While
attempting to weigh how this subject imparts on grace, I found myself comparing
scriptures with scriptures (1cor. 2:13c) and the following was some of my
findings:
1. 2Pet. 1:2 GRACE and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of
God, and of Jesus our Lord.
-
We can deduce here that increasing in the revealed KNOWLEDGE OF GOD which can
only take place as we increase in KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST is the key source of INCREASING
IN GRACE. Prayers, fasting, giving etc can only help us while journeying here
but isn’t a substitute in anyway to the learning process.
2. 1Cor.
15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge
of God: I speak this to your shame.
- i.e. at this junction,
the Corinthian church should have grown beyond the milk of the word that made
them BELIEVERS, to a phase where they could relate with KNOWLEDGE – the meaty aspect of God’s word
(Heb. 5:12-14) that should make them KNOWERS. The syllabus of knowledge have
to do with the Lord’s secrets (1Cor. 2:6a)
3.
1Cor 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the GRACE of God bestowed on the churches
of Macedonia;
-
i.e. an aspect of Grace/Knowledge of God was received by the Macedonian church
that enabled them cheerfully give in pain, despite their great trial of
affliction and their deep poverty. This knowledge/grace was the source of their
conviction that enabled them give beyond their power, as they were willing of
themselves
4.
Gal. 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you
into the GRACE of Christ unto
another gospel:
-
i.e. a spiritual distraction from a TRUE KNOWLEDGE by an INFERIOR KNOWELDGE.
Both are fellowships. One in the Spirit and the other in the flesh
5.
Gal. 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived
the GRACE that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right
hands of fellowship.
-
i.e. the grace Apostle Paul made reference to here was knowledge of the
secrets of Christ, which the Lord couldn’t give unto the disciples because
they initially KNEW HIM IN THE FLESH, unlike Paul who began by KNOWING HIM IN THE
SPIRIT (2Cor. 5:16)
6.
Gal. 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law; ye are fallen from GRACE
-
i.e. the Galatian church slipped back to Judaism, an inferior knowledge
rooted in the Law which placed emphasis on right conducts and focused on the
Mosaic covenant
7.
Gal. 6:18 Brethren, the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be
with your spirit. Amen.
- i.e. Our recreated
human Spirit has received and is a safe abode for the grace of our Lord Jesus,
but our soul is yet to be exposed to the knowledge of God and is therefore yet
to become a conducive abode for grace to abide. THE ONGOING PROCESS OF THE SALVATION OF THE SOUL (1PET. 1:9) IS MEANT
TO MAKE IT AN ABODE
8.
Eph. 2:8 For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
-
i.e. We embrace that knowledge through Faith.
Many are unbelievers today because they are yet to respond to the spiritual faith-based
principle and many believers remain carnal (Rom. 8:6-7) because their minds
have not received new laws (Heb. 8:10/10:15) and their hearts have not yet been
instructed in righteousness (2Tim. 3:16)
9.
Phil. 1:7 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 defense and
confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my GRACE.
-
i.e. Paul’s Soul had become ONE WHAT GOD REVEALED to him through several encounters,
from Acts 9 to when he was encountered by God through the buffeting (2Cor.
12:7) he received from a terrible fallen spirit. That Knowledge had become HIS
INHERITANCE IN CHRIST JESUS =Eph. 1:3=, HIS PERSONAL PROPERTY BEYOND TIME.
10.
Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord,
which gave testimony unto the word of his GRACE,
and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
- i.e. there is a
class/order of words that conveys God’s secrets and communicates His Grace!
It’s called UTTERANCE and as mighty as Apostle Paul was, he had to enjoin the
saints to pray for him that utterance would be given to him – Eph. 6:19
We
can therefore see that the beginning aspect of faith is what makes us
bear an identity called BELIEVERS OF CHRIST. But there is the need for
an experience with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (Eph. 1:17-18) to bring
us into KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST (i.e. knowledge of what we previously
believed in), where we experientially encounter the GRACE OF GOD
2Tim.
1:12 For the which cause I also suffer
these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I KNOW whom I have BELIEVED…
So the more NEW TESTAMENT ENLIGHTENMENT THAT WE RECEIVE (Eph. 1:17-18/Jn.
1:12a), the more grace we partake of and the more gracious we become. The more
our investment of hearing and learning Christ =Eph. 4:20=, the more our grace
dividend.
Having Grace
is owing God’s knowledge (Jn. 17:3) and it is more than sufficient for us
because Its More Than We Can Ask Or Think Of (Eph. 3:20)
Bless You!
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