of God's love, forgiveness, and salvation offered to humanity. It is a unifying thread that runs through both the Old and New Testaments, emphasizing God's unmerited favor and the redemptive work He offers to all who believe.

-Torrance Church of Christ

Understanding Grace: A Fundamental Concept in Christianity Part One: Key Characteristics of Grace

Grace is a recurring theme in the Bible, holding a foundational place within Christianity. However, do we genuinely comprehend the core of grace? Over the next seven weeks, we will explore various facets of grace to attain a more profound and comprehensive understanding of this divine gift bestowed upon us by God.

Starting With The Basics, What Is Grace?

Merriam-Webster defines grace as:

Grace can be understood as the unmerited favor, love, and mercy of God extended to us. It encompasses God’s benevolent disposition toward humanity, His boundless love and generosity. 

Key Characteristics of Grace

Aiming to unravel the complexities of grace, explore its significance, and shed light on its profound impact on our lives, today, we will focus on key characteristics that grace embodies.

Grace is Unearned Favor: Grace is often described as God's unearned and undeserved favor. It means that God's love and blessings are given freely, regardless of a person's actions or worthiness. It is a gift freely given by God.

Grace is Abundant with Love and Compassion: Grace reflects God's deep love and compassion for humanity. It shows that God cares for all of us deeply and is willing to extend His love and favor even when it is not deserved.

Grace Harbors Transformative Power: Grace has the power to transform lives. It inspires us to live a righteous and loving life. This encourages spiritual growth, supporting us to become more Christ-like in character.

Grace Highlights Redemption and Salvation: Grace is at the core of salvation. Through God's grace, we can receive forgiveness and reconciliation with Him. This means that, despite our human imperfections and sinful nature, we can be saved and have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

Grace is a Bridge to God: Grace serves as a bridge between humanity and God. It's through God's grace that we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He is our Father who will help, guide, and support us, always wanting us to succeed.

Grace Promises Compassion and Mercy: It teaches that, no matter how far we may have strayed from God or committed sins, we can turn to God's grace for forgiveness and restoration. 

Grace Provides Hope and Comfort: In times of hardship and suffering, grace offers hope and comfort. We can find solace in the belief that God's grace sustains us through difficult circumstances and provides strength to persevere.

Grace Advocates Unity: Grace emphasizes the equality of all believers before God. It doesn't matter one's past or current circumstances; everyone has access to God's grace. 

Grace is Sufficiency: God's grace is seen as sufficient to meet all of humanity's needs, providing everything necessary for a meaningful relationship with God and a life of faith.

Grace Enhances the Ability to Love: Grace exemplifies God's boundless love for humanity. It is through experiencing and understanding this grace that we are inspired to love and serve others selflessly. Grace encourages us to show compassion, kindness, and forgiveness to others as a reflection of the love we have received from God.

Grace Promotes Humility and Gratitude: Understanding grace encourages humility among us, as we recognize our dependence on God's mercy. It also fosters gratitude for God's love and salvation, leading us to live a life of thankfulness and service to others.

Grace Offers Empowerment: Grace extends to daily living. It provides the strength and guidance for us to live a life that reflects God's love and character. This empowerment enables us to overcome challenges, grow spiritually, and extend grace to others in our interactions.

Winding Up

In essence, Grace is a connecting link between humanity and God that represents the profound manifestation of God’s love and mercy that enables us to establish a profound relationship with Him, find forgiveness for our sins, and attain salvation. It serves as a powerful reminder that God's love and favor are freely given, unearned, and available to all who seek Him. 

-Torrance Church of Christ

27 Bible Verses For Valentine's Day

Love is a prevailing theme throughout the Bible. The Bible teaches us that the most important approach to take in life is to approach it with love. We are commanded to respond to and interact with others and situations wearing love-lensed glasses. Jesus teaches us that loving one another is the greatest commandment. Furthermore, God’s love for us is felt throughout His doctrine. 

