The Franklin and Juniper church of Christ begins an overview study of the book of James. If you live in the Borger area, You’re invited to attend one of our services to hear the Gospel preached in plainness of speech easy to understand.
Click here for an OUTLINE & links to each chapter of the Book of James.
what is GRACE?
IN the first article on GRACE, we learned that it is the Gift of God through faith.
the GRACE of God is a gift, and it can either be RECEIVED or REJECTED.
Grace is a gift of God that provides ACCESS to salvation.
Romans 5:2 KJV
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Eph 2:8-10 tells us it’s a gift.
But what did Paul teach the Ephesians when he first met them?
They HEARD and BELIEVED the gospel.
Ephesians 1:13 KJV
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
They continued to CONFESS and bring forth fruits worthy of REPENTANCE.
Acts 19:18-19 KJV
And many that believed came, and CONFESSED, and SHEWED their deeds. [19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. (cf. Acts 20:20-21)
They were BAPTIZED into Christ.
Acts 19:2-5 KJV
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
So yes, they were saved by GRACE because by grace through faith we’re given ACCESS to the gospel which is the means of salvation.
What will you do with this GRACE?
Would you like to know more about how to ACCESS His GRACE?
Here is part four in this series on GRACE.
GRACE without FAITH will not save us.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Eph 2:8
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb 11:6
FAITH without WORKS is dead being alone.
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” James 2:24
There are no WORKS of God to save without GRACE.
“Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” Col 2:11
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Eph 1:7
“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:7
GRACE, FAITH, WORKS of God. Rom 5:2-10.
“2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (see 1Cor 15:1-4)
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:2-10
What shall you do with God’s Gift of GRACE?
Are you seeking to better understand God’s Grace and his word?
Send me a message and we can have a home Bible study in person or have one sent to you.
Part two of this five point series can be found here. Part three is here. Part four here.
How many times did God impute Abraham’s faith unto righteousness?
1) Genesis 15:5-6 KJV
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. [6] And he believed in the Lord ; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. [17] Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Paul tells us this time also that God imputed to him for righteousness.
Romans 4:18-22 KJV
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. [19] And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: [20] He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; [21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
3) Gen 22, the (attempted) sacrifice of Isaac. Genesis 22:12 KJV
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
James in the New Testament tells us at this event also, God imputed unto him for righteousness.
James 2:21-24 KJV
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? [22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? [23] And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. [24] Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
ANSWER: 3 recorded times.
When you view Abraham’s life of faith, then you’ll realize it wasn’t imputed at one even as some suppose, but it was imputed because of a lifetime of faithfulness.
Hebrews 11:8 KJV
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Agape,
Spencer
If you live in the Borger area and would like a personal bible study, please reach out & let us know how we can help you know more of God’s word.
FAITH is used in multiple senses in Scripture. It is a much deeper concept than just “belief & trust.”
FAITH is used in these ways.
The FULL Body of information from God. Heb 11:1-3; Jude 3; Rom 10:17
To ACT upon hearing. Jas 2:14-26.
It INSISTS in being loyal to the One in whom we have faith. Heb 11:35
To TRUST fully in the One we believe. Heb 11:17-19
Is to HOPE in the One we have heard. Heb 11:13
Here is a link to the overview of Hebrews.
What is Grace? (pt2).
It is RECEIVED through obedience.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
(Eph 2:8)
Some would have you believe that there is nothing a man must do to receive the GRACE of God. However, that extreme position teaches universal salvation to unbelievers, unrepentant, active sinners, and wicked & vile people.
These same teachers would then say, “well, you have to believe.” The scriptures teach that a person must believe before they can be saved (John 8:24). Again, this “faith only” extreme position teaches salvation to any ‘believer’ regardless of willful sins.
By the way, belief is a work that man must do. “Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent” (John 6:29; cf. 1Thess 1:3).
These very same teachers then tell me, “Well, you must repent.” At this point we’re getting closer to the truth. At least some of them agree with the scriptures that repentance is a requirement of salvation. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30; cf Luke 13:3).
They will also teach to be saved a person must confess Jesus. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). They agree with the scriptures, but they need to read just one verse farther, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is something man must do to receive the GRACE of God.
Is it any stretch then to teach that a person must do something to RECEIVE the Grace of God that has appeared to all men? GRACE is Received by man when they obey the Gospel. Read just a little further in Romans 10:16; “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” Obedience is connected to Belief.
Grace is the Gift of God. As seen above, mankind must RECEIVE (obey) that gift. Grace is the provision for salvation through Christ. Without His perfect sacrifice we could not be saved. How do we receive salvation through His Grace?
