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Grace is as we are instructed GOD’s undeserved; unmerited favor.

In the OT, Grace is seen in the following:

Noah –

• no faults;
• a man of integrity;
• the only good man of his generation/time; who had GOD’s approval;
• walked with GOD. Gen. 6:8

Moses –

• the LORD spoke to him face to face as friends do;
• the LORD knows him by name;
• the LORD showed Moses HIS way/ HIS plans so that he may continue to please the LORD;
• Moses wanted to know the LORD more intimately;
• Moses wanted to know the LORD’s will;
• the LORD is pleased with him;
• and the presence of the LORD goes with Moses and gives to him rest. Ex. 33:12

Grace is shown from the LORD GOD as a remnant/a residue that remains; He provides the way of escape; He provides a new life and new opportunities, and our eyes are lit up because of Him. Ezra 9:8

• The LORD is our Protector and KING;
• HE/Grace blesses us with kindness and honor;
• HE/Grace grants us favor;
• HE/Grace does not withhold any good thing;
• HE/Grace does not hold back HIS blessings to those of us who trust in HIM. Ps. 84:11

The LORD shows favor and is gracious to those of us

• who are modest;
• submissive;
• void of pride;
• void of arrogance;
• mild tempered;
• gentle;
• and not easily irritated. Prov. 3:34

Grace is a crown of glory. Prov. 4:9

Grace is kind to non-believers; sinners, He shows them pity. Is. 26:10

Grace provides

• blessings on top of blessings; abundance; overflow. 4:7 & *see note below.

Grace is a Spirit and prayer;

• the Spirit of Mercy and prayer;
• the Spirit of blessings and mercy – which is given/poured into the descendants of King David; and causes us to look on CHRIST JESUS. Zech. 12:10

*Grace-As explained in the book of Zechariah 4:7.

All the difficulties and oppositions that lie in the way will be gotten over and removed, even those that seem insuperable [Overcome; conquer, get the better of, overflow, surcharge, invade. Surpass; beyond, exceed, excel] (Zech. 4:7): Who and what are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will become a plain.

(1.) How the difficulty is represented; it is a great mountain, impassable and immovable, a heap of rubbish, like a great mountain, which must be taken away, or the work cannot go on. The enemies of the Jews are proud and hard as great mountains; but, when GOD has work to do, the mountains that stand in the way of it will dwindle into mole-hills.

 (2.) How these difficulties are despised: “Who are you, great mountain! that you should stand in GOD’s way and think to stop the progress of HIS work? Who or why do you appear to look so big, that in this manner you seem to be a threat, and to a degree feared? Before Zerubbabel, when he is GOD’s agent, you will become a plain. All the difficulties will vanish, and all the objections are gotten over. Every mountain and hill will be brought low when the way of the LORD is to be prepared,” Isa. 40:4. Faith will remove mountains and make them plains. CHRIST is our Zerubbabel; mountains of difficulty were in the way of HIS undertaking, but before HIM they were all leveled; nothing is too hard for HIS Grace to do.

The same hand that has begun this good work will perform it: HE will bring forth the head-stone (Zech. 4:7,9. The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, be it spoken to his honor (perhaps with his own hands he laid the first stone), and though it has been long retarded {delayed} and is still much opposed, yet it will be finished at last; he will live to see it finished, no, HIS hands will finish it; herein he is a type of CHRIST, who is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith; and HIS is the Author of it is an assurance to us that HE will be the Finisher, for, as for GOD, HIS work is perfect; has HE begun and will HE not make an end? Zerubbabel will himself bring forth the head-stone with shouting’s, and loud acclamations of joy, among the spectators. The acclamations are not hoorayed, but Grace, Grace; that is the burden of the triumphant songs which the church sings.

(1.) As magnifying free Grace and giving to that all the glory of what is done. When the work is finished it must be thankfully acknowledged that it was not by any policy or power of our own that it was brought to perfection, but that it was Grace that did it—GOD’s good-will towards us and HIS good work in us and for us. Grace, Grace, must be shouted, not only to the Head-stone, but to the Foundation-stone, the Corner-stone, and indeed to every stone in GOD’s building; from first to last it is nothing of works, but all of Grace and all our crowns must be cast at the feet of free Grace. Not onto us, LORD! not onto us.

(2.) As depending upon free Grace, and desiring the continuance of it, for what is yet to be done. Grace, Grace, is the language of prayer as well as of praise; now that this building is finished, all happiness attend it!

