KEY SCRIPTURE:1John 4:10 KJV” Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins”.

In this series on the grace of God, we see the principle on which grace and law function. The law functions on the principle that God demands for right actions from man to appease Him although He provides no abilities to meet them. Grace functions on the principle that God gives divine abilities as an investment in us to produce whatever He expects of us. Under the law God demands that man loves him with all his heart soul and strength. Under grace God demonstrates love to us as a seed to generate in us a response. 1John 4:11 KJV “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another”. We likewise respond with our all.

The above truths, teaches us a very important lesson. It shows us how to avoid living by the terms of the law although we claim we are under the dispensation of the grace of God. We see that, we cannot do any good thing for our Father, without first receiving from Him. The Lord said it clearly in John 15:4 KJV “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me”. Don’t focus your efforts on how to love the master, but rather focus on receiving His love, so you would naturally love him.

In Luke 10:40-42, Martha came to Jesus complaining about her sister who had left all the kitchen chores for her, to listen to Jesus. The Lord responded by telling her that, there was only one thing that was necessary, which the sister had chosen that GOOD part, and it shall never be taken from her. That good part was receiving from the master. You can’t give acceptably to God until you have first received from him. This is grace indeed.

 We can’t love God much, until we have known and received of His love for us.    1 John 4:16, says we have known and believed in the love God has for us. How much have you meditated on the great love God has shown to us? Always talk much about how much He loved us. In Luke 7:47, the woman loved much because she saw how much she was forgiven.

CONFESSION

God showed His greater love for me by sending His son to die for me. He bore every judgment, that I might not be judged. I give Him all my love, for all He’s done for me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 7:47 KJV “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little”.

1 John 4:16 KJV” And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Philip 3:3 KJV” For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh”.

 Confidence in the flesh nullifies the supply of divine potential for a victorious life.  It frustrates the grace of God. What is confidence in the flesh? This is a reliance on the abilities of our flesh, as well as what we do to our flesh to make us feel justified before the father. One of this is circumcision. Circumcision is nothing to the man who places no confidence in it. It hinders the workings of God’s grace when one feels justified because of it. Galatians 5:4 KJV” Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”

Another very subtle way most men, express confidence in the flesh is when they relate to the opposite sex in some “odd moments.” (or same sex in some few cases) Now note: Biblical instruction is God’s way of supplying divine ability when the scripture is honored.  The Bible’s instruction, is flee youthful lust. (2 Tim 2:22). Some men have believed in themselves and not obeyed this scripture. They ended up committing certain   shameful acts which became a reproach to the name of Christ. All these could have been avoided, if they had just obeyed the instruction of the word.

An example is a pastor who counseled a lady who kept weeping. This man decides to get closer to her, put his arms around her to comfort her. All these was going on in the Pastor’s locked up office. After some moments they found themselves in a very ‘compromised’ action right in the Pastor’s office. What brought all these? He had confidence in his flesh.

 No man’s flesh is born again. ‘The strong man is he who knows his weakness and prevents it from controlling him’. Don’t watch porn, and claim you can handle it. The flesh is a servant, it submits to what you give it.   If you keep giving it the word it would function in line with the word. If you give it carnal things, it would respond carnally. DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE FLESH.

CONFESSION

I do not have confidence in my flesh. My confidence is in the Lord Jesus and His finished work. I therefore do not allow the flesh to lead me against what the word says. I prevent every appearance of sin and give no occasion for the flesh to dictate my affairs. My life reveals the glory of Christ.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 5:13 KJV “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”.

Romans 6:16 KJV” Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 15:20 KJV “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed HIM”.

Read (Luke 15:11–32)

The story of the prodigal son reveals the gracious heart of our father God. The bible says in Luke 15:12 that the younger son asked His father to give him the inheritance that was his. The father divided His inheritance and gave his to him. It was wrong for him to demand his share of the inheritance when the father was alive, yet he gave it to him anyway. This father represents our heavenly father in this parable. If the father would give such a request to this son, then no good thing would the Lord refuse to give us His children. Many of us easily give up and claim God says no. If He has promised it, then He will not deny you. It is your unbelief that can deny you the answer

Please note: that the father did not only divide and give the younger son, but he gave the elder son as well. (vrs 12). This did not leave the father as a poor man. There is nothing too big for God to give you. After this young man had finished his wealth on riotous living, he joined himself to a citizen of the country. The man made him feed swine, without any salary. Never join yourself to the ways of this world, it would cause you to do more filthy things without any liberty. This boy finally came to his senses and decided to go back to the Father

HE rehearsed what he would say to his father. This is how Luke 15:20 describes what happened, “And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” Dear brother, if you have fallen short of God’s word in any way, God is not mad at you. He wants you back.

