Notes from June 3rd Bible study.
SAVED BY GRACE THRU FAITH
[By Divine influence upon the HEARTS]
If something is true, the more one studies and research, the more things will come to light to prove it true.
Making man in the image of God: You will note that God uses "And it was so..." many times in Gen. BUT when God made man, there is NO "and it was so."
Now when God called Israel to obey Him and be a special blessed people, there was a major problem. They did not fear or obey God. Why?
Oh, that they had such a HEART in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever! (Deu 5:29)
Our biggest problem is our HEART: "
The HEART is deceitful above all things, And it is exceeding weak [desoerately wicked, incurable]--who can know it?" (Jere. 17:9,
Jewish Publication Society).
How weak and wicked is it:
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his HEART was only evil continually" (Gen. 6:5 and again when Christ returns, Matt. 24:37).
Israel's sin was "UNBELIEF" (Rom. 11;20)
Gentiles sin is also "UNBELIEF" (Rom. 11: 32)
Well WHICH IS IT? "
EVIL HEART?" or "
UNBELIEF?" BOTH:
"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of UNBELIEF, in departing from the living God" (Heb. 3: 10-12).Why do thousands and thousands of detractors fight me regarding "free will," "the trinity," "tithing," "salvation of all" etc? They have an
"EVIL HEART OF UNBELIEF." Their evil heart DESPISES the Word of God. They want to believe EVIL and believe the WORST!
Then He will write His law in that NEW HEART:
"A new HEART also will I give you, and a new SPIRIT will I put within you: and I will take away the stoney heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh" (Eze. 36:26)
"[God] Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His Own purpose AND GRACE, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (11Tim. 2: 9)
What is "grace?".............................................................................
GRACE IS: '
charis'-- "gracious; liberal; benefit; favor, gift; joy; pleasure; thanks;
divine influence upon the HEART!"
Did Jesus ever need "grace?" For what purpose? Did Jesus ever need to be "pardoned" for anything requiring grace? Then what kind of GRACE did Jesus possess?
"And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the GRACE ['divine influence upon His HEART]
of God was upon Him" (Luke 2: 40)
" And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) fullof GRACE ['divine influence upon His HEART]
and truth" (John 1:14)
"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace [divine influence was upon His heart']which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I [labored],
but the grace of God [LABORED' by 'divine influence upon the heart]
which was with me" (1 Cor. 15:10)
Also 'WHEN GRACE IS A VERB' is in the Lake of Fire Series, no 3.
http://bible-truths.com/lake3.html---------------------------------------------
mercy, peace, and love
Kat