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Man Full of Grace

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“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.”
(Acts 6:8) 

Sure enough, everything the Christian knows is grace from God on high. Consider what Scripture has to say about this amazing grace. Those who are full of grace are:

  1. Responsive to grace. “And