Romans 5:1-2 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us (grasp the fact that we) have (the peace of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy) peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) through Him also we have (our) access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we (firmly and safely) stand; And let us rejoice and exalt in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God."
We find here that it's by faith we enjoy and rest in the grace that came through and by Jesus. John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For our of His fullness (abundance) we have all received (all had a share and were all supplied with one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift (heaped) upon gift." Verse 17 says, "For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus."
These scriptures tell us there are a number of degrees grace that grace has supplied. And, they tell us about a number of degrees of favor and blessings that have been made available through the progression of our faith. When we come into our faith through salvation, we begin with the forgiveness of our sins. This is the state of God's grace that's now opened the door to all grace. Ephesians 2:8 (Amplified) says, "For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgement and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through (your) faith. And this (salvation) is not of yourselves (of your own doing, it came not through your own striving) but it is the gift of God."
The grace that's completely a gift of God through Jesus, extends into all things that the cross, death and resurrection of Jesus substituted perfectly for us. We've allowed Jesus to be our sin substitute, but we've mostly stopped there. If we can understand that by His becoming our sin substituted, then it has removed the barrier now to all of the favor and blessings of sonship. This is exactly what we see in John 1:16-17 where we read, "We were supplied with one grace after another and blessing and favor upon one blessing and favor after another." One grace after another means that by accepting (by faith) the grace for forgiveness, the door to the throne of God's grace for all things needful has been opened. Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly by faith draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners) that we may receive mercy (for our failures) and find grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well timed help, coming just when we need it)."
This is the throne we came to when we called for forgiveness as sinners and it's the throne we have access to after we're forgiven. This is why it's one grace after another. We came to and were forgiven by faith and now we come as the redeemed of the Lord to receive more grace for whatever we encounter in life. This grace is more than going to heaven when we die in this natural body. It's bringing heaven to earth in this natural body while we're here on earth.
Each portion of God's grace is approached only by faith. It's been made available to all who will receive, but it depends on our faith in His will to do it. John 1:16 (Amplified) says that, "We have all received (all have a share and were all supplied with) one grace after another." Again, it's to all who will believe and receive, it has been made available. Some have walked farther into this doorway of grace and some have stopped at being forgiven. We've mostly thought about grace when we've messed up and we believe that grace will forgive and cover our mistakes. But, grace goes much farther than that. It does cover our mistakes, but faith in this grace has opened all the doors into God's very presence.
The throne of grace is actually where our Father Himself is seated and is the Holy of Holies. Whatever faith will reach for and believe for, grace can and will supply. The faith that we have isn't our faith, but His faith. Romans 12:3 (Amplified) says, "As God dealt to every man the measure of faith." God has given us enough faith to receive everything that Jesus went to the cross to obtain for us. All that God promised in His covenant is wrapped up in His grace. Faith is the key that opens all the doors to the throne of His grace.
We all know someone who has taken his walk with God into a deeper realm than other Christians. Many times we feel like we were left out or that this isn't for all of us. We have even become angry suggests that we weren't "as good a Christian" as someone else. It really has nothing to do with being a good Christian, but with being an informed Christian. 2Peter 1:2-3 (Amplified) says, "May grace (God's favor) and peace (which is perfect well-being, all necessary good, all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts) be multiplied to you in (the full personal, precise and correct) knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord." Verse 3 goes on, "For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that (are requisite and suited) to life and Godliness, through the (full, personal) knowledge of Him, Who called us by and to His Own glory and excellence (virtue)."
The amount of faith we have in Him depends on our knowledge of Him and what He has done. Our journed into grace depends upon knowing what has been made available to us. Romans 10:17 (Amplified) says, "So faith comes by hearing (what is told) and what is heard comes by the preaching (of the message that comes from the lips) of Christ )the Messiah Himself)." The more we see what grace has done on our behalf, the more we can go from faith to faith and from glory to glory. Reread 2Peter 1:2 which says, "May grace be multiplied unto you through the full knowledge of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ." Remember Romans 1:17 (Amplified) which tells us, "For in the gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith (disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith) as it is written, the man who through faith just and upright shall live and shall live by faith."
Grace and faith are the power twins that feed one another. Everything grace has supplied, faith has a right to through the child of God in Jesus. We have faith Jesus said, "To say unto this mountain to be removed and it will obey us." We just lack the knowledge of Him in His free gift of grace, as to what is available to us by our faith.
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