Scripture of the Week

James 1:5 (KJV)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

  Romans 5 speaks of the wonderful, free gift of Gods grace.

Romans 5:15-18:
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift [charisma]. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift [dorea] by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift [dorea]: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift [charisma] is of many offences unto justification.
¹⁷ For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift [dorea] of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
¹⁸ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

  This section of Romans translates charisma as free gift. It emphasizes the grace of the giver with no reference to the merit or the receiver. Dorea, is also used to referr to this wonderful gift. It signifies that it is beneficial to the recipient. God makes the point with the use of these two different words that this wonderful free gift of Gods grace is also a benefit to those who receive it. God has abounded to us in grace and righteousness. Because of what Jesus Christ accomplished for us, we have grace and righteousness.

  Most people who read the Bible understand that one is saved by grace. There is no way man can work and earn Gods gift, it is always given by grace and demonstrates Gods unconditional, everlasting love for us.

Ephesians 2:8,9:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

  Gods love never changes. There is no variableness with Him (James 1:17). He does not love us more when we do the right thing and love us less when we do the wrong thing. His love is eternally the same. This love was a decision of Gods will, and there is nothing that we can do to make it change. God so loves us, that He continues to pour out His grace upon us. Just like we received the Lord Jesus Christ by Gods grace we should continue to walk in him in Gods grace.

Colossians 2:6:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

  We walk not to get Gods favor, but because we have already received it. The Galatians had walked for a while in Gods grace, but they forsook the grace of God and returned to the weak and beggarly elements of the law. It is vital to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has set us free. If we ever step outside of Gods grace and liberty we are not continuing in His Word (John 8:31,32).

Galatians 5:1:
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

  The Galatians had neglected to do so. Paul had pointedly asked them to figure out who it was that deceived them into forsaking the truth of the grace of God and returning to the law.

Galatians 3:1-3:
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
² This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
³ Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

  These grace killers tried to put them back under the law. This is what Paul referred to as another gospel.

Galatians 1:6-9:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another [heteros] gospel: [This gospel was a return to legalism. It was not the same gospel of the grace of God that Paul had taught them. This was something different.]
⁷ Which is not another [allos] [This gospel was not of the same kind. It was totally different. So different Paul called it a gospel with tongue in cheek. It was a perverted gospel.]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
⁸ But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

  Any teaching that takes us from the grace of God and returns us to the weak and beggarly elements of the law (Galatians 4:9) will only make us weak and beggarly. Instead of strengthening Gods people, it makes them weak. In this weakness, our access to God and fellowship with God, which was guaranteed by Gods grace through the lord Jesus Christ, is perverted. We no longer act like sons; we act like beggars.

  Our acknowledgement of Gods grace can never weaken us. It can only serve to strengthen us. Indeed, we are to strengthen ourselves in it.

II Timothy 2:1,2:
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
² And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

  We are sons of God, with the freedom to pursue our relationship with Him as dear children. We are loved by God eternally, and His grace is never ending. We never earned Gods favor, and whenever we are tricked into thinking we must, we become weak and beggarly. We can come boldly unto our heavenly Father and enjoy His grace all the days of our life. Remember it is a free gift of Gods grace that gave you access, and it is the same grace of God that enables you to walk as His son.