Abundant Grace

The Gospel of John begins with an introduction of Yahusha and who He is.  John tells us, that before Yahusha came as a man, born of the flesh,  He was with Yahuah from eternity; that Yahusha is the Word, and that all things were made through Him. This Word became a flesh and blood man born of a woman, and walked amongst humanity. Even though Yahusha was born as a flesh and blood man, John writes  and wants us to know,  that He was FULL of GRACE and TRUTH.

In the following passage, is John’s testimony of what Yahusha was like even in the flesh. This passage speaks of the grace and truth that is in Yahusha and that, indeed, He is full of the grace of Elohim; John describes the grace that is in Yahusha in terms of “grace for grace” meaning “grace upon grace”, or an ABUNDANCE of grace.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. 2 The same was in the beginning with Elohim. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from Elohim, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of Elohim, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of Yahuah.[In other words: “They were not Yahuah’s children by nature or because of any human desires. Yahuah himself was the one who made them his children.” Contemporary English Version] 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yahush HaMashiach.

In this passage charis [grace] is used four times, and all four times, this word is ascribed to Yahusha HaMashiach. In verse 14, John, in his description of Yahusha, says that He is full of grace and truth; in verse 16 John further states that it is because of Yahusha’s fullness (the abundance) of these things, that through Him we can receive an abundance of His grace and truth i.e. spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift.  And that is what our Messiah does for those who come to Him and believe upon Him.

A more modern translation renders this as:

John 1:16  For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift]. 1:17 For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of Yahuah – charis] and truth came through Yahusha the Messiah. (AMP)

John describes Yahusha as being “full of grace and truth” inferring that He is the epitome of those things; the word “grace” means: loving-kindness, mercy, beauty, pleasantness, favor, truth; and all the things that are attributed to the meaning of charis and chesed as we learned earlier. 

Verse 16 says in modern language: “For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].” 

It is from the superabundance of His grace that we receive grace, and He offers an endless supply of His graces (gifts) even after the initial gift of pardon and forgiveness of sin for the repentant.  

We can conclude then, that it is from our relationship with Yahusha that we receive MANY beneficial gifts toward salvation, and not only salvation; but everything we need on our journey toward our salvation.

When the Father initially calls an individual (which in itself is an act of Yahuah’s grace), it is because of what Yahuah wills for that individual, and not because of anything that person has done.  Yahuah intervenes on a person’s behalf to open his eyes to see His truth and to understand His Word. This is a priceless gift that is completely apart from anything that a man or woman could do to deserve Yahuah’s calling. If that person answers Yahuah’s call upon his life, repents of his sins and turns to Yahusha in faith for forgiveness of those sins; then the next gift is the gift of being pardoned upon the application of Yeshua’s sacrifice which washes away his past sins. The Father then gives the gift of His Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spriti)  which imparts understanding of the truth of Yahuah contained in the Bible.

The indwelling of the Ruach HaKodesh also empowers that person to live righteously and to keep Yahuah’s commandments. Being forgiven and justified by faith, the new Believer enters into a relationship with his Master and HaMashiach, and he sets in his heart the commitment to stop sinning and to move forward toward a new life with Yahusha, building on the relationship by being firmly established in Him.

Yahuah’s grace is not just in the calling and the forgiveness of sin, rather His grace goes on and on, and if we abide in His presence and seek to draw closer to our heavenly Father and His Son Yahusha as John 15 admonishes us to, Elohim’s grace is heaped upon us with all kinds of wonderful and marvelous benefits; it is a life-long gift for those who are in Yahusha and who keep the Father’s commandments.

What John is declaring in verse 16 is just a short sentence “out of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace”, but there is so much involved in just these few words when it comes to the grace of Yahuah.  We are taught throughout the Bible of the many benefits and blessings that come into our lives because of the loving-kindnesses of Yahuah. This verse indicates that Yahuah will pour out His grace abundantly on those who belong to Him and belong to His Son Yahusha.

Because Yahuah the Father loves us and created us for His glory, and to be His children, He lavishly POURS out His gifts upon those who are called and beloved by Him. His gifts and blessings are not only for this life, but He will continue to pour out His grace on all of His faithful children for all eternity. We know from all the promises contained in Yahuah’s Word that He has a wonderful inheritance laid up for all those who are faithful to the end; that inheritance includes a place in His everlasting Kingdom and involves a world that will be full of agape love, peace, all goodness and righteousness.