In observation of this upcoming Valentines Day, we thought it would not only be fun but also insightful to collect and share Bible verses that highlight His resounding message of love. As an added bonus, we’ve included quotes about love with respect to the Christian lifestyle. 

The Verses

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

-Ephesians 4:2

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Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

-1 Peter 4:8

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Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

-1 John 4:8

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 How beautiful you are and how pleasing, my love, with your delights!

-Song of Solomon 7:6

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Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

-Romans 12:9

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Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

-Proverbs 10:12

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How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful!  Your eyes are doves.

-Song of Solomon 1:15

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Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

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Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

-Proverbs 3:3

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How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume more than any spice!

-Song of Solomon 4:10

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Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

-Mark 10:9

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Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

-Romans 13:10

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There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

-1 John 4:18

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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves

-Philippians 2:3

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 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

-Psalm 85:10

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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

-1 Corinthians 13:4-7

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However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

-Ephesians 5:33

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You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.

-Song of Solomon 4:7

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Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

-Romans 12:10

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We love because He first loved us.

-1 John 4:19

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And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

-1 Corinthians 13:13

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 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth- for your love is more delightful than wine.

-Song of Solomon 1:2

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God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 

-1 John 4:16

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A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

-Proverbs 31:10

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Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away.

-Song of Solomon 8:7

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And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

-Colossians 3:14

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Do everything in love.

-1 Corinthians 16:14

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The Quotes

Never procrastinate in showing love. Don’t delay. Don’t put it off. Do it now. 

Rick Warren

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Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies. 

Mother Teresa

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Being loved is life’s second greatest blessing; loving is the greatest. 

Jack Hyles

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Real love, the Bible says, instinctively desired permanence. 

Timothy Keller

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When you are filled with love, and you are busy loving, you have no time to fear. 

Michael Caputo

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When couples love God first, they love each other better. 

Brela Delahoussaye

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Do not waste time bothering whether you love your neighbor; act as if you did. 

C.S. Lewis

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The measure of love is to live without measuring.

Saint Augustine

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When God brought the first man his spouse, He brought him not just a lover but the friend his heart has been seeking. 

Timothy Keller

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When God made a woman, He took her from the rib of the man. One function of the rib is to protect the heart. In the same way, women should protect her man’s heart, careful not to use words or do things to hurt it. 

Unknown

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The more we love, the more love we have to offer. So it is with God’s love for us. It is inexhaustible. 

Mary C. Neal

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If we claim to love God, but don’t love each other, our love is nothing and meaningless. 

David Alley

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Faith makes all things possible. Love makes all things easy. 

Dwight L. Moody

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The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now. 

Rick Warren

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The overriding character trait of Jesus is love, and the entire Gospel story is woven with love. Sometimes it’s not easy, and oftentimes it requires sacrifice, but it’s when we love that we are the most like Jesus. 

Steven Furtick

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As God by creation made two of the one, so again by marriage, He made one of the two. 

Thomas Adams

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Where love is, God is. 

Henry Drummond

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Think on these two powerful points: Lean on God in every situation and love others as unselfishly as you possibly can.

Joyce Meyer

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For instance, God teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people around us. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving you. 

Rick Warren

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Love is worthless unless it acts out, unless it’s expressed in deed and behavior. 

Dr. David Jeremiah

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Intense love does not measure, it just gives. 

Mother Teresa

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Love has a quality that it becomes stronger as the time passes. 

Adam Green

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To Love another person is to see the peace of God. 

Victor Hugo

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Love is the doorway through which the human soul passes from selfishness to service.

Jack Hyles

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Love pays attention. Love listens to the fears and the doubts of others and treats them with respect. Love accepts others the way Jesus accepts us. 

Rick Warren

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Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do. 

David Wilkerson

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To love someone means to see him as God intended him. 

Fyodor Dostoevsky

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Lastly

Spread His love by adding a verse or two to Valentine's cards for a special someone, a friend, or anyone else you feel inspired to uplift. Ruminate on the verses and their meanings. Let His word guide you and lead you down a path of unconditional love. 

- Torrance Church of Christ