 The father gave him the best treat. He was given the best robe, that is righteousness. He was also given a ring. This stood for authority. He was given a shoe on his feet. This was his right to possess any inheritance. His sin was unpardonable yet, the father’s desire was to have him back. His wrong choices gave him all the punishment he needed. Punishment is a means to get you into the correct path. If you get on the right path, then there is no more need for any punishment. God’s interest is not to punish you, but to produce His best through you. Turn away from your sin and come back to Him.

CONFESSION

I thank my heavenly father for his great love and mercy towards me. He accepts me each time I turn fully to Him. He honors me with His best provisions. I am fully endowed with every good thing to excel in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 55:7 KJV “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” .

Ephesians 2:4 KJV” But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:8 KJV “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”:

Salvation is an all-inclusive word. It literally means to be delivered from harm, ruin, loss or preservation. The general biblical definition is that, it is deliverance from sin and its consequences. Some of these consequences of sin include, diseases, poverty, insecurity, demonic harassments, lack of peace of mind and many more. From our key scripture, we may be benefactors of all these by grace. Faith is the only means that grace delivers salvation to us. It is never by works. Nothing you do by human effort can release any blessing of God to you. Indeed, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Heb 11:6

The scriptures show us how to access the grace of God that brings salvation through faith. Rom 10:10 KJV “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”. This verse shows us how to express our faith to possess salvation which comes by grace. It teaches that, you believe what God has said in His Word in your heart, and confess it with your mouth. This is the Bible’s simple way to receive every blessing of salvation by grace. It implies if you are sick in your body, you apply the same principle to receive the salvation of healing. If you desire for divine preservation, you apply the same principle. The same goes for deliverance from sin.

For deliverance from sin the scriptures put it this way. Rom 10:9 KJV “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” If it is peace of mind you want, you may declare I believe the chastisement of my peace was upon Him. I have His peace in my heart. If it is for healing in your body, you believe in the scripture that says Himself took my infirmities and bore my sicknesses. You therefore declare that I believe I am healed. After these declarations, you must express your faith by acting on the word of God. If it is deliverance from sin, then stop the sinful actions. If you are lying on a sick bed, then rise up from that bed, and thank God for healing you. Do something in line with what you believed and confessed.

CONFESSION

I am saved by grace through faith. I reign in life by my faith in the word of God. My life is preserved from all calamities, since He gives His angels charge over me. No demon torments me, because I am delivered from the dominion of darkness. No sickness hangs on me, for by His stripes I was healed. Thank you father for all these provisions by grace.

FURTHER STUDIES

Titus 2:11 KJV “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

1 Peter 1:10 KJV “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 2:21 KJV “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain”.

The grace of God is a world of immeasurable supernatural potential that God invests in the believer. The output of most believers’ lives, suggest that they are living far below this wealth of divine verities made available to them. Apostle Paul states that, he does not frustrate the grace of God. He shows this in the preceding verse, that reads Gal 2:20 KJV” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. He admits he is dead with Christ yet he lives. The life he lives in the flesh is led by the faith of the Son of God. He daily acknowledges that it is not him that moves, talks and relates to others, but the very life and power of the living Christ that works in him.

The grace of God is a supernatural provision that is received by faith. Rom 5:2 KJV “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Apostle Paul says knowing that Christ is at work in him, he labours more abundantly than the rest(1 Corinth 15:10).He does not sit idle because Christ is at work in him, rather he puts in extra effort, allowing the Spirit of Christ in him to produce His best through him. Indeed, he achieved so much for the master because of his diligence. Put in your best always, for that effort is the ability of Christ in you.

To walk in the grace of God, do everything with the understanding that it is Christ acting through you. Approach every challenge with the mindset that ‘ I am an overcomer, because there is a superior power at work me’ .(1 John 4:4) When certain difficulties like sicknesses rise against you, let your heart be assured that the power of Christ at work in you is far superior and has overcome that evil power. If you are tempted to sin, know that, that suggestion to sin comes from an evil spirit, and you have the Spirit of Christ as your life. Jesus cannot succumb to any act of sin, so refuse the thought. If you fall short in any way don’t condemn yourself, neither feel guilty. Confess your sin and accept your forgiveness. Understand, it was an action you took without acknowledging the supernatural power of Christ in you. Live at peace with yourself in the grace of God.