If we have a relationship with the Father through Yahusha Messiah, we are connected to the source that supplies us with a continuous flow of favor, grace, blessings, spiritual gifts, the fruit of His spirit, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, power, forgiveness, protection, spiritual healing and the list goes on and on.

If you do a Bible study of all the ways in which Yahuah pours out His gifts upon His children, you will be able to see the richness of the abundance of His grace and how blessed we are to have all these valuable treasures available to us.  We can only praise Yahuah for the abundance of His spiritual gifts that He bestows upon His children who are walking in His ways. I know, now, why charis is associated with praise, joy, thanks, benefit, favor, gift, grace, joy, liberality, pleasure, gratitude. All of these things come to us through the Father’s GRACE and STEADFAST LOVE when we become His child and when we are faithfully walking in all of His ways and zealously living in the light of His truth. It fills us with joy and praise for the things He does for us.

The realization of the grace of Yahuah and what it truly is, makes us want to worship and adore and praise Him even more for all that He has done for us, and continues to do for us. The greatest gift that could ever be bestowed upon a person is Yahusha’s sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of humanity which makes it possible for those who come to Him in faith and repentance to be spared the death penalty. We could never repay Yahusha for all that He has done for us, and He does not expect us to, but only that we appreciate what He has done to the point of desiring to live for Him with all of our hearts, and not for the god of this world or the things of this world. 

Grace upon grace means that Yahusha is the very personification of grace (mercy and agape love) and from His abundant grace He supplies our every need (not necessarily our every desire) as He is making us into His very own image. Yahusha is not bound to give us anything, and neither is He obligated to do what He does for us. He does not owe us anything for anything that we could possibly do in our own works and strength. 

Grace and mercy go together for when we accept Yahuah’s grace we receive favor that we do not deserve and Yahuah’s grace, in the form of His mercy, spares us from the penalty of death; and since all mankind has sinned, all who have ever lived deserve to die. Look at what the Apostle Paul prayed for his brethren in regard to the riches that the Father bestows in the form of His abundant gifts.

Galatians 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Yahusha HaMashiach; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 15 Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man’s covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. 16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is HaMaashiach. 17 And this I say, that the covenant that was confirmed before of Yahuah in His Messiah, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but Yahuah gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but Yahuah is One. 21 Is the law then against the promises of Yahuah? Certainly not: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

As we journey toward the Kingdom of Yahuah (once we are called and make a commitment to follow Yahusha in all things) Yahuah supplies us with our every need, just as He supplied food and protection for the ancient Israelites on their journey to the physical Promised Land. Through the grace of Yahuah, we are given the spiritual manna necessary for life and according to His purpose for us. He wants us to be in His Kingdom.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Hebrews 13:20Now may the Yahuah of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Master Yahusha, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Yahusha the Messiah, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

It is the Father’s desire that we achieve entrance into His Kingdom as a spiritual son or daughter and to live with Him forever; therefore He gives us everything we need to make that possible if we seek those things and ask for them.

A Parable About Grace (In my own words) 

Once upon a time there was a very good king, who was also very rich. He owned much land that was a good land, with many gardens, orchards, vineyards, babbling brooks, and beautiful green hills and valleys. This king had two sons whom he loved very much. One day he wanted to bless them so he gave each one a small parcel of his land. Each parcel was of equal value and there were gardens, vineyards, and orchards on each piece of land along with a fairly nice house in which each of the sons could live.

The first son thanked his father and immediately set out to care for the land. He pruned the trees in the orchards and trimmed back the grape vines. He cultivated and fertilized the soil in the gardens; he then planted seeds, and worked hard to keep the gardens and vineyards free from weeds and thistles. He made sure that his grounds would stay green and produce much plants and greenery by installing an irrigation system.

As for the house his father gave him, he enhanced it even further by fixing it up and painting it in attractive bright colors, and then built on additions to make his house even larger for his growing family. He also built other buildings with nice apartments so that he could hire servants and provide them with places to live, by doing so, he could do even more with the land that his father had given to him. 

His orchards, gardens, and vineyards produced so much produce that he was able make a profit, and not only that, but also take truckloads of extra to the local villages and give food to the poor and elderly. Whenever the son needed advice or even supplies to better care for his land, he went to his father, and his father freely gave him instruction and everything he needed to continue to grow and produce.

