Welcome, welcome to the line of fire where we are here friends five days a week to infuse you with faith, truth, courage. Help you stand strong in the Lord on the front lines. And all this month, I hope it's been life-changing so far, teaching about the beauty. of holiness. Becoming like Jesus in thought and word and deed, being holy because the Lord our God is holy.
And today we're going to focus on the power of grace. You cannot talk about holiness without talking about grace, because it is by grace that we are empowered to live a holy life. If you're not getting our frontline newsletter, boy, we're hearing from people whose lives are literally being changed: believers being ignited, pastors being impacted. It's absolutely free. The frontline newsletter, go to thelineoffire.org, thelineoffire.org, right on the homepage, click on subscribe.
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Okay. Grace. What is grace? Is grace just a cover-up for our sins where we fall short? Is grace?
Unmerited favor? Certainly it is. But is it more than that? Is it God's riches at Christ's expense?
Well, there's nothing more than that, but what does that can even mean? And isn't there something about grace that ties in with empowerment? And what's it got to do with holiness? All right, prepare to get rich, friends. I believe every word that we share with you is going to be a blessing.
Donald Gray Barnhouse. Famous pastor of a couple generations back said this, love. that goes upward. is worship. Love that goes outward.
is affection. Love that stoops. is grace. Oh, that that is beautiful. All right, let me get to my next quote here as my screen just froze up for a moment.
Philip Yancey relates this. During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating impossibilities. Incarnation? Eh.
Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection. Again, other religions had accounts of return from death. The debate went on for some time until CS Lewis wandered into the room. What's the rumpus about?
he asked. And Herden replied that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lourist responded, Oh, that's easy. It's Grace. After some discussion, the conferees had to agree.
So Here's the problem. We often misinterpret and misunderstand grace. and just find it as a way to cover up our sins when we mess up. without realizing it's a way to transform us. to help us rise higher and live differently.
So the tragedy is that many preachers and teachers today have unintentionally misrepresented God's grace. practically turning it into a license to sin, which Jude warns about strongly. And in doing this, they've keeping its power. They demeaned its value. Grace, friends, is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the contemporary church.
So There's one view, legalists. who seem to forget that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works. They turn Christianity into a lifeless religion, plagued by futility and marked by always failing human effort. We talked about that earlier in the week: not working hard enough, not doing enough, not holy enough. Another view: leaders who seem to forget that salvation by grace includes freedom from sin.
as well as forgiveness of sin. They turn Christianity into a religion that saves. but doesn't transform. Ugh. That's the thing.
We are set free not to sin. Jesus sets us free not to sin, but from sin.
Now, does grace mean unmerited favor? The Greek word karis in the New Testament does it mean unmerited favor? Yeah, of course. Acts 15.11. the last words of Peter in the book of Acts.
We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. Galatians 2, 21. I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing. Romans 4.16, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace.
Romans 3 20. 24, we are justified by his grace.
So when we didn't deserve it. When we were still in sin, when we were ungodly, when we were in rebellion. when we had done nothing to to to please God. Jesus died for us then, while we were still sinners, while we were still rebels, transgressors. Drug addicts.
prostitutes, terrorists, God mockers, whoever we were, religious hypocrites. He died for us. And the moment We ask for His forgiveness truly? And if you never have right now. Confess your sin to God, be honest, take it on the chin.
I'm guilty, I deserve death, I deserve hell. But I believe Jesus died for my sins? I believe he rose from the dead? I confess him as my Lord. I ask you for a brand new life, a brand new start.
God, forgive me, wash me clean, bring me into your family. If you truly do that. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth. At that very moment, God cleanses you. At that very moment, He pronounces you righteous, meaning not guilty and right with him.
At that very moment, he puts you in the category of holy. In other words, set apart. to God. At that moment, before you've been able to live out a single Aspect that proves the reality of your repentance, at that moment, you're pronounced righteous. But that is the beginning of the process, not the end of the process.
Because as James Edwin Orr said, the revival scholar, the only proof of the new birth is the new life. It is not just grace that forgives, but grace that empowers.
So The New Testament word for grace, chorus in the Greek. does not fundamentally mean unmerited favor. Its basic meaning does include favor of any kind along with kindness, but it also includes enablement and gifting. Important concepts we often miss. Hence, the charismatic gifts, the charismata, the divine empowerment.
God's grace Stay with me on this. This is really important. God's grace not only did something amazing for us, but His grace continues to do something amazing for us. empowering us to live for him.
So It's one thing to say. All that I do I do by the grace of God. In other words, he just has had mercy on me. Versus the grace of God worked mightily in me. You could say I come to God through His grace, which is true.
