WHAT IS GRACE BELIEVING!
 

AND WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LAW!

LET'S START WITH GRACE!

grace, What is it?

from the NT Greek 5485 -charis-
pronounced {khar'-ece} from 5463

IT'S MUCH MORE THAN UNMERITED FAVOR,
AND IT'S MUCH MORE THAN JUST THE
GENERAL CONCEPT OF 'SAVED BY GRACE'
OH, HOW GLIBLY WE CAN SOMETIMES REMIND OURSELVES OF THIS
UNMERITED FAVOR, WITHOUT EVEN PONDERING ON IT,
IN IT'S FULLER MEANING.

THE SCRIPTURE JUST BELOW, IS THE REFERENCE TO
THE REVELATION ON THE
'PERSON OF GRACE' JESUS THE CHRIST--NOT JUST THE CONCEPT OF
'SAVED BY GRACE.'

It is the fullness of love, mercy, tenderness, long suffering,
patience, guidance, and all other forms of divine love,
given us from Christ.
 

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The grace of God, revealed through Jesus*

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is
to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1 Peter 1:13
 

HOW EASY IT USED TO BE, FOR ME
TO GO RIGHT BY THIS VERSE,
AND NEVER HARDLY NOTICE IT,
MUCH LESS UNDERSTAND IT-

IT'S VERY CLEAR, THERE IS A REVELATION OF
JESUS CHRIST, THAT
CAN COME TO US, UPON LEARNING OF HIM,
AND IT OPENS THE FLOOD-GATES ON KNOWLEDGE
OF THE FULLER, DEEPER, AND GREATER
'PERSON OF 'JESUS' OR THE 'MIND OF CHRIST' THAT
ONLY COMES OF FULLER KNOWLEDGE OF HIS GRACE, 
IN OUR LIVES, AND TO THE EXTENT THAT WE ARE OPEN TO IT.
 

 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory, may give unto you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Ephesians 1:17
 

 BELOW IS ANOTHER VERSE, THAT EVEN THOUGH  MORE SUBTLE,
REFERS TO THIS AWAKENING OF JESUS,

NOT JUST AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR,
BUT AS THE 'PERSON OF GRACE' THAT HE IS-TO USWARD.
 

  We have also a more sure word of prophecy;
whereunto ye do well that ye take heed,
as unto a light that shineth in a dark place,
until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Peter 1:19

OUR MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY, IS OF COURSE,
THE HOLY SPIRIT,
THAT TEACHES, AND BRINGS TO OUR REMEMBRANCE,
i.e..

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, 
he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
 

So the Holy Ghost brings to our remembrance all that 
JESUS SAID AND TAUGHT
ABOUT THE GLORY OF GOD,
AND THE WORK OF GOD THAT HE DID FOR US,
ON THE CROSS.

TAKING HEED OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST,
AS UNTO THE LIGHT OF TRUTH, THAT HE IS.

So without deeper study of Christ Jesus, 
what He said, taught, and who to, and why,
and without deeper knowledge of Him,
who shows us the face of God,
what does the Holy spirit have to remind us of?
 
 

ONE DAY, IN OUR SEARCH FOR TRUTH IN IT'S PUREST FORM, 
THE REVELATION OF CHRIST, THE (DAY STAR)
WILL ARISE IN OUR HEART.

BUT UNTIL THEN WE MAY ONLY HAVE SOME
MIXTURE OF HEAD KNOWLEDGE AND SOME MAYBE SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
BUT STILL WE ARE ADMONISHED TO FOLLOW
WHAT WE KNOW OF GOD, THROUGH CHRIST,
UNTIL A TIME OF REVELATION.
 

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The spirit of the Lord, is liberty*

 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17
 

¶Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath
made us free, and be not entangled again with
the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1
 
 

There is a liberty in knowing the 'person of grace' that is not
common in this present day-

Most of us Christians are as in the dark about this
revelation of Christ, and the Grace of Christ, today, as the men were below,
when Jesus told them to eat His flesh, and drink His blood!

We are just not used to looking for the
deeper spiritual meanings of Jesus words, yet He was spiritual--
and everything he said was spiritual--
We're more used to letting the pastor/minister
do this for us.

Of course God knows this, and that is why
He holds the spiritual leaders more accountable.
But I believe we must still be vigilant as well.
 
