1 Timothy 1:14
14 And [de] the grace [charis] of our [hemon] Lord [kurios] was exceeding abundant [huperpleonazo] with [meta] faith [pistis] and [kai] love [agape] which [ho] is in [en] Christ [Christos] Jesus. [Iesous] KJV-Interlinear
14 and the grace of our Lord was
more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. NASB
Faith, grace, and love
are frequently mentioned and linked together in the Bible, Rom 5:20, 2 Cor 9:8, Eph 1:15; Eph 2:8, 3:17; Col 1:4; 1 Thess 1:3; 3:6; 5:8; 2 Thess 1:3;
Philem 5, Col 1:23, 1 John 3:14.
Despite the prevalence
of sin in the world, whether promoted by individuals in ignorance, or intentionally
by people or organizations who routinely promote false concepts, Gods grace is
more than a match for them all collectively.
Paul describes
abundance here as more than. And more than means, far beyond that which is required or
necessary.
Similar wording is used
in James for greater grace, which likewise indicates blessings that far exceed
the normal levels of blessing, and are used in relation to mature believers.
God does not have to
allocate His grace to the world. God does not have to limit the grace that may
be available to any given individual. There is more than enough to go around. There is never a shortage of grace.
Everyone can be a
winner and receive the maximum blessing available, if everyone makes the
effort.
In this world when
there is a competition, and there is almost a competition for nearly everything
that goes on, but only one person can win the winners prize. Only a few can win the highest honors, and the
rest go without. Even those who try
really hard, gain nothing, if they do not win.
But in Gods plan, anyone who obeys His commands, can be a winner
of the maximum blessings that will be available both now and especially in
eternity.But the key here is obedience.
Paul uses faith and
love here in conjunction with grace.
Grace is Gods policy
for His divine plan.And grace is tied
to truth.
Love is agape, which
refers to the content of the scriptures.
Faith is ones conviction, ones belief, but not based on hope or wishes,
but on facts, knowledge, wisdom, confidence.
Faith is developed and
constructed from doctrine, learned doctrine.
And learned doctrine comes from learning.
Learning comes from a
daily study of the scriptures, and daily study requires a self-disciplined commitment
and desire, a genuine desire, to fulfill ones own
life to the fullest.
Again, hoping and
wishing, and even convincing yourself through emotional mechanisms, won t
accomplish the learning required to secure spiritual growth.
Gods grace comes to you, through only one source, Jesus
Christ.This rules
out all other religions, philosophies, and so forth. It even rules out the self defined spirituality
that people come up with from time to time.
Because if you are not engaged in a daily study of the Bible, a study
which is taught to you, then whatever you are doing, amounts to doing nothing.
Study of the word of God
requires and demands a consistent and systematic and objective approach. And while folks want to think of themselves
as self taught, they are not.They are
only fooling themselves.
Lack of a legitimate
study, makes you the potential victim of those who promote false views.
Only a legitimate daily
study, will provide you with the defenses necessary to
avoid the charlatans of the world.And
more than that, it opens up the huge treasure of Gods
grace for your life.
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are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits
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