Unless You Hate? Unlessing Grace
Unless Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV), 25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Unless Hate one s family Hate one s self Carry one s cross Is such congruent with grace?
Grace-a Gift Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV), For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Gift, Gift, 1431. δωρεά dōreá; noun from dídōmi (1325), to give. A free gift with emphasis on its gratuitous character.
He Who has Ears Luke 14:25-33 (NKJV), 25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 34 Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? 35 It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
Kosmos Luke 14:26-33 (NKJV), 26 If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV), 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. John 3:16 (NKJV), For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Count the Cost Luke 14:25-35 (NKJV), 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Is our salvation based on our effort or His effort? Count the cost, our counting or His counting John 10:27-30 (NKJV), 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.
Up to Jesus Philippians 1:6 (NKJV), being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV), 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV), 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NKJV), For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. Romans 4:17 (NKJV), (as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations ) in the presence of Him whom he believed God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;
Grace Is I Grace in the sense of beauty. Charis is the quality of that which is attractive and gives joy. II. Grace in the sense of favor or love. Grace usually refers to a subjective disposition: goodwill or good grace, benevolence that finds expression in generosity, love that commands action, 6 but which is absolutely free. III. Grace in the sense of benefit. It is often impossible to distinguish between benevolent feelings and a favor granted. Any gift, present, pardon, or concession that is granted freely, out of one s goodness, is called a charis. IV. Grace in the sense of gratitude. A benefit arising purely from the goodness of the benefactor necessarily inspires gratitude on the part of the one who receives it.
The Fruit of Grace 2 Corinthians 6:1 (NKJV), We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. A gift- Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV), For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Results in gifts- Romans 12:6-8 (NKJV), 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Who I am- 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV), But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Produces thanksgiving- 2 Corinthians 4:15 (NKJV), For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Is God s strength- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV), 9 And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness [dative].
The Fruit of Grace The source of salvation- Ephesians 2:5 (NKJV), even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), Teaches us to live in the image of the Last Adam rather than the first Adam- Titus 2:11-14 (NKJV), 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Brings justification- Titus 3:7 (NKJV), that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Enables worship- Hebrews 12:28 (NKJV), 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
Unmerited Favor Grace is not unmerited favor! God doesn't love you because he pities you, He knows you and has never changed his mind about you! Jesus is God's mind made up about you-manity! Francois Du Toit 6/2/16 Merit-the quality of being particularly good or worthy, especially so as to deserve praise or reward. Unmerited-no, unearned-yes God s grace is unconditional.