 

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Spiritual talk from Jesus*
 

HAVE YOU HEARD,
"A GOOD CHRISTIAN TAKES THE
BIBLE LITERALLY, BECAUSE IT'S UP TO NO PRIVATE INTERPRETATION"

WHOA--IF YOU'VE HEARD THIS AND BELIEVED IT,
RE READ THIS SCRIPTURE-

More knowledge of Jesus*

DID YOU KNOW THAT KNOWLEDGE IS MENTIONED
52 TIMES IN THE KJV OF THE N.T.?
AND WISDOM 53 TIMES?
AND GRACE 131 TIMES?

AND THIS CAN COME WHEN WE'RE
STUDYING ALONE, WITH THE HELP OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT, OR WITH HOLY SPIRIT TEACHINGS.

It's a hard thing to explain until you catch it!
because it's so very simple, and it's spiritual,
and it can't be received by the prideful.
 

  But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6
 

But I can at least point out the difference
between the
'before the revelation' and the 'after the revelation'
as it has been for me, and others I know, in this understanding

And I'd like to say here, that I've attended many Churches,
from the hard line Pentecostal, to the fundamental,
as well as the Southern Baptists,
and most of the nondenominational to the Grace Brethren.
I have visited the Crystal Cathedral, the Melodyland Church,
Chuck Smith's Calvary Chapel,
and many others from Alaska, to England. So I'm not unfamiliar
with the different doctrines.

But this Grace of God revelation is BIG, and I mean BIG!!!
Much bigger than is usually taught today.
It's where the Christian Church started from, 
and it is not denominational at all. 

Rather it is for all denominations to teach more of.
 

Maybe if I jump right in the pool, and start
with an example, this might work us backwards somewhat,
but also may help to show one significant difference.
 

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Is this for today*

TITHING

Why, tithing?-because this practice is under the law,
and not under grace!
oops- I can almost feel
the friends I've lost, and the opponents I've gained.*smile*

Please read on, it's not all bad!

Did you know that the word 'tithe' is
only 2 times in the New Testament!
and the word 'tithes' only 6 times, and tithing,
not at all?!!

It was certainly not a practice that Paul, Peter,
or any of the other disciples taught!
The 2 times tithe was mentioned, was by
Jesus, Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42--and both
were in chastisement of the Pharisees; and man was still under the
law at that time- all before the cross!

(One has to remember that Jesus ministry and life
here on earth, was under the law of that time.
He had not yet finished the work God sent Him to do.
Jesus' three year ministry was preparing the hearts
for the greatest gift they would ever receive.
They had never known anything like this coming
redemption and freedom under the Grace of God.
But until Jesus died and rose from the cross of grace,
Grace had not yet been dispensed in fulfillment.)

Jesus hadn't finished His final work of the cross,
and the new covenant of grace to all men.  So
he was talking to the men of the law of the time, 
not to the coming age of grace.

and tithes, mentioned once, by a boasting Pharisee,Luke 18:12
 

The other 5 times that tithes is mentioned, was by Paul,
in Hebrews 7:5-6-8-and 9  and here Paul is talking
to the Hebrews about the order of Melchizedek, king of Salem,
high priest of God, and the Levitical priesthood,
and why the law was changed by God, to grace; 
and that our Lord,
was evidenced from the order of Juda!

All these were  referenced to past events, and the coming of Jesus,
and how the law was far from perfect. He, Paul,
is not teaching the practice of tithing!
He always taught Grace--under Grace!

I want to say here, that I know all scripture is profitable,
but I will also point out that we are to rightly divide it.

Basically, the whole Old Testament points to the coming Savior
and the cross that he was to hang on, for our salvation; in the fulness of the Grace of God.

and that the Old Testament was of law, and that the New Testament,
a new and unspeakably wonderful covenant of Grace.
 

We do have a few teachings from Paul, James, and of course Jesus-
on giving.

 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other;
and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also
Luke 6:29

 It
takes a lot of God's grace in us, to follow this teaching.

The above is similar to what Paul said here:

  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him;
if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou
shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
  Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:2021
 The message in the above two verses, is to give good for evil, 
do not give evil for evil.

The above verses also are teaching the magnified grace of God,
just as God gives us magnified grace, since the cross of Christ.
 