But you must say, I serve God daily through His grace. It is continuing. What does Paul mean when he says in Romans six. That we're not under the law, we're under grace, sin. shall not have dominion over you.
Because you're not under law. You're under grace. Does that mean sin can't have any hold on you because you're not under the law and therefore there are no commandments? You can do whatever you want, you're always forgiven? No.
That would mean that sin has even more dominion over you. That's not what it means. It means through grace, because I'm not under the law which commands but doesn't empower. Through grace, I'm not only forgiven for my sins, But I now can live above sin. Whereas the law could only point out my shortcomings, God's grace can transform my nature.
So We're going to do a little wordplay game here. This to me is one of the best ways to find out what a word means. You get the original Greek word, original Hebrew word in the Bible, right, or in some passages Aramaic word. And you put that in in place of the English translation. I said, what does that actually mean?
Now here's the principle. Every word has one meaning and one context, right? Every word has one meaning and one context.
So when I say to you, the word hard. The rock is hard. What does that mean? It's hard. Right?
If I say the test is hard, What does it mean? Difficult.
Now, let's say you're you're Uh A new reader of the English language, you're not familiar with the language, well, and you find this sentence, the rock is hard.
So you look up, okay, what does hard mean in the dictionary? And, you know, substance of, you know Rock-like substance, whatever it is. Another definition, difficult. It's like, oh, oh, the rock is difficult. It's a difficult rock to deal with.
No, no, it doesn't mean that there. Conversely, if you see the the test is hard. It doesn't mean that it's hard, like if you get hit over the head with it, it'll crack your skull. No, it's hard, meaning difficult.
So, every word. Has one meaning. in one context.
So we are going to do a word study together. On the Greek word karis. I just gave you verses where it means unmerited favor. We are saved by God's Karis, by His grace, by His unmerited favor. But what does it mean in many other passages.
We'll take that up. On the other side of the break, listen to this important announcement. Are you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or having trouble sleeping? You're not alone, and you don't have to stay stuck. I'm Paul Burnett, a board certified doctor of holistic health, and I want to introduce you to a natural way to help calm your mind, relieve stress, and support restful sleep.
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or online at T R I V I T A Tri Vita dot com. Welcome back, friends, to the line of fire. Every single quote I'm giving you. in these teachings this month. Every single verse I'm citing.
Every single point I'm making, they are all found in my book, Go and And send them more call to holiness. You'll find it to be an edifying, life-giving, even life-changing read. All right, ready for our word study? We're going to start in Luke chapter 2, verse 40. And we're going to play fill in the blank.
What word fits well here? And the child, speaking of Jesus, grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and the karas of God. was upon him. Might be a good way to translate it there.
Unmerited favorite? No. Jesus did not need unmerited favor. He walked in perfect obedience to his Father. Cars would be favor.
And the favor of God. was upon him. Okay, now we go to Acts chapter six.
Now, Stephen. A man full of God's chorus. and power. did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Was he filled with God's unmerited favor and power?
No, no, no, it's synonymous with power, his enduement. with God's enduement and power. According to Romans 1:5, Paul received Paris. an apostleship through Jesus. Does he mean unmerited favor?
Not in that context. He's talking about he received empowerment. and apostleship through Jesus. And he writes to the Romans by the charis. Given to him, Romans 12:3, the grace given to him, the unmerited favor given to him, or the divine ability given to him.
He tells them that they have different gifts. Karismata. According to the chorus, given to them, Romans 12, 6. Are you getting this? Karis is not just a nerd at favor.
It is also empowerment. It is also enduement. It is... divine ability to do the will of God. Colossians 4.6 Let your conversation be always full of Chorus Season with salt, so that you may know how to answer every one.
Well, full of grace in the sense of kindness, right? Then 2 Corinthians 8, 4. And now, brothers, we want you to know about the chorus that God has given the Macedonian churches out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy, and their extreme poverty, weld up, and rich generosity. For I testify that they gave us as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability, entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 2 Corinthians 8 beginning, verse 4.
What's cars there? It's this special enabling, this special grace, meaning ability. To the Corinthians or to the Macedonians to give with generosity. 2 Corinthians 12:9, when Paul pleaded with the Lord to take this severe thorn in the flesh away from him. God said to him, My charis is sufficient for you.
My unmerited favor, no, no, my enabling power. is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 1. You then, my son, be strong in the Karis that is in Christ Jesus. You then, my son, be strong in the great unmerited favour?
or the the abundance of God's ability to do what he's called you to do, be strong in that. James, Jacob Chapter 4, verses 5 and 6. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely, but He gives us more chorus? He helps us. He gives us more sustaining help.
