FAITH AND THE GRACE OF GOD
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(1 Corinthians 2:6 - 1 Corinthians 2:7)
- - We do speak a message of wisdom, but not the wisdom of this world or of the rulers of this world,
who are passing off the scene. (7) Instead, we speak about God's secret wisdom that has been hidden,
which God destined for our glory before the world began.

MYSTERY OF GRACE
Mystery 6
Faith Enables Grace
Faith and the Grace of God

Jesus: "John 5:29 - John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous,
because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."
Paul the apostle: 2 Corinthians 12:9 - 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs,
in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Introduction

Revelation, inspiration, searching, knocking, asking; these are all pathways that lead a seeker into the knowledge of the mysteries of God. "God is a Spirit," the scripture declares. His divine existence is one that can only be perceived, and believed on a non-sensing level. If I say that I know God, whom you neither know nor see, you can only judge my assertions on the basis of my personal credibility. Some spokes persons for God are more credible than others. The early apostles did not so much argue the existence of God as a theory or concept, as to prove His existence by supernatural attestations; demonstrating the Power of God. (1Corinthians 2). So we have the matter of proving to a materialistic non-believing world that God is real and that He still has a part in the day-to-day affairs of this world and its occupants.

"If you believe you will see the Glory of God. "
Grace is everything that God has provided,
Is providing, And will provide, On our behalf.
Grace is what God does, Believing,
Yielding and Obeying Is what we do.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

A Bible Example of Faith in Action
Faith and Grace
Faith Grows as a Fruit as we study the Word of God
Jesus Lived by Faith
Jesus Taught and Demonstrated Faith in Action

A Bible Example of Faith in Action

To continue the idea of response to God or his Word, we can find it portrayed in the Gospel story in Matthew 14:28. In this account, Peter sees Jesus walking upon the surface of the water, an act quite impossible in the natural world unless of course the water be frozen. Peter, always adventurous, tells Jesus that he would like to join him in walking on the water, but only if it truly is Jesus. The faith sequence is portrayed by Jesus telling Peter to "come." Peter himself, then proceeds to approach Jesus, walking on the water. When he removes his eyes from the master and begins to sink, Peter began to notice the waves and the storm, when his faith was replaced by reason and doubt, Peter began to sink.

An indispensable element of the equation is the fact that Jesus spoke directly to Peter and said, "Come."

Jesus spoke this. It is Rhema, God's spoken word, and Peter acted upon that word from the Lord.
It was not Peter's ability to transcend the laws of nature but the power of the Word of God, which formed all of the natural world in the beginning. This Word held Peter up miraculously. This was faith in action.

In the present day we probably do not get A rhema to walk on water but if His voice tells you, "Walk." you should respond. If it tells you, "Sing." you should resound. If it tells you "Go." you should respond. If it tells you, "Stop."you should respond. This is acting as a response to grace in faith.

Faith and Grace
The natural human mind, emotions and will (the human soul) would not seek God, could not believe, and it has no inherent goodness in itself. Though not all of our souls are that of arch villains or wholly reprobate, everyone in the human race " -falls short of the glory of God." Therefore our faith is first given to us by God. His provision or spiritual endowment is GRACE.

Grace is everything which God has provided and will provide, working (spiritually) on our behalf. Grace is what God does! Yielding and obeying is what we do!

In the beginning all of Paul's epistles, Paul pronounces a certain phrase. I believe these words were written by the Spirit of God to provide a living rhema capable of empowering our faith as we read. This by the apostle and charged with Spiritual Power, that phrase is, "Grace be unto you -," sometimes it is accompanied by "and Peace -- " This "invocation" has come to be ritualized in church ceremonies but in its initial form, I believe it was Paul's intent that it be, a prayer of faith. A prayer of faith is a spoken proclamation which is intended to achieve a Spiritual result.

Grace is the working (an empowerment) of a Spiritual God on our behalf. Grace is linked to the term "anointing", which is the manifestation of power and presence of God working upon one of his servants at a certain time. Anointing is God's power that has come upon you to act on his behalf.