 But  in our Christian walk, Paul and James tell us,
and this is New Testament
teaching under grace, as were they-

 PAUL:

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; 
not grudgingly,
or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7

Paul is clearly saying for the people not to give of grudgingly, or necessity, 

First here's the definition of "grudgingly"

3077 lupe {loo'-pay}
apparently a root word
(1) sorrow, pain, grief, annoyance, affliction
(1.a) of persons mourning
KJV: sorrow 11, heaviness 2, grievous 1, 

and here's the definition of

"necessity"

(not because they felt they had to) 
there were  no demands
for a certain amount of giving;

and Paul would never have taught the law, 
being under grace.

And here is what necessity means exactly:

0318 anagke {an-ang-kay'}
(1) necessity, imposed either by the circumstances,
or by law of duty regarding to one's advantage, custom, argument
(2) calamity, distress, straits
KJV: necessity 7, must needs 3, distress 3, must of necessity 2,
 

Why was this taught, because God wants us to give
with joy.  i.e. for God loveth a cheerful giver.

He wants us to give from the heart of grace, 
not our grace, but from the source of grace,
not from any teachings of necessity,
or 'we must' or 'should' or  'it's the law'

AND WE CAN'T BE A RECEPTOR OF GOD'S GRACE,
IF WE DON'T KEEP LEARNING  MORE ABOUT HIS ABOUNDING GRACE; 
AND HOW GOD'S GRACE THROUGH JESUS GIVES PEACE.

Look at how much grace has been given us through the cross of grace,
through the salvation through grace, for all mankind. 
Do you think
God doesn't want us to share some of His grace with others,
from a heart of grace, full of grace, coming from above!

And what I hear most from tithers is this:

Who would support the church if we didn't tithe?

IS THE FAITH?
I DON'T THINK SO!
JUST LOOK AT THE EARLY CHURCH,
STARTED BY THE APOSTLES TO SEE HOW
THE CHURCH SURVIVED BY FAITH AND NOT
THE LAW OF TITHING.
 

JAMES:
  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed
and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those
things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:16

 What am I saying here, that most Christians
would not yet see, because of misunderstood teachings?

albeit, many are rightly questing this teaching now-

not at all because they are stingy,
but because it is a bondage of law being taught under grace.

It's obvious that tithing came from the Old Testament,
beginning with Abraham to  Melchisedec Genesis 14:19
from there, ordained as Levitical law
which went to the priests of the law.

So why are we still putting ourselves, under the law
of Abraham, when we are the children of the Faith of Abraham?
It was his faith that was counted for righteousness,
 that pleased God.

Even more so now: since the cross of grace.

So, if one will read and seek wisdom from above,
on this issue, we will see that 'tithing' was
not taught after the cross.

While many say they give happily, not grudgingly,
it will still hamper ones' closer walk with God, 
to submit to man's traditions,
instead of holy spirit knowledge,
and revelation of Jesus,
and His mind, or the mind of Christ, for us.

We all need to read more of Jesus, in order
to gain more knowledge of Him.  His
ways are much higher than mans'
and the more we take into our hearts of Him,
the less we need mans' traditions.
There is no real joy in putting ourselves
under the teachings of the law.

We can always give with joy, privately, 
if we see a need!

  For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
John 1:17

If we still want to be under the law, then why not other
practices, from the days of the law?
Like no Christmas trees?Jeremiah 10:1-4
or many other O.T. laws-

because we are under grace, Jesus paid for this liberty,
with His suffering,
for us, out of love, and where the spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty! 100%
 

 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty.
2 Corinthians 3:17

*******************

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no bondage*
 

and where the spirit of the Lord isn't-
there is bondage, also 100%

If we are bound by the law, then we do it, because
of the letter, or command, or enforcement, or have to,
or must, or should, or ought to.
None of which is grace, or giving out of God's grace,
through us.

  What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the
spirit of meekness?
1 Corinthians 4:21

and

 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;----
2 Timothy 2:25
 

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 New covenant*

The first two verses below, were from Jesus,
speaking of the new convenant coming.

 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
Matthew 11:13
 

  The law and the prophets were until John: since that time
the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Luke 16:16

  For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to every one that believeth.
Romans 10:4

(No More Law)
at all--Christ was the end of it,
He is now our law of righteousness, put on our hearts.

