“Grace on top of Grace” “Grace on Grace” “Grace for Grace” Grace upon Grace”. John 1:16. These are the ways translators have expressed this scripture. Sharing about this subject is like walking on Holy Ground. I will walk softly.
A humble definition of Grace: the unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor of God, made known through Jesus Christ, and expressed in the redemption and full forgiveness of sinners through faith in Jesus Christ. The cross and the shed Blood of Jesus shows the high price of God’s gift, favor and blessings to us as a free gift of salvation.
Grace is from the Greek word Charis which is translated Grace, Favor and Blessings. There is layer after layer of infinite Grace. You don’t have Grace without Jesus and you don’t have Jesus without Grace.
The more we receive the more is available! Think of standing at a beach in the water and the waves are coming in and washing over you. A never ending revelation of Jesus for those who desire Him in all His fullness. Don’t get out of the waves! Receive! Receive! Receive!
Grace is also like a huge stack of infinite blessings from God stacked one on top of another or laying side by side with all we need. It is constantly available to us. His blessing and favor of grace, power, love, peace, knowledge, praise, understanding, healing, protection, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, forgiveness, wisdom, meekness, self control, mercy, rest, fulfillment and endurance plus much much more.
Jesus not only gives us His grace to meet our needs but to know and fellowship with Him. There is no greater grace than knowing God. Moses said, “That I may know You” (God) Exodus 33:13. Paul said, “That I may know Him (Jesus)” Philippians 4:10. Jesus wants to make Himself known to you.
The more you know and understand God the more you realize there is so much more. I believe that this revelation, love and understanding will continue throughout eternity! Glory!
This scripture message of Grace must be seen in the light of the preceding verse and the following verses.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has revealed Him.” John 1:14,16-18.
We now see the revealing of who Jesus is and how God is at work in us through Grace.
The use of the term Grace is used throughout the New Testament. The following scriptures help understand how the cross fits into Grace.
“He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard.” Colossians 1:14.
“Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form. By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Colossians 2:6, 9, 14-15
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:9.
Over and over you read in the Epistles some form of this greeting or closing. “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Colossians 1:2.
Also the last verse in the Holy Bible says in Revelation 22:21 “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!
I encourage you who have not received Jesus as you Savior and accepted Him by faith. Right now receive Jesus and trust in what Jesus did on the cross in shedding His Holy Blood for your sins and mine. Turn to Jesus and start living this new life in the Grace of our Lord.
To the followers of Jesus welcome to this life of unfolding eternal grace.
Pilgrim followers of Jesus,
Arthur and Denise Blessitt, Luke 18:1
www.blessitt.com