Peace is within its walls, and, in order to that, Grace. Let the beauty of the LORD our GOD be upon it!

Take notice what comes from the Grace of GOD, in faith, and upon good grounds, be committed to the Grace of GOD, for GOD will not forsake the work of HIS own hands.

*Matthew Henry’s Commentary

 In the NT, Grace is seen in the following:

Grace causes us to grow strong; to be full of His Wisdom (which is the Holy Spirit), and knowledgeable that HIS blessings are on us. Lk. 2:40

Grace became flesh/human; HE lived among humans; they saw HIS glory; Grace is the only begotten SON of the FATHER who is JESUS CHRIST the ONE spoken of in the OT and made perfectly clear for us to comprehend knowing that HE is the ONE full of Grace and Truth.  It is only out of the fullness of HIS Grace that those of us who trust in HIM will receive blessing after blessing/gift after gift. It is only through JESUS CHRIST that HIS Grace and truth came. John 1:14, 16-17

The apostles had great power to testify about the resurrection of CHRIST JESUS because of GOD’s abundant Grace which was with them all.  Acts 4:33

The Grace of GOD should be seen in people and people should see that we are blessed by GOD’s Grace and HIS kindness.  Acts 11:23

We are to speak boldly in the LORD GOD about CHRIST JESUS because HE bears witness to the Word of HIS Grace. And it is because of this that the LORD GOD performed miracles/signs and wonders. We are to represent as worthy of notice to the Grace of GOD’s care for the work that we complete in HIM. Acts 14:3, 26

We must believe that we are saved in like manner as those before us through the Grace of the LORD CHRIST JESUS. Acts 15:11

We are to be a help/encouragement through the enablement of kindness given to us to those who believe in the Grace of GOD. Acts 18:27

Our life and what we have accomplished in our own power/strength should not be considered more important than being obedient to the Holy Spirit. We should or must have the desire to complete the task given to each of us and that is to testify of the risen CHRIST. And to declare the Good News about HIS Grace. We are to be commended that is we are to be noticed and represented by GOD and the Word of HIS Grace which is what only builds us up and provides to us an inheritance among the sanctified; set apart/for we are the sons of GOD.  Acts 20:24, 32

It is only through CHRIST JESUS that we receive Grace for obedience to the faith. We are the beloved who have been called to be saints/the sons of GOD. Rom. 1:5, 7

Understand that the sons of the Living GOD are freely justified/absolved/ acquitted/approved/defended/pardoned/put in right standing/ and vindicated through the Grace of CHRIST JESUS because we are redeemed by and through HIM. Rom. 3:24

We must get out of the mindset that we are to do anything or something to earn our way into GOD’s good graces or into heaven. That has all been taken care of through CHRIST JESUS. Unwarily, we are looking for wages from GOD in some form or another that assures us that we are going to heaven to be with HIM. CHRIST JESUS fully paid our debt there was nothing that we could have done before and most definitely there is nothing that we can do now to add to the debt that CHRIST JESUS paid in full on our behalf. The promise that was given to us is based on and received through our faith because our father of faith is Abraham. And, should we decide to live by the law of Moses we are to obey them in every way not breaking one of them or we will be guilty of breaking all six hundred and thirteen of them. If anyone is able to obey the law of Moses completely than you also will receive the promise. Rom. 4:4, 16

Our faith in CHRIST JESUS has brought us into the experience of GOD’s Grace, this is why we can approach our FATHER and stand in HIS favor. And just as we brag about things of the world, we should be willing to brag and boast in the confidence that we have in GOD’s glory. As children of Adam in the natural, we cannot escape the DNA that he has passed down to each and every one of his kids from generation to generation. Eternal death rules in the lives of non-believers and we witness the devastation that the actions of sin do in the lives of people. Our only escape and hope are found in CHRIST JESUS who through HIS abundant Grace has given to us a way of escape from eternal death and sins. The Grace that we have in HIM is in great prevalence / great quantity / very prevalent / and if we are still missing what the scripture is teaching us to get this understanding; the Grace of GOD through CHRIST JESUS is abundant, ample, full, furnishing full supplies / we are not barren / we are not lacking anything / and we are rich in HIS supplies.  Recognize lovers of the law of Moses, it was impossible for our ancestors to obey all six hundred and thirteen of those laws and it is far more impossible for this generation and the generations to come to obey them. The law was not written for us to live by in the manner in which we are to live according to the Grace that we have from the FATHER through CHRIST JESUS. Actually, the law was written to show us that we are rebellious and can’t keep them. For example, when we are told not do a thing or not to repeat a thing verbally, what is the thing that we do or say that we were forbidden to do or say? This is evidence that we can’t keep the law. And, if you missed that example, here is another one, the speed limit is posted twenty-five, but we drive thirty or above. In this are we obeying the law or breaking it? We actually are breaking the law but just as in the natural, we receive grace to go no faster than five miles over the speed limit GOD’s Grace is supplied to us in greater abundance. If we were to self-evaluate ourselves and be honest, we could see that in our daily living we are actually missing the mark and are deserving of eternal death even if we are not sinning with the activity of our body what is our thought pattern like? This is why we should relish in the eternal life that we have received from CHRIST JESUS causing us to be justified in and through HIM by HIS Grace.    Rom. 5:2,17, 20-21

