The meaning of grace

GRACE

"With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and MUCH GRACE was with them all" (Acts 4:33).

"From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been COMMITTED TO THE GRACE OF GOD for the work they had now completed" (Acts 14:26).

Why was the grace of God so important in the experience of the early Christians?

Why did the church in Antioch pray that the GRACE of God would be upon Paul and Barnabas, and later on Paul and Silas, as they set out on their missionary journeys?

A. THE MEANING OF GRACE

The most common understanding of the word "grace" is "God's unmerited favor" _ in other words, even though we were sinners, deserving of judgement, God looked upon us in love and forgave us.

This, however, is only half it's meaning.

It also means "God's enabling power."

"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word" (2Thessalonians 2:16,17).

Not only does His grace makes us accepted into the family of God, but it also provides the power we need to live the Christian life. Two scriptures indicate the two aspects of God's grace in every believer.

1. God's Unmerited Favor

"For it is by grace [God's umerited favor] you have been saved, through faith _ and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God _ not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Judgement Throne Of Christ

Introduction 

  "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he has done, whether it be good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10)".

   The Greek word for "Judgement Seat " means "raised platform."

   At the Judgement Seat Of Christ, we will be rewarded for our works in earth.

So as a Christian one should prepare his life doing the work of God for when he comes he is going to reward us according on how each one of us has worked

A. SALVATION VERSUS REWARDS FOR CHRISTIANS

There is a vast difference between the doctrine of salvation for the lost, and the doctrine of rewards for the saved.

1. Salvation is free

Salvation is a gift from God got through his Son Jesus Christ. And one gets salvation by believing in him.

2. Rewards are earned

  Rewards are according to the works of the believer ( Mathew 16:17).

Kinds of rewards given are:

a. Rewarded For Labor.

b. God's fellow workers.

c. Build on Christ.

d. Choice of Materials

Lord Jesus has given every Christian a job to do. If we ignore his commandments, we will be sad and frighten when we stand before him at judgement! Note John's warning:

    "Little children, abide in him so that when he shall appear you will not be ashamed at his coming" (1 John 2:28).

         MAY GOD BLESS YOU 

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Fellowship

THE PURPOSE OF FELLOWSHIP

    The fellowship of Christians together is very important, for it is in our unity together that... 

1. The Believer Is Encouraged And Grows in Christ

    "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong _ that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Roman 1:11,12).

2. The World Comes To Know That Jesus Was Sent Of God

    "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:22,23).

CONDITIONS ON FELLOWSHIP

1. A Basic Commitment To One Another

     "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves" (Romans 12:10).

      Without a basic trust there can be no fellowship. The depth of fellowship will vary according to the depth of commitment. 

2. Our Commitment Must Be Based On 'Agape'

'Agape' is a one-way love, which loves 'inspite of,' not 'because of.' Such a commitment therefore will not be affected by the other person's inconsistent behavior. 

3. True Fellowship Is Christ-Centered

    Our fellowship with one another is founded in our common commitment to Christ. 

    ...And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ"

Walking in The Light

Our fellowship embraces the need to be open, honest and truthful with another. This at times may means:

    

   a. Confessing Our Own Sins To Others, Or Lovingly Covering Another's Sin. "If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from every sin”