It is the Father in heaven who sends His Spirit to help us in every way including to believe. This is an act of GRACE. Grace is that which God does or supplies freely on our behalf. Grace too is spiritual. It is a "Spiritual Fuel" which allows faith to work.

Salvation through grace and faith is described in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

Faith Grows as a Fruit as we study the Word of God

Faith grows as a consequence of studying the Scriptures which are the repository of God's mind and wisdom. The entrance of God's word brings "life" and "light" as the psalmist declares. God's Word begins to redirect our thought processes and renews our minds to conform to God's thought. If we have little understanding of the Word, it follows that we can not be persons of faith. But again I promise you, God provides Grace and anointing to follow Him and know His word. "Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you. - Psalm 119:11"

Faith is cumulative, like a living entity it grows and develops. Hearing the Word of God spoken builds faith. (Faith comes by hearing.) Reading the Scriptures aloud is a powerful faith building exercise. Speaking the Word of God with our own mouths builds and activates faith.

For example when it says in Scripture, "Fear not, for I the Lord am with you." We may activate faith by saying aloud, "I will not fear for you Lord, are with me."

If we believe we shall see the glory of God. If we do not believe, we can not see God's manifested glory. Unbelief does not activate faith. God does not violate our unyielding will and unbelief. As we move toward God in faith, he moves toward us.

Jesus Lived by Faith

Though some may wish to argue that Jesus was too much like God and thus exempted from the life of faith that is required of us. I do not believe that this was the case. I believe that Jesus of Nazareth, acting as the "son of man", exercised faith continuously from His youth onwards. It is said of Jesus, that he was full of Grace and Truth. Two things are evident here: First that Jesus lived by the Word (Scriptures) and the Scriptures are the source of Faith. The son of God did not operate as God in this world but as the son of man, thus he operated under faith which pleases God and so demonstrated this principle to all of us! "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17, Luke 3:22)

A second, I believe an obvious proof that Jesus walked in faith is the Scripture which we quote from Habakuk 2:4, " - -the just shall live by his faith." Whose faith we may ask? The answer I believe, is Jesus the Messiah (the Lord.) Therefore if it is his faith which empowers us, he must therefore be preeminent in the exercise and use of faith.

Jesus obeyed the word of the Father with whom he was in Spiritual union. It was the Father's voice and Jesus' response to his Father's voice, the Rhema, which characterizes Christ's life of faith for all of us, his disciples.

Jesus Taught and Demonstrated Faith in Action

Jesus likewise, demonstrated faith by action. Thus both Jesus' words and actions initiated a life under God's control. His spoken words were with the tone of authority, they brought a result which was often miraculous. Miracles are spiritual intervention in the natural order, thus they are considered supernatural. One of the remarkable things that Jesus proclaimed was this: "John 5:30: “I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." Thus we see that Yeshua, Jesus was not acting by his own authority or will but by the will of Him who sent him.

To receive any manifestation from God we must act upon faith. We must say or do something. (Romans 10:9,10, we see the principle of Faith described that results in the new birth "for with the heart we believe and with the mouth we confess.") Only true and sincere belief causes God to honor faith. God looks upon the heart of man. We can not in faith through another's belief. We can not walk on water because Jesus told Peter to come forth. Our faith must be personal and it must be sincere knowing with assurance that his Word was given to us.

Finally, friend of God, to summarize: All spiritual promises are reached through the door of faith. To see the promises of God actualized requires faith. With faith all things are possible. "

"If you believe you will see the Glory of God. "

Mysteries, Chapter 7

E Book 1:
The Gospel Without Religion

E Book 2:
A Disciples Handbook

E Book 3:
Mysteries in the Bible Index to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles
Index to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles

Resources: Understanding Home Fellowships

Frank Viola Interviews a typical church-goer
(Discussion of Open Church)

Frank Viola
"Who's Your Covering"
"Rethinking the Wineskin"

Index to all Charles Pinkney Christian Titles

updated 1-5-2025