On the other hand, the second son was too busy to thank his father, he was too distracted by the things going on at the local village to spend that much time caring for his land. The trees in his orchards and the grape vines were not pruned properly; the weeds took over the garden, and when rain was sparse he had no way of keeping his gardens and vineyards watered so they all dried up. He had no time and was not interested in keeping his house well maintained, and before long it became dilapidated and filled with mice and termites. As far as giving food and wine to the poor, there was nothing to give for the land became barren.

After many years, the king became very old and one day he knew that he was about to die, but he still felt very responsible toward his kingdom and toward the people in his kingdom. He very much desired that his kingdom and the people in it would continue to prosper and to be cared for after he was gone. Which one of the sons do you think he left his kingdom to?

Both sons had been given a gift of land without doing anything to earn it; they had freely received their land as gifts from their father, and at any time they could have asked their father for even more gifts to help them better care for the land (which the father freely gave). One son took proper care of the gift he was given and even built upon it, while the other son neglected his gift and let it go to ruin.

It is the same with our heavenly Father Yahuah. He freely calls certain ones to become His sons, He freely gives them a small portion of His Set-Apart Ruach, He gives then spiritual gifts, and whenever they need advice or wisdom or knowledge and the means to grow and produce, all they have to do is ask. When they run into trials and are challenged, they are admonished in Yahuah’s Word to ask for the help they need and Yahuah promises that He will freely give them what they need.

Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

This is how GRACE works. It is not a license to keep sinning, or to just sit around and do nothing to care for the gifts Yahuah has already given us. Our heavenly Father freely gives to His children and He wants to see what kind of stewards we will be of the gifts freely given to us. He wants to know if He can be able to trust us as future kings and priests who will work to help His Kingdom flourish and prosper when it is here in all of its fullness on earth; and the more we appreciate and use the gifts He has already given to us, the more He will give us on a continuous basis. 

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in the Messiah Yahusha unto good works, which Yahuah hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

My friends, this life is about stewardship. The first job that Yahuah gave to mankind, in way of instruction to Adam, was to have dominion over the rest of the Creator’s creation.

Adam was freely given the Garden of Eden free of cost; he did not have to earn it or pay for it, but Yahuah did mandate that he was to work and be a good steward over it; Adam was to dress the Garden and keep (maintain) it.  Not only was Adam to manage the Garden of Eden, but he was also to have dominion (stewardship) over all the other living creatures, tenderly caring for them and making sure that they were well maintained as well.

Genesis 2:15 And Yahuah Elohim took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Genesis 1:28 And Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed Yahuah, they were thrust out of the Garden which Yahuah had so freely given to them, for by their disobedience, they had shown to Yahuah that they could not be trusted to obey Him in all things (Genesis 3:22-24). Their rebellion cut them off from Yahuah and they lost their privilege to live in His presence for Yahuah refuses to live with willful rebellion.  Grace is a free gift, but we cannot neglect it and throw it to the ground, and we must never think that it is license to keep sinning.  May Yahuah’s grace and peace abound mightily in all of His precious children. 

Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.  15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.  17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his master’s money.

19 After a long time the master of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.  20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Master, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.  21 His master said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy master.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Master, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.  23 His master said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy master.  24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Master, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His master answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

Notice, that it was by the master’s abundant grace that these servants received their talents. They did not have to earn what was freely given to them to get them started; but the master did expect them to work at increasing, growing, and enhancing the talents that they had been given; in other words to be good stewards of the talents/gifts that He had so freely given to them. The idea that we never have to work or do anything to enter the Kingdom of Yahuah is just not biblical, or that we can sin anytime we want with the expectation that “Yahuah just has to forgive us”.

Even though it is Yahuah’s work in us that is making it possible to be made into His image and to make us fit for eternal life, nevertheless, Yahuah desires that we work as a steward of His gifts and that we fulfill our responsibility to maintain our relationship with Him. It is sin that separates us from our heavenly Father and if not repented of, the sin, in effect, steals the things of Yahuah which were freely given to us.

Matthew 25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Revelation 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

The apostle John tells us that some day we shall be like Yashua. And if He is an Elohim that is merciful, gracious, longsuffering and abundant in goodness and truth, these are the things we must be in the process of becoming if our goal is to become like Yahusha; to have the mind He has, and to be made in His image full of the fruits of the Ruach HaKodesh  of Yahuah and full of His grace.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of Yahuah, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

This life we are living is basically a proving ground to show Yahuah if we will live according to His ways, or the way of Satan. Will we take advantage of the the grace we have been given and then build upon it? Or will we turn our backs on Yahuah’s grace and squander the time we have been given to go the way of the world? It’s our choice.

