Is it a Blessing or a Grace?

JohnR7

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2002
25,258
209
Ohio
✟29,532.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
>>What's the difference between a blessing and a grace?


Grace is unearned and unmerited. It is a gift, but it is also a active force at work in us. A blessing requires us to do something, in order to receive it. So it is more of a reward. For example, Blessed are the pure in Heart. In order to be blessed with a pure heart, we must allow God to purify our hearts.
 
Upvote 0
Originally posted by JohnR7
>>What's the difference between a blessing and a grace?


Grace is unearned and unmerited. It is a gift, but it is also a active force at work in us. A blessing requires us to do something, in order to receive it. So it is more of a reward. For example, Blessed are the pure in Heart. In order to be blessed with a pure heart, we must allow God to purify our hearts.

Really good, John!

The word, 'grace' comes from the Latin, GRATIA, meaning 'free'.

I didn't look up the etymology of 'blessing' yet.  However, it seems to me, that a blessing is something that is asked for. And in conjunction with what your response, it could probably be said that making an effort to do something speaks volumes to God, who hears what we ask through our works.

 

Patty
 
Upvote 0

JohnR7

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2002
25,258
209
Ohio
✟29,532.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
>>It's by the grace of God that we are blessed.

My understanding of salvation is that it really is a good deal. Jesus pays our debt, yet whatever we earn we get to keep. In real life our debts far outweigh what we are able to earn, so it would be a pretty good deal if He just made up the difference. Perhaps that is why we are told the saints in heaven throw their rewards at the feet of Jesus. Because they know that they may have earned them, but that it should have gone toward paying our sin debt.

I remember a song when I was growing up about people working in a mining town and at the end of the week they owed the company store more than they were paid. It is not like that in the Kingdom of God, whatever we earn, we get to keep and whatever debt we owe, Jesus pays for us. Of course that is past debt, salvation is conditional. We have to quit being sinners and be born again. We can not go right on sinning and expect to be forgiven. That is what Paul refers to as being deceived and mocking God.

Galatians 6:7-8
    Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. [8] For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.


 


 
 
Upvote 0
Hey John,

It seems that a lot of people believe that.

However, I've often wondered, what is the motivation to stop sinning, if what you say is right? If Jesus picks up the tab, what motivation do people who subscribe to that philosophy you outlined have to stop sinning? I can't see any, except just to do it.

But, the tragedy seems to be that if people believe that philosophy, and choose to just let Jesus pick up the tab, thinking that they'll be okay 'cuz Jesus pays for our sins, what kind of world would be the result? Exactly the kind that we have - sinful, sinful, sinful.


Patty
 
Upvote 0

JohnR7

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2002
25,258
209
Ohio
✟29,532.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
>>If Jesus picks up the tab, what motivation do people who subscribe to that philosophy you outlined have to stop sinning?

We stop sinning in order to become a christian. We can not be a sinnner and a christian also. We have to make a choice and be one or the other.

Galatians 6:7-8
    Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. [8] For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Hebrews 12:14-15a
    Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: [15] looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God;

1 Cor. 11:30
    For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

If people want to take a chance on getting sick, or digging a early grave, they can buy into the apostate teaching that they are saved sinners. The truth is, we are either saved or a sinner, but not both. Sin is bondage and Jesus sets us free.

John 8:36
    Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Jesus said: Go and sin no more. He would not tell us to do what we could not do. God said to be Holy as He is Holy. God would not tell us to do something that He does not provide a way for us to live it out.
 
Upvote 0

JohnR7

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2002
25,258
209
Ohio
✟29,532.00
Faith
Pentecostal
Marital Status
Married
>>who hears what we ask through our works.


Actually, He is the potter and we are the clay. It is His work in us, we are His workmanship. But the potter can not make the clay into anything the clay does not want to be made into, ask any potter. We need to yeild to God to allow Him to do the work He wants to do in and through us.
 
Upvote 0