The law of Moses and sin no longer has dominion, it no longer has power and is no longer master over anyone who lives in the assurance and rest of GOD’s Grace.  Rom. 6:14

We have heard that many may say lord, lord but don’t know the nature of CHRIST JESUS as their true LORD and their true Savior so though it may appear that there are many in actuality there are only a few who are true believers that possess the remnant / the residue of GOD’s grace in their lives. Those that we see who are working to prove that they belong to GOD do not know or understand who Grace is. Grace does not require us to perform but to rest. Rom. 11:5-6

Everything that we are and do in the name of CHRIST JESUS is not done in vain. Actually, whatever work that we are tasked to do for the GOD of Grace we are to understand that it’s not us but Grace within us which compels us to do for CHRIST JESUS. 1 Cor. 15:10

GOD’s Grace is reaching more people every second of the day and they are offering to HIS glory prayers and thanksgiving. 2 Cor. 4:15

Excel in the Grace of GOD. The Grace of our LORD CHRIST JESUS left all of HIS abundance in heaven to come to us so that HE will cause us to be abundant in HIS poverty. JESUS was and is no way impoverished as we know poverty to be in our minimum understanding. JESUS took on the resemblance of poverty which is human flesh. 2 Cor. 8:7, 9

It is GOD’s nature to give to us more than we ask for or need by HIS constant overflowing Grace. GOD’s Grace is exceeding in us. 2 Cor. 9:8, 14

GOD’s Grace is enough for us; it’s all that we really need, and we will witness that HIS power is at it’s greatest when we are at our weakest. 2 Cor. 12:9

Become familiar with this, GOD is the ONE who appointed/chose/ picked us out before we were even born and separated us to HIMself from our mother’s womb through HIS Grace. Gal. 1:15

We need to make up in our minds that we will refuse to reject the Grace of GOD, we will not mix it with the Law of Moses any longer because now we understand that choosing the Law of Moses over the Grace of GOD is our silent confession that JESUS CHRIST died for nothing and that it was pointless. Gal. 2:21

Just as oil and water do not mix together but separate themselves so is the law of Moses and Grace; they will never mix well either. Trying to mix the law of Moses with Grace is actually separating ourselves from GOD’s Grace and causing us to be falling from HIS Grace and we cut ourselves off from CHRIST JESUS. Gal. 5:4

GOD’s Grace has made us acceptable in the Beloved who is CHRIST JESUS. It is in the blood of CHRIST JESUS that we are redeemed / we have been purchased and the debt is paid in full. We are free from our sins and we are completely forgiven of our past-present-and future sins. Eph. 1:6-7

We were once dead spiritually because of our sins and because we disobeyed the laws / we failed at keeping them/we violated the laws of Moses. However, in the love by which GOD so richly loves us HE made us become alive in HIS SON, CHRIST JESUS by HIS precious blood, so it is by Grace that we are saved. There was nothing that we could have done and there is nothing that we can do to earn salvation or a place in heaven. Eph. 2:1, 5, 8

GOD has given us all the responsibility to share HIS Grace with anyone who will listen. Allow GOD’s Grace to speak through us so that we may share the unsearchable abundance in CHRIST Eph. 3:2, 8

Only speak words of Grace to the hearers, we must be mindful of the words that are coming from our mouth. Most often we will say traditional words that we believe sound good because those are the words that we have heard for situations. Those words are worldly and benefit no one. Eph. 4:29