Gospel of Grace

Paul wrote a lot about grace and how it is a precious gift given to mankind by the one who created them. He calls it the Good News, for by Yahuah’s grace, it is the means by which men and women can be saved and have eternal life.

Romans 5:15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of Elohim, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Yahusha haMashiach hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift 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 of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Yahusha HaMashiach.)

And wherever the apostle traveled, he spoke about the wonders of Yahuah’s grace; he call it the Gospel of the Grace of Yahuah!

Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Master Yahusha, to testify the gospel of the grace of Yahuah.

Paul knew firsthand the power of Yahuah’s grace from his own experience, and what it meant to be washed clean from his sin, and to be set free from the controlling power of guilt. He described himself as the “worst of sinners” because he so vehemently persecuted and imprisoned Yahusha’s disciples (both men and women) prior to his conversion. He never forgot what Yahuah’s grace had done for him, and he continually brought it up in his epistles of how he was the chief of all sinners, not even worthy to be called an apostle. The realization of the abundant grace that he had been given, in spite of the kind of person he had been, kept him very humble.

Acts 22:4  And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

1 Corinthians 15:9  For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of Yahuah. 10  But by the grace of Yahuah 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 Yahuah which was with me.

1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Yahusha the Messiah came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Once we accept Yahusha’s atoning sacrificial death on our behalf, the penalty for our sin is considered to be paid in full; the power of sin over us is broken. When we go on to receive the Ruach HaKodesh of Yahuah, it comes to dwells in us, and we become dead to sin becoming ever spiritually alive in Yahusha. The Bible compares our conversion experience, to receiving a heart transplant, and therefore becoming a new person.

Ezekiel 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your Elohim.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in HaMashiach, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Paul admonished those who have received this gift of grace to continue to live their lives in the grace of Yahuah.

Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of Yahuah.

It is Yahuah’s grace that is able to take our weaknesses and convert them into godly strength. It is only by the Father working in our hearts by His Ruach HaKodesh working within us, that we are able to do anything that is of any value. It is only by Yahuah’s grace that enables us to develop into His divine sons and daughters that will be a part of His ruling Kingdom on earth.

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of Yahuah.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of HaMashiach  may rest upon me.

The apostle Peter also exhorts us, that as followers of Yahusha we are to  “grow in the favour [grace] and knowledge of our Master and Saviour Yahusha Messiah” (2 Peter 3:18).

Yahuah’s Gracious Loving-Kindness

Yahusha is the epitome of what it means to be full of grace. He is ever merciful and shows steadfast loving-kindness. He is our example of what it is to be filled with grace; to be like Him must be our number one goal in this life.

Romans 5:15  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of Yahuah, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Yahusha HaMashiach, hath abounded unto many.

1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Yahuah was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Yahusha HaMashiach. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Yahusha HaMashiach came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Yahusha the Messiah might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Everything we are and everything we hope to be, is because of Yahuah’s grace. Think about it; even our birth into this life was a gift freely given to us by our Creator before we were even conscious. We, ourselves, had nothing to do with the fact that we came into existence and went on to be born into this world. Our physical life, itself, is an unmerited gift, and, likewise, so is eternal life. The grace of Yahuah is the means by which we were born into this world, and it is the means by which we can live forever with Him in His Kingdom (if we respond favorably to His grace); it will be because of what Yahuah has done, and not because of what we do… and it is all because of Yahuah’s unmerited favor.

Grace is Yahuah’s undeserved favor, His unmerited love, His ever giving loving-kindness. It is something that He gives us, or does for us, or enables us to do; that we did not in any way earn, deserve, or merit. Everything we receive from Him to enable us to become His son or daughter is done by His grace. We are to live by Yahuah’s grace freely given to us.

Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Yahusha HaMaahiach. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of Elohim:

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Yahush the Messiah to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

When we come to understand what “grace” is really all about, we see that it is the greatest gift ever given to mankind. It is because the grace of Yahuah entails all that Yahuah is and it is, He alone, who provides the way to eternal life for those who choose to receive His free gift, and then follow Him in this life, and then throughout eternity.