Paul wrote this, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. (2Tim 2:5, NKJV). To be saved one must follow the RULES of Christ. “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2John 9).
When Peter preached at the beginning he told the new believers in Christ, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). Before anyone can receive the Gift of Salvation, they must believe and REPENT. It is commanded by Christ, It is taught by the Apostles, It is repeated by Paul, and it is a requirement for restoration of those who have obeyed but have sinned (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38; 17:30; Rev 2:5).
The person that believes must REPENT AND be BAPTIZED. Believers are immersed in (go UNDER) water to be saved. When Philip preached Jesus to the Eunuch, he asked, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” (Acts 8:36). Paul explained that Baptism (going UNDER water by faith) is accessing the working of God through faith for the circumcision of the heart. “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Col 2:11-12).
Peter wrote that water baptism saves, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 3:21). Ananias told Saul of Tarsus that baptism will “wash away thy sins” (Acts 22:16).
Those that have obeyed the Gospel by putting on Christ in Baptism must then LIVE Faithfully. Paul said that it is possible to receive the Grace of God in vain (2Cor 6:1). That is what happens when believers LIVE unfaithfully to Christ. He wrote the Galatians that they could “fall from grace” (Gal 5:4). This happens when we turn from Christ to another gospel (cf. Gal 1:6-10; 2Cor 11:4). Paul wrote Titus telling him that grace is “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11).
When we obey the gospel through faith, we can ENJOY the comfort & hope of God’s Grace. “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work” (2Thess 2:16-17). We can have assurance in Eternal life when we do what is commanded for us to do.
The grace of God also gives opportunity to STAND us back up when we fall in SIN, and when we SUFFER trials. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1Peter 5:10). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16; cf. 1John 1:9).
Grace is an exceedingly wonderful Gift from Jesus. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Grace is the opportunity, obeying the Truth is receiving His grace. (1Peter 1:22)
Spencer is an evangelist for the Franklin & Juniper St church of Christ in Borger Texas.
It’s Possible! It’s possible to read through the Bible in one year. The above picture is not for bragging rights, it’s for encouragement. The Pic is my record of when I read each book of the Bible in 2022. As you can see I put an emphasis on reading the New Testament multiple times. I’ll finish up the year reading the Gospel of John and Revelation just one more time.
While I have been given the opportunity to read each day for a longer than average time, it’s still possible for the average person to read the bible in one year. Looking at this time chart below, one could read through the Bible in just 12 minutes per day
If you want to read just 5 days a week (Mon-Friday), which is the schedule I’m on, it would only add about 2-3 minutes per day.
Here is a chart from Crosswalk with the times to read through each book of the Bible.
Here are my 4 Tips to READ through the Bible in one year.
1. Read REGULARLY. Set a time for Bible reading. It only takes 15-17min per day, 5 days a week.
2. Reading is compared to EATING. (Rev 10:9-10; John 6:35-51). We eat every day for physical nourishment. Eat a small portion of the Word for Spiritual nourishment. It doesn’t need to be Eaten in one sitting. How do you ready an elephant? 1 bite at a time.
3. Read prayerfully, ASKING God for wisdom. Jas 1:5-7 The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation. We get faith, belief, Equipping, & understanding when we read. (Rom 20:17; John 20:30-31; Eph 3:3-4; 2Tim 3:15-17)
4. Read with a Desire to become a DOER of the word. James 1:22 but be ye doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. The New Testament is the final word of Christ and is the doctrine we follow today. (2John 1:9)
Here are some words from God’s word to encourage you to read.
John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
2Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
1Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
John 6:48 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
IT’S POSSIBLE! You can do it. If the scriptures made Timothy wise unto salvation, it will do the same for us too!
spencer
PS here is a link to a printable bookmark to help you keep your place and help you with a little context as you read.
“And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.” (Luke 17:5).
All of us could use a little bit more faith, and if we had the faith of a mustard seed, we could move mountains (cf. Luke 17:6).
The word ‘Faith’ can be confusing. In one place it says, “Where is your faith?” Yet, in another place it says that FAITH was once delivered (cf. Luke 8:25; Jude 3).
In one place it says, “faith cometh by hearing,” and in another it says that faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit.
It’s easy to see how we become confused by this very complex and powerful word. It’s up to us to study and to understand what it is the Lord is conveying through this little word.
Let’s look at faith.
The Greek word translated ‘FAITH’ is; pistis; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: –assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity. (W.E. VINES)
That’s the definition of the word, but to fully appreciate FAITH, we need to look into scripture for its use. Would it surprise you to learn that scripture records FAITH in 7 different ways?
