The Bible reveals three kinds or types of grace: One, an undeserved grace (John 1:17; Acts 20:24); two, grace, grace, or great grace (Zechariah 4:7; Acts 4:32-37), and three, .more or abundant grace (Romans 5:12-21; 2 Corinthians 1:12; James 4:1-6).
These three kinds of grace are excessed or gained entrance into (Romans 5:2), by three kinds of faith: One, natural, child-like faith, who believe about Jesus what they are told (Mark 10:13-6), which is also a measure of faith (Matthew 9:27-31; Romans 12:1-8); two, great or persistent faith to pray day and night until the answer comes (Matthew 8:5-13; 15:21-28; Luke 18:1-8), and three, most holy or mountain-removing faith (1 Corinthians 13:2; Jude 1:20-23; Mark 11:20-26).
And the three kinds of grace, accessed by three kinds of faith, work through three kinds of love (Galatians 5:6): One, natural, husband-wife, parent-children, friendship kind of love (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 10:37; Proverbs 27:10); two, a love for God and people as taught in His word, the Bible (Matthew 22:34-40; John 14:15-24; 15:9, 12; 17:22-24), and three, perfect or fullness of God kind of love (Jude 1:20-21; 1 John 4:7-8, 12-13, 18-21; Ephesians 3:14-21).
All these are openly seen in some of the above scripture verses, but now, Lord willing (James 4:13-17), we will more clearly point them out in other scripture passages.
In Jesus’ explanation of the parable of the sower, in Mark 4, we see in verses 13-15, Satan removes the entirety of God’s word from our heart, so there is no grace, accessed by faith, working through love, to change our calloused, hard, unbelieving heart. In verses 16-17, Satan does not totally remove God’s word from our heart, but since what we hear from God’s word, we do not obey; thus, tribulation and persecution for the word’s sake, prevents us from being faithful to God, because we do not have His grace, faith, and love. In verses 18-19, we hear God’s word, but by neglect (Hebrews 2:3), it does not get anchored in us; thus, desire and love for wealth, among other worldly desires, choke out God’s word, and we do not have God’s grace, faith, and love to continue spiritual growth from God’s word. But in verse 20, we hear, read, believe, and obey God’s word until our heart is soft, tender, and easy for God’s word to produce in us whatever He wills His word to do (Isaiah 55:10-11; John 15:1-8).
Luke 5:17, says the power of God was present to heal the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who were present in the house the day Jesus came to teach God’s word, but we soon learn they did not have God’s grace, faith, and love to receive His healing power. Verses 18-20, show the paralytic and his four friends had “seeable” grace, faith, and love to receive God’s power present to heal; thus, there was miraculous healing that day. Verses 21-26, proves the Pharisees and teachers of the law, instead of accepting God’s present power to heal, argued their selfish ideology, even accusing Jesus of blasphemies, but Jesus proved He had the authority and power to both save and heal, by commanding the paralytic to get up, pick up his bed, and carry it back home, which he joyous did, to the amazing, and complete astonishment, of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who then praised God and confessed they had never seen anything like this before—but they also could have gone home saved and healed, but chose to disbelieve.
Romans 5:1-2, is where we learn Christians are justified (declared innocent of sin), by faith in our Lord Jesus, the resurrected Christ, both doing and becoming for us, all God requires us to do and become, because John 1:17 says grace and truth came through Jesus Christ; thus, only faith in Him can provide us entrance into Him, who is our grace and truth. Verses 3-5 command us to rejoice during our tribulations, persecutions, and rejections, because our love for, and obedience to God and His word, is what causes God’s perfect love to fill us (Ephesians 3:14-21), and therefore the precious Holy Spirit within us comes flowing out (John 7:37-39), as He changes our lifestyle, and conforms us into the image of Christ Jesus, God’s dear Son (Romans 8:28-29).
These biblical truths are much easier preached and taught than written, but the very best way to learn spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:6-16), is by the Holy Spirit opening our spiritual understanding (Luke 24:45; Psalm 119:169; Proverbs 2:1-22; 4:7; 24:3; 1 Corinthians 14:14-15), so we experience 1 Corinthians 2:9-13, as the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual knowledge, understanding, and wisdom, by “comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (verse 13), which is comparing one verse or passage of Scripture with another verse or passage of Scripture (such as He has in these posts), so we know what the Holy Spirit wants the members of Christ’s body, the church, to know about the Godhead from His word—He is God that sweetly forgives!
The Holy Spirit wants to thrill, bless, and provide for us in so many ways, so let Him, because daily we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s comfort, guidance, and help, but especially now.
Jim Nabors