The reality of what Yahuah’s grace has done for us should fill each of us with eternal gratefulness. Not only has it provided for our salvation if we are among those who rise up in the resurrection to spiritual life, but it also enables us to live a rich abundant life in Yahusha, even now, in this present evil world.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And Elohim is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Yahuah’s grace is available to His children at all times and for every problem and every need we may have, but we must go to Him to receive it. It’s not that we will never have trials and problems, but if we turn to Yahuah for our help, He will give us the strength to get through them. 

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Yahusha the Son of Yahuah, let us hold fast our profession. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Yahuah’s grace comes to those He calls, entirely unbidden, and even when we were hopeless sinners (Romans 5:6-8). Grace represents, not just a one-time unmerited pardon for our sins, but a multitude of benefits and graces which are entirely unearned and continuously bestowed so that we might be made into the sons of Yahuah. This is truly humbling, and makes us want to never go back to a condition of NOT being under Yahuah’s grace. Yahuah’s grace frees us from slavery to sin and the consequences to sin; and it also frees us from the shackles of guilt and shame. Yahuah’s grace frees us to pursue all that is good and righteous and to integrate those things into our lives. It is by Yahuah’s grace that enables us to be all that He intends us to be. The grace of Yahuah is truly a priceless gift! Guard it with everything that you have!

The Grace of Yahuah That Extends Out Through Eternity

2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Master Yahusha HaMashiach, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Before Yahusha HaMashiach came to earth as a tiny baby in the flesh, He was rich beyond any words of human expression. If one could count all the riches of this world together and multiply them many times, the total sum would be but a grain of sand in comparison with what He had. Yahusha was rich beyond all imagination!

Philippians 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Yahusha the Messiah: 6 Who, being in the form of Elohim, thought it not robbery to be equal with Yahuah: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Yahusha had it all, all the riches of eternity along with the glory that He had with the Father, and yet He gladly gave it all up for you and for me, so that through His poverty we could become rich. Not with the temporal riches of that which can be gained in this physical world, but with everlasting spiritual riches that are promised throughout Scripture.

Yahusha did this not out of duty or obligation, but because He loves us and wants us to become joint heirs with Him while living with Him throughout all eternity. Not only that, He also says that if we are serving Yahuah and keeping His commandments, we are called His friends.

John 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his master doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

In these verses, we see the heart and mind of Yahusha and what He feels towards those who love Him enough to follow Him withersoever He goes. If we are seeking to know Yahuah and we are keeping His commandments, Yahusha considers us as His friends. Not only does Yahusha call us His friends because of our love toward Him, He also tells us in many places that He also has made us joint-heirs with Him; He wants to give us the most incredible inheritance imaginable.

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of Yahuah: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of Yahuah, and joint-heirs with the Messiah; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Our Father and Yahusha Messiah made the predetermined decision to share the inheritance with those who love them and who belong to them. The Book of Revelation gives us a glimpse of the things that we will be freely given as an inheritance. But we must always keep in mind that even though we are joint-heirs with Yahusha, it is not about what we deserve; rather the inheritance all rests upon the  grace of Yahuah (because of His loving-kindness towards us) that we are to inherit these things.

Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from Yahuah out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of Yahuah is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and Yahuah himself shall be with them, and be their Elohim. 4 And Yahuah shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be my son.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 17, Yahusha prayed to His Father that the Father would restore Him to His previous glory that He had before He came to earth as a mortal man.

John 17:1 These words spake Yahusha, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true Elohim Yahuah, and Yahusha HaMashaich, whom thou hast sent.

In this prayer Yahusha describes the oneness He has with the Father and prayed that those whom the Father had given to Him would be one with Them as well. He prayed that His disciples would share in the kind of glory that His Father had given to Him. Oh, if we could only wrap our minds around this marvelous reality!

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.2 2 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 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. 24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Master Yahusha HaMashiach: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

If we belong to Yahusha, we are not simply sinners saved by grace, we become friends of Yahusha, children of Yah and partakers of Yahusha’s inheritance. If we endure to the end we will be made into the very image of Yahusha and share in the glory that He has… and it will be for all eternity! All this because of the abundant grace of Elohim. “And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace [an abundance of grace!]” (John 1:17)

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of Yahuah: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of Yahuah, and joint-heirs with HaMashiach; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his Elohim, and he shall be my son.