That is why Scripture says God opposes the crowd, but gives charis to the humble. 1 Peter 4.10 Each one should use whatever gift, charisma, He has received to serve others faithfully administering God's charis. in its various forms. Not unmerited favor. In fact, the meaning of a narrated favor is found less than half the times that Karis occurs in the Greek New Testament, which is over 150 times.
It generally means something else along the lines of empowerment and help. It is not just that he had mercy on us and forgave us while we were in sin. That is the glory, the riches of the glory of God's grace. Yes, yes, yes. We dive into that and swim into that.
In Go and Sin the More, there's a whole chapter called It's All Grace. It's all grace. Say, Dr. Brown, how long have you preached that? Book came out.
1997.
So, in written form over 27 years, okay, and other forms outside of that and before that.
So, isn't that some new message? and it's certainly biblical. Right. If we haven't preached it, we're just catching up with what's in scripture.
So God's chorus not only saves you, but empowers you to live for him. Acts 11:23, when Barnabas arrived and saw the evidence of the chorus of God.
So God's. God's Spirit at work among them. He saw that, not just in merited favorite, but the ongoing work of God, and encouraged, he was glad, encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.
So God's grace is comprehensive and complete. It saves and sanctifies. It rescues and restores. It transforms us, transforms us from hell-bound sinners to holy living saints.
Now, certain things you're set free from instantly. And other things, it's gradual growth, gradual growth, gradual growth. And until we meet him face to face, we'll still be growing. There'll still be areas that he's dealing with us about. There'll still be areas where we're lacking in maturity or fullness.
But we should be overcoming. We should not be enslaved to sin as followers of Jesus. There is grace, there is divine ability to empower you to say no to sin. You may have to renew your mind to it. You may need to pray with someone to really get that initial breakthrough.
But as you renew your mind to what is written in the Word, get it in your heart and digest and pray over it, you'll see change. That is the grace of God.
So here's where it starts. Ephesians 2, 4 and 5. Let's look back and see how the Lord began to deal with us. It was all grace. You were a hopeless slave to sin, a rejected wretch me at the top of the list, a captive to the will of the flesh.
Ephesians 2, but because of his great love for us. God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by Karas you have been saved. All of us were dead in sin. It doesn't mean we're incapable of response.
It means we were separated from Sim, from God, and outside of His life. That's why He says, wake up, you sleeper. And then that gospel comes. And the power to transform us is right there. We're saved by Cars by unmerited favour And now there is grace in the present.
Hebrews 4, 16, keeping us, helping us, empowering us. That's why we can approach the throne of Karis. Of God's ongoing grace, favor, empowerment with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find Kaius, not just unmerited favor, yes, unmerited favor, but more. divine empowerment to help us in our time of need. And we can look ahead to future grace.
So it's past, it's present, it's future. Ephesians 2, 6 and 7. And God raised us up with Christ. and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his chorus. expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
That's why Titus chapter 2 Titus returned. writes there, Paul writes to Titus and says, for the grace of God bringing salvation as it appeared to all men, teaching us. The grace of God, which has appeared to all men, teaching us to say no to ungodliness and to live upright, holy lives in the present evil age. Wow. There was a Brother named Richie, former heroin addict, rough life before he knew the Lord.
I was walking with the Lord, but struggled terribly with cigarettes. And I'm going back now to the early 1980s. He's with the Lord now. And we prayed, and I talked to him about these things. I said, Man, in Jesus, you're an overcomer.
Consider yourself dead to sin, alive to God. Sin doesn't have dominion over you. I'm going to pray with you right now to break this habit in Jesus' name. He told me the next day he smoked more cigarettes than he ever smoked in his life. And after every cigarette, he said, I'm dead to sin.
After every cigarette, he said, I'm free. After every cigarette, he said, I'm not a slave to sin. I'm an overcomer in Jesus. And then at the end of the day, smoked his last and never smoked another cigarette. Yeah.
I know it's not a normal kind of story. It took a little while for reality to set in. But he knew, okay, I'm struggling, but I know it's not the ultimate spiritual reality. In Jesus, I'm free. If the Son sets you free, you're free indeed.
Friend, don't believe the lie. You don't have to be a slave to sin. You don't have to be a slave to sin. The grace that started the work in you will help you to overcome. And where you fall short, there is washing, there's cleansing.
We get back on the path and we keep moving forward in Jesus' name. And before you know it, you won't even recognize yourself. That's the power of the grace of God. Hey, tell a friend about this radio broadcast. Join us as one of our team members at thelineoffire.org.