FAITH as it is used in the scriptures.
What we usually think when we say “FAITH” is BELIEF. “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb 11:6; cf John 12:42). Consider that James uses belief and faith synonymously, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (Jas 2:18-19).
Another common way we understand FAITH is with the word TRUST. “And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm” (Matt 8:26). Abraham trusted God when he offered up the son of promise. “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Heb 11:17-19; cf. Rom 9:17-20; John 14:1; Luke 7:9).
Here’s where it gets difficult for some. FAITH is also used in conjunction with OBEDIENCE. Paul wrote in Romans, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:” “But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith” (Romans 1:5; 16:26).
FAITH is also an objective content called “the faith” that is delivered. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom 10:17). Jude says, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 1:3; cf Gal 1:11,23).
FAITH is also used to mean LOYAL. To be faithful is to be loyal. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (Heb 10:23) “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev 2:10).
Yet another way FAITH is used is seen in one’s strong personal conviction. “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph 6:16). “Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs” (Rom 14:1-2).
Lastly, FAITH is listed among the 9 spiritual gifts early saints could receive during the writing of the New Testament (1Cor 12:8-9; 13:2; Matt 17:20)
As you can see, FAITH is a very complex word. To disconnect it from its full meaning for one definition is to pervert the word of God.
Spencer is an evangelist for the church of Christ at Franklin & Juniper in Borger Texas.
1Peter 3:21:
The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
BAPTISM:
What is the BAPTISM that saves us?
the BAPTISM that saves is a BURIAL. Col 2:12; Rom 6:4
the BAPTISM that saves is AUTHORIZED by Christ Mark 16:16
the BAPTISM that saves is an essential PART of conversion Acts 2:38; 3:19
the BAPTISM that saves TRUSTS in God’s working through our faith. Col 2:12
the BAPTISM that saves is IN CHRIST. Rom 6:3-4; Gal 3:27
the BAPTISM done for the right reason, the right way, with the right heart SAVES. 1Pet 3:21
the BAPTISM that saves is done immediately upon learning whether at MIDNIGHT/ midday / same hour / upon H-B-R-C. Not a scheduled monthly church event. Acts 16:33
Just about everyone knows about SAMSON, the Mighty Man with the long Mane. His life is very interesting and troubling.
We all know about his STRENGTH his long hair (Jud 16:7, 13:5).
Did you know that as a Nazarene he didn’t drink ALCOHOL? (Num 6:4-5)
Did you also know that he had MARRIED a wife and that she was a Philistine (Jud 14:1-3)? Later he would be with Delilah, the woman that would cut off his STRENGTH.
After she cut his hair, Samson was blinded and mocked. But his hair grew and he OVERCAME more enemies in death that he had in his life (16:30).
The New Testament also has a record of him in the “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews chapter eleven verse thirty-two.
Samson doesn’t fit the typical mold of a hero of faith, but a hero he was. Here are a couple of lessons we might glean from his time as a Judge.
First, be a SERVANT of God as early as you can. “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Jud 13:5; cf. Ecc 12:13; Matt 22:387).
This next one usually ruffles some feathers, but do your best to be ALCOHOL free. “Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things” (Prov 23:29-35). John the Baptist, another one with the Nazarite vow, was called, “great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink;” (Luke 1:15).
Being alcohol free sets us apart from the world. “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you” (1Peter 4:3-4; cf. Eph 5:18).
Another great lesson we can learn is to MARRY well. “And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death” (Jud 16:16). While it doesn’t appear that he had ever married Delilah, we know what his association with her did to him. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness” (2Cor 6:14)? Even under the best circumstances, marrying an unbeliever means that you are headed in opposite eternal directions.
Another lesson we could glean is that of allowing the SPIRIT of the Lord direct us. “And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house” (Jud 14:19). While Samson had the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we are still led by the Spirit when we are filled with His Word. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Col 3:16; cf. 2Tim 3:16-17).
The last two lessons are so important.
Despite what you’ve done in life, you may still OVERCOME sin in our lives through faith in God. Those that have obeyed the gospel may turn back to faithfulness as long as life remains. “O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God,” (Judge 16:28). Repentance and Prayer is available to those that stumble after having obeyed the gospel. (Acts 8:18-24; 1John 1:9).
Finally, along with the previous lesson, NEVER quit. Despite being chained, mocked, and blinded, Samson’s final act in service to God would bring about his death. “And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life” (Judg 16:30).
While we live in an age when are weapons are spiritual and not carnal (2Cor 10:4), “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2Tim 3:12; cf. Rev 2:10).
May God Bless you all
Spencer
