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[Dynamo54]

I was watching the video of Ray’s Bible study on Grace, which I had not seen for a couple of years. He says grace means “Divine influence on our heart”. It was really impactful to me and I plan to revisit if often now. There is so, so, much knowledge from God in Ray’s Bible studies. Even after 10 or 20 times listening to one I believe I gain a little more understanding.

These times are the “dog days” of humanity’s journey I think, and it is a work to keep focus and not get discouraged.

[Rene]

There is so, so, much knowledge from God in Ray’s Bible studies. Even after 10 or 20 times listening to one I believe I gain a little more understanding.

I totally agree and thanks for the reminder. 

[Porter]

Good reminder indeed! I've been thinking a lot about grace and how Ray taught from the bible what that means. I've also been meditating on the following verses, and they make so much more sense now.
Heb 10:16  This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
Heb 10:17  And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Rom 10:10  With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation.

[Dynamo54]

Yes Porter, it is interesting about the word “grace”. To me, it was always a hard to understand word, or concept, like peace (which I won’t discuss now).

As Ray says, it is an action word. God influencing our hearts/minds and changing us into the mind of Christ (albeit very slowly in my case I think). It is not a static word of something we just have, or have been given. There has to be “action”, and that action is not ours, but Christ’s since ALL is of God.

As I look back on my life I can see God “gracing” me, because as it says “by grace are we saved”. Without God’s ongoing “gracing” me, I could in no way be transformed unto the mind of Christ which we all must have to be in God’s Kingdom/Government.

As a side note Porter. Your including Hebrew 10:17 reminds me how I have wondered about this. God will no longer remember our sins…but will we remember what we were before we are resurrected. I hope not!

[Porter]

I think we will remember who we were before the resurrection. The reason I'm led to believe that is because it provides a contrast to what God has in store if we are to rule with Him in His Kingdom. It's like Ray's teaching on Adam and Eve having only experienced good without experiencing evil. Maybe these verses say it best.

Rev 3:17  Because you say, 'I'm rich; I have become wealthy, and need nothing,' and you don't know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,

Adam and Eve didn't even know they were “naked”, according to Genesis.
Gen 2:25  Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

On a related note, I do wonder if this is part of why God shows us who we are. Just like Jesus understood our weaknesses through the experience of humbling Himself by becoming a human, perhaps we too will have the same empathy toward the world, seeing how we will help Jesus save the world. Assuming, of course, that we will rule with Him in His Kingdom.

Thank you, Dynamo, it's so good to fellowship with like-minded believers about what we've learned here.

[Dynamo54]

Thanks Porter. I realized after I posted that I should have said “I hope I don’t have to remember my sins”. I am sure we will know who we are, and also all our family…especially our children who may have preceded us in death. I just don’t like my sins now and suuurrreee don’t want to think about them later.😀

[Porter]

Thanks for clarifying. I think I assumed what you really meant to say was that you hoped you wouldn't remember being that boastful “beast” in Revelation. I read what you said multiple times, but I still went out on a limb a little, heh.

But yeah, I think the fact the Elect will finally be clothed by and in Christ proves “…we shall not be found naked” as stated in 2Co_5:3 and that our “nakedness will not appear” as stated in Rev 3:18. Basically, no more shame because no more sin. Though, like Ray said, which you seem to understand is the fact the knowledge we gained from good and bad experiences will remain.

[Dave in Tenn]

I agree.   That one piece of spiritually meaningful "explanation" cracked off a lot of dried theological mud from my mind.  It even made "salvation" mean something for a change.