It is amazing how creative we have become in Pentecost. Well, we have had alot of help. Remember when preachers would define a word in the bible to say with authority that he found a particular word in Websters dictionary?
The problem with that is the bible was not written in English, so Mr. Webster unfortunately has been misleading us for almost a century.
Words that are not defined properly will ultimately lead to faulty concepts.
Let us take grace as a classic example. If you ask most folks what the definition of grace is they will blurt out "unmerited favor". Since the word is found in the bible that means that it was either a Greek or a Hebrew word.
OT:2580
chen (khane); from OT:2603; graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty):
NT:5485
charis (khar'-ece); from NT:5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual;
especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):
Unmerited favor is found in the Websters dictionary. The above definitions of grace are found in the Strongs concordance.
Most of the time grace in the old test. refers to favor that was MERITED. Noah found favor or grace in the eyes of the Lord. Of course there are scriptures that speak of gratitude and graciousness.
In the new test. we find grace as an enabler. It does not fit into the context of scripture that gives us the understanding that it is unmerited.
We get grace THROUGH faith. Faith is information (the word) acted upon thus we access grace through it.
Grace is the power of God that enables the church to do its business. Without it we cannot be saved. We cant preach without it, cant build the church without it. Charis (grace) is the root word for charisma. We cannot operate the gifts of the spirit without grace.
The danger of defining this word incorrectly is because it has watered down salvation. We basically got this concept from the Baptists. It breeds a sloppy walk. The scriptures teach otherwise.Grace teaches this:
Titus 2:11-12
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Grace teaches us to be holy,grace convicts us of sin. It is not a margin of error, it is not sloppy salvation. It does not accommodate sin. But there are some that would like to water down the power of grace to suit their sinful agenda, turning Gods grace into a lawlessness.
Jude 4
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
KJV
God bless you
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