Yahusha gave up all to come to earth and to die for our sins. In Isaiah 53 the prophet Isaiah describes the selflessness of HaMashiach in being willing to die on our behalf that we may be healed (physically and spiritually) and have life eternal as sons and daughters of the Great Almighty.

Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of Yahuah, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and Yahuah hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

The fact that Yahusha died for us to pay the penalty for our sins is also stated in 1 Corinthians 15:3:

1 Corinthians 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that the Messiah died for our sins according to the scriptures;

This is all because of Yahusha’s grace and because of His steadfast love for us. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor that ye through His poverty might be made rich.” Because of what Yahusha has done for us, Yahuah has granted that we may inherit all things with Him and have everlasting life if we are called of Him and remain faithful to all His ways until the end of our lives.

David knew from the depths of his being what it meant to be freely pardoned and to receive Yahuah’s grace when he repented of his sins, including the grievous sins of adultery and murder (see Psalm 51); and no one writes more about praising Yahuah for all His wonders and for all of His loving-kindnesses than King David whom Yahuah calls “a man after His own heart”.

Psalm 30:10 Hear, O Yahuah, and have mercy upon me: Yahuah, be thou my helper. 11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Yahuah, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Psalm 34:1 I will bless Yahuah at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

When David came to understand all of this, he was filled with awe and wonder and out of a grateful heart wrote many songs of praise to His Elohim Great Redeemer. Can we, too, be ever-praising Yahuah as David did with all of our hearts for what He has done for us, and for the GRACE He bestows on us?

Palm 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For Yahuah taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of Yahuah be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;

Think of all miracles in our lives and in the lives of others. Do we often stop what we are doing within each day and think of our calling and of all the gifts that have been so freely given to us as a miracle…and also the miracle gift of GRACE?

Even when we were sinners with no hope, the Father gave His only begotten Son making it possible that we could be spared the sentence of death if we repent of our sins, and instead of dying, go on to eternal life to live with Them in the Family of Yahuah forever.

Yahuah’s grace is not only miraculous in this lifetime, it is also an EVERLASTING GRACE that will go on for all eternity for those who become His obedient children.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy [chased Strong’s #1617a – goodness/loving kindness] shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of Yahuah for ever.

What should our response be to this marvelous gift that we call grace? Our response should be that we would want to remain faithful to Him and His Torah and praise Him forever and ever (just like David who will be king over all Israel in the Millennium). Just as we trust in Yahusha’s substitutional death for our salvation, we are to live a life of trust and dependence upon Him. It is our faith, expressed through obedience, that pleases Him.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to Yahuah must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Some day the earth will be covered with the effects of Yahuah’s grace (a complete outpouring of His loving-kindness and mercy). There will be no more evil in the world; and decay and destruction will be a thing of the past. The world will become a beautiful place to live where Yahuah and His righteousness will reign supreme forever.

As we saw previously, in the other parts of this article:  according to Strong’s Concordance the definition of “grace” includes “acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy“. How fitting that grace is all of these things, for the effects of the kind of grace that Yahuah offers to mankind will eventually bring about all these things upon the earth.

Grace is the means that brings about salvation, and it is the opposite of license to keep sinning. Grace is about unmerited pardon which opens the way to righteousness and salvation, and ultimately the whole world will be filled with the beauty of Yayhua’s grace. This will fill the earth with much joy, delight, abundance, liberation (from evil and all of its effects) and rejoicing (thankfulness) for all that Yahua has done. It is through the power of grace that Yahuah  is fashioning men and women into His spiritual likeness for all those who will receive it and live it.

Isaiah 45:8 Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I Yahuah have created it.

Yahuah extends His favor over all those who will accept His offer of grace and come to love Him with a steadfast love, and who commit in their hearts to live the rest of their lives for Him. The grace of Yahuah will be poured out on those who become His children throughout eternity. He wants to shower us with all good things. His grace is an everlasting grace.

Zechariah 4:7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

[The Hebrew word for “grace” in this passage is chen – (Strong’s #2580) which means: favor, gracious, pleasant, precious, well-favored. From chanan; graciousness, i.e. Subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) — favour, grace(-ious), pleasant, precious, (well-)favoured.] 

What an awesome and loving Elohim we have! Let us ask Abba Father daily to help us to GROW abundantly in His GRACE in our lives, now, and on into all eternity!

BelleAnge