The Good News is ever present with us now as it was then. It has continued from the beginning producing good fruit or results all over the world as it has been doing in our lives since the day that we heard the Grace and truth of GOD and who HE really is or HIS true nature. Col. 1:6

In prayer ask the FATHER to keep us worthy of our calling in HIM. I once wondered why this was placed in the NT scriptures but now, I understand, we’ve all seen ministers of the gospel who have been placed on pedestals and worshipped then brought down low to the ground because pride was discovered within them.  We must have a desire to remain humble and never allow GOD’s glory to be shared with us in the manner that it’s all about us. When we do this, it will be in this manner that the name of our LORD CHRIST JESUS will be honored among us. Then will CHRIST JESUS good will be honored GOD the FATHER. 2 Thess. 1:11-12

Remember this won’t you that our LORD pours out HIS abundant Grace on us and gives to us HIS faith and love which is ours because of our union in CHRIST JESUS. 1Tim. 1:14

We are saved and called with a holy calling not according to any works we are able to perform according to our own education, power or strength. But according to HIS Grace which was given to us through CHRIST JESUS before time began.  CHRIST JESUS saved us to become HIS own people. 2Tim. 1:9

We know to say this, but we miss out by not living it and that is that we are to be strong in the Grace of our LORD CHRIST JESUS. 2Tim. 2:1

GOD the FATHER has revealed to the world HIS Grace CHRIST JESUS for the salvation of all people. Titus 2:11

We have been justified by GOD’s Grace which has transformed us into heirs according to eternal life by which we are confident. Titus 3:7

As humans were made so did JESUS willingly become a little lower than the heavenly angels by taking on the likeness of mortal man in the flesh so that HE could suffer death on our behalf and be crowned with glory and honor.  It was through GOD’s Grace that JESUS tasted death for every human so that we would not have to. Heb. 2:9

Now that we have accepted, believe and have received CHRIST JESUS into our heart we can now come boldly to the throne of Grace and speak with our DADDY face to face.  We are recipients of HIS Grace and HIS mercy which helps us when we are in trouble. Heb. 4:6

When the Law of Moses was instituted, we had to obey them and our disobedience to them put us to death without any mercy because we were judged guilty by the evidence of two or more witnesses.  Now, because those who refuse the Grace of GOD through despising the SON of the Living GOD they too will be put to death and judged by the Holy Spirit because they disbelieved and treat the blood of JESUS our covenant as some cheap thing. Not realizing that it is HIS blood which purifies us from sin.  Heb. 10:28-29

We must not turn from the Grace of GOD back to possessing that root of bitterness which springs up from within us and causes nothing but trouble and defiles us.  Grace is what helps us to serve GOD out of reverence. Heb. 12:15, 28

GOD is our Grace provider and HE gives us HIS grace in abundance. However, don’t fool yourselves because HE will not waste HIS Grace, HE will stand against; oppose and disappoint those who are prideful but will provide HIS overflowing Grace on those of us who are humbled. Jms. 4:6

If you indulge in getting drunk or ingest anything that has control over your mind or alters the way you think you are not sober in your mind.  If you would rather believe lies because of your lack of understanding the truth all because the lies come across to you as more attractive, you are not sober in your thinking. And if you believe that what you are doing or what you have chosen to believe is not harmful then you do not have soberness of your mind and thoughts.  Our minds must always be ready for action and remaining alert due to our setting our hope completely on the Grace of CHRIST JESUS which has been offered or given to us.  We can’t be this way if our minds are clouded and we have placed our confidence in everything but CHRIST JESUS and HIS Grace. 1Ptr. 1:13

We all are to acknowledge that we all are inferior especially to one another so when we know this be humble. Remember, GOD opposes the proud but provides HIS abundant Grace to all who live in humility. So, allow the Grace of GOD to daily establish us, perfect us, settle us and strengthen us by HIS Grace. 1Ptr. 5:5, 10

Let us avail ourselves to growing or better yet, growing up in the Grace and knowledge of our LORD CHRIST JESUS. 2Ptr. 3:18

Only people who are addicted to the unlawful indulgence of lust which are but not limited to such as addiction to immoral sex; vile and wicked behavior will creep in unnoticed and turn the Grace of GOD into acts of lewdness and will deny the ONE and only Living GOD as well as HIS Beloved SON, CHRIST JESUS. People like this are marked for condemnation and are ungodly. Jude 4

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