THE NEW FULFILLED LAW OF CHRIST'S GRACE FOR US,
WAS WRITTEN IN BLOOD,  JESUS' BLOOD, 
AND GOD HAS PUT IT INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF THE BELIEVER. 
IT'S THE LAW OF LOVE, FROM CHRIST

Christ came to fulfill the law, we now have the law on our heart,
and that's where we give from now, as Paul taught.
 Most everything under 'grace from God' is of the heart.

At least 33 times, Jesus mentioned the heart, in His words.

 And the multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul:-----
Acts 4:32

***************
 

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Where we go amiss* 

Here's where we go amiss, when we allow ourselves
to go under the law,
of any kind--in this time of grace-

 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise
grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,
then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Romans 11:6

******************
 

 So it is, that the Gospel of Paul's teachings, are clear,
anything we do of works of law, in this case,
the law of tithing,
is no more grace.
When we open the door to the law, in our life,
we close the door to grace in our life.
 and all the law, was nailed to the cross in the flesh of Jesus!
Ephesians 2:15

The Grace of God through Jesus, cannot manifest
in the work of law.

Law=no grace
Grace=no law
 

Here's  what happens to us, when we are called by the
law to tithe, or any other works of man, that we think we must do--
it becomes a way for us to feel better
about ourselves,  towards God, and people, as if we
have somehow merited a better position, in the church,
in God's eyes, in our family's eyes- prayer group, or minister's, and so on.

That gives us credit for being something
better than we are.  There's nothing we can do to
merit anything more from God, not money, deeds,
ministry, kindness, nothing at all. His love for us is
always unmerited- because we are always unworthy-

And, as I've mentioned before in other writings,
God gave us His only son unto death, 
what more do we want !

And in the reverse, if we are taught under the law to tithe, 
 if we don't tithe or perform some other work of man,
then we begin eventually, to feel bad about ourselves-

These things under the law, make man puff up, get
prideful, because he has done something (good) or
maybe even wonderful-in his eyes, or in another's eye-

God does the wonderful things, we don't-

we aren't wonderful at all- we complain, get prideful, judge,
and "works" like tithing, opens the door to
self-righteousness-wow, as if we could be anyway !!!
and self-righteousness tries to take from the
absolute righteousness of God, through Jesus-

What's wrong with all of this, beside the obvious
bad attitudes, or sins?
It puts our eyes on ourselves, instead of on God, through Jesus.
God wants us to learn of Him, to help us, so
that He can have our fellowship.

When we give from the heart, it's all joy,
and doesn't matter a bit what others do,
because they can do the same. Not because someone has
wrongfully taught us, or come in and put us again under bondage,
but because we have a heart under grace.

 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God,
how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,
whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Galatians 4:9

and

 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, 
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5:1
 

We can give more than 10% or less than 10%
doesn't matter, but under grace it's 100%
God wants us 100%
and
if we are bound to tithing, it only gives us a reward to those
who know, from our peers, it doesn't give us any
rewards from God. He wants us to know Him,
andbegin to merge with His spirit.
He doesn't
want 10%, of our pocketbook, He wants 100% of our heart!

We become the 'Martha' under works, instead of 
'Mary' under grace.

 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him,
and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?
bid her therefore that she help me.
  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha,
thou art careful and troubled about many things:
  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part,
which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:40 41 42
 

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How unmerited is God's favor*

It's
imparative, to show the difference between- the
concept of 'Saved by Grace' and who and what actually
is the 'saving grace in person'
and the difference between
'unmerited favor'
and
the revelation of just
how-unmerited OUR unworthiness, really is.

 Think on this one a minute-

God, almighty,
omnipotent, omniscience, ubiquitous, 
(can do all, knows all, sees all, is everywhere at all times) 
creator of all-
well, what kind of love is that,
that this God, wanted to suffer
for us mortals, anyway, much less, afterwards, yearns
to be in fellowship with each of us- on an intimate
spiritual and soul, and mind level!?
 

 (in ourselves, we're selfish, demanding,
impatient, cruel, phony, hypocrites, judgmental,
lustful, well, the list is never-ending-) ( and He wanted
to take all of this to the cross, for these
characteristics of man!!) FOR US- each one
individually- whewww- that is worth pondering on;
and
how loving and eternal is His caring of us,
and His desire to be (dare I say)
bonded with each of us in His spirit and mind, to our
spirit and mind, until they merge more and more to
His.

God doesn't want our bondage;

He wants our bonding!

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