The Doctrines of Grace

The following is just small piece from a post on the attributes of God from TEC Theology Page I have expanded my thoughts here a bit.

Grace

This may be a good reminder to those of us who have received the grace of God in our lives, it is to me any way.

Grace is God's love that is exercised to the unworthy, this includes you and me, we are all unworthy of God's love. Grace is God's goodness manifested toward the undeserved, this also includes you and me none of us deserve God's goodness. Grace is God's free actions on behalf of the unmerited, this once again includes you and me none of us can preform well enough to merit God's benifits to us. (cf. Titus 3:4-7)

Here are seven basic biblical doctrines of God's grace, but they may not be what some of my brothers and sisters view as "the doctrines of grace". See weather you agree or not. Compare this teaching with a list I found here.

1. Salvation is a product of God's grace (Acts 18: 27; Eph. 2: 7-9; Titus 2: 11).

2. Election is the result of God's grace (Eph. 1: 4-6).

3. Redemption is the riches of God's grace (Eph. 1: 7-8).

4. Sanctification is the fruit of God's grace (Rom. 5: 21).

5. Preservation is God's grace perfecting His strength in our weakness (2Cor. 12: 9).

6. Service is the overflow of God's grace (Heb. 12: 28).

7. Grace is the result in that final presentation in Christ (1Pet.1: 13).

Scripture:
Ephesians 2:8-10

Aplication:
Just as God has demonstrated His grace to us we should be gracious to one another; in our homes, in our churches, and in the world those we like and those we don't like, the lovable and the unlovable.

Here are some other ways (I barrowed from The Disconnected Generation, by Josh McDowel I highly recomend this book) that the truely regenerate can demonstrate God's grace in their home, in the church, and in the world.

Affirmation- for a sense of authenticity to [others]
Acceptance- for a sense of security to [others]
Appreciation - for a sense of significance to [others]
Affection - for a sense of lovability to [others]
Availability - for a sense of importance to [others]
Accountability - for a sense of responsibilty to [others]

Whatever your thoughts may be on this, and I am interested in your thoughts, the truley regenerate can be gracious to everyone they meet. We can be... by grace found in Christ.

Stay bright,
Brother John