CONFESSION

I live by the grace of God. I do not frustrate the grace in anyway. I put in my best and trust the Lord to fully function through me. I am equal to every task and overcome every challenge by the power of the resurrected Christ in me.

FURTHER STUDIES

1Corinth 15:10 KJV” But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”.

Colossians 1:29 KJV Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 11:6 KJV “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”.

Dealing with men on the terms of God’s grace has been God’s original intent for His creation. Before Adam and Eve were created God had provided everything they would ever need. He gave them total authority over all of His creation. He dealt with them on the bases of His grace. The law was man’s choice. When Adam and Eve decided to listen to the devil because they wanted to be like God and be in charge of their affairs, they lost the grace of God. The law is man using his efforts to please God or to achieve all that he aspires to have. When they were under grace God did everything through them. When they left God’s way, they had to use their effort.

 Now under grace, Jesus takes over a man’s life and expresses Himself through Him. He fills him with everything that He is and has. Many Christians are struggling because they have not understood all these things about the grace of God. By grace God does not see you as Mr. A or Madam B. He sees you just like His Son Jesus. The name you carry in the realm of the spirit is Christ. You have the same audience before the father as Jesus. (John 17:23) Angels come to assist you Just like Jesus. Heb 2:11 KJV “For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,” The phrase, “are all of one” means we come from one Father. In actual fact Jesus has duplicated Himself in every Christian.

God does not condemn you because the same Christ who has taken over your body was the one who was condemned and died on the cross, and so He can’t be punished twice. When you act against the word, it means you refused to let the Christ in you to function. If you persist in this wrong way devils will take advantage of you. As a Christian you don’t have sin in you. You don’t have sickness reigning in you. These things work only when you fail to acknowledge the power and life of Christ in you. Everything about your effort is works and everything about Jesus functioning in you is God’s grace. Turn every attention from yourself to Jesus. Give Him all the praise and the glory. Never stop acknowledging His presence power and glory in you.

CONFESSION

Jesus is alive in me. He manifests His glory, power, righteousness. His presence attracts God’s favor provisions and victory. Indeed, it is all about Christ.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 17:23 KJV” I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me”.

Colossians 1:27 KJV. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:1 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Condemnation is one of the main roots of human problems. This can be seen in the experience of our first parents, Adam and Eve. The Bible says they ruled over all of God’s creation until they sinned against God. They had fellowship with God without any feeling of fear or intimidation. After they sinned, they started hiding from God’s presence. What brought the fear? It was that deep feeling of condemnation. Man’ s problem of fear for whatever it may be proceeds from a deep seated root of condemnation. Condemnation robs you of every sense of security, superiority, acceptance and finally leaves you vulnerable. Fear also leads to stress.

Stress is a feeling of discomfort and a deep emotional instability. These three states become the root cause of more recognizable challenges. They include anger, sicknesses, failure in a number of endeavors. There are some Christians who are living very frustrated lives because they feel inadequate and condemned. Some Pastors are also struggling deep down in their hearts and even feel like giving up. My good news to you is that God says He does not condemn you. The Lord told the woman brought to Him, who was accused of adultery, that neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more. (John 8:11)

He says He does not condemn you. He says further’, allow me to take over your life and consciousness’. As apostle Paul said, it is no longer I that lives but Christ who lives in me (Gal 2:20). With Him you are perfectly righteous, you are endured with an incomparable power. All devils are subjected to you because He is in charge of your life. You have no condemnation, no fear and no stress. You reign in life by the abundant grace received through Christ. Stop living in the flesh and put on Christ, so you would walk in the Spirit. Remember grace simply means Jesus living through you.

CONFESSION

I have put on Christ. I have His righteousness, His wisdom and His supernatural power, I cannot feel condemned because it is Christ who expresses Himself through me. I reign in life, making exploits wherever I go.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 5:17 KJV” For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”

Galatians 3:27 KJV” For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Rom 8:1 KJV” There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”.

Our key scripture tells us there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Those ‘who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. To walk after the Spirit is to acknowledge that it is Christ who is personally at home in you. Whatever you do or achieve is done by Him. What does it mean to be condemned.? To be condemned is to be judged and cast down. Many children of God are living under condemnation. It is a feeling of failure coupled with rejection and God’s anger against them. A guilty consciousness aggravates this sense of condemnation. The man who feels condemned cannot amount to anything good for the Lord. He would not be able to possess any promised blessings. A feeling of condemnation can stir up all kinds of diseases in the individual. It is not the will of the father to see His children feeling condemned.

 The root cause of the feeling of condemnation is a life in the flesh. As the king James version states it, a man who does not count his Christian experience on the bases of the presence of the Spirit of Christ at work in him would attribute everything to himself, whether failure or success. When such a person is successful, he attributes it to his efforts. When he fails, he feels defeated, guilty and rejected? The Lord condemns no one. It is one’s own self-justification that gives way to this sense of condemnation. God does not condemn anyone in Christ

IF you are feeling condemned in any way, please note that it does not come from the Lord. Rom 8:34 KJV” Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”      It is your own personal inconsistencies and refusal to acknowledge that it is no more you that does anything. It is not what you achieve that matters, rather all praise and glory goes to Christ. He works through you; He receives the glory. With this understanding no situation can make you feel condemned.

CONFESSION

I never feel condemned, for I live not for myself but for Christ. It is Christ who expresses Himself through me. I have no successes to glory in, neither do I have any failure to be guilty about, He receives all the glory.

FURTHER STUDIES

Philippians 2:13 KJV” For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

2 Corinth 5:15 KJV” And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:32 KJV” And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”.

One of the greatest works of grace that our father has shown to us is the forgiveness of our sins. It is something we received to make our salvation complete. In our previous study we said, God has forgiven us in Christ and so expects us to forgive others. What happens if the Christian does not forgive? If a Christian refuse to forgive, he has not honored the word of God. He has refused to live by the Spirit. He therefore brings his life under the influence of the adversary.

Such an action would grieve the Holy Spirit. The child of God who does so, would lose his joy and peace. He would grow bitter and demons would begin to manipulate his life. Never keep hurts, God showed you love by forgiving all your sins. Do likewise to others by forgiving them. The next question to consider is, since we have been forgiven already in Christ, do we have to always confess our sins. As a child of God any moment you know you acted against God’s word, it is just right to accept forgiveness by confessing your sins. I used the word ‘accept’ forgiveness because, the Lord has already forgiven us. Let’s consider another question. Is it certain that we would always sin? I do not think so. We have stages of growth. We have children, young men and fathers. (1 John 2:12 & 13)

Children can easily err, but not fathers. The apostle who wrote the letter of John wrote to various classes of people at each point of his letter. When he wrote that if we claim we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, he referred basically to children (1 John 1:10). This statement was not to everyone. Remember Jesus asked us to be perfect as the father is perfect. Note: He would not ask us to do what is impossible. You confess your sins when you know there is one to be confessed, as well as presumptuous ones. If there is none, don’t. God’s idea is to raise a people who are righteous conscious and not sin conscious. He wants us to come to the measure, stature and fulness of Christ (Eph 4:13)

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly Father for forgiving me all my sins. I likewise forgive all those who have sinned against me. Because of this great mercy, I live above every sin so I may please the master in every way.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 9:14 KJV “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

1 John 3:8 KJV “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:17 KJV “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”.

Forgiveness of sins is a very important topic that every Christian must grasp very well. The terms of forgiveness under the dispensation of the law is not the same as we have under the dispensation of grace. Under the law one is only forgiven when he or she has made a sacrifice to atone for his sins. Lev 5:13 KJV “And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest’s, as a meat offering” .God’s eternal principle for forgiveness is the shedding of blood to atone for sin. Heb 9:22.” And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission”.

Sin in any form must not be treated as a light thing. Every sin rebel against the authority of God and also defiles the sinner. This is why 1 John 1:9 says when one confesses his sin, God is faithful and just to” forgive and cleanse” the sinner. Again, under the law, God will forgive the offender who has first forgiven those who sinned against him. (Mark 11:26) This is not so under the dispensation of grace. Under the dispensation of grace, the Lord Jesus died on the cross to forgive all our sins, past present and the Future. Eph 4:32 KJV “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you”. In this instant the word did not say, forgive so you would be forgiven. He said forgive because you have been forgiven for Christ sake.

Secondly, under grace of God we do not have to make any sacrifice for our sins because the Lord has already given his life once and forever for our sins. Heb 9:12. Under this dispensation of grace, Christ forgave us when he died. We receive it each time we sin. (1 John 1:9) We are indeed in a better time. Could you imagine having to get a goat, sheep or dove, to be sacrificed for your sins each time you sinned? Please if any prophet or man of God instructs you to make the sacrifice of any animal to God on any grounds, please refuse it. God no longer accepts animal sacrifice any more.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father for forgiving all my sins. Lord Jesus by your death on the cross you took away every sin, past, present and Future.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 5:31 KJV Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:7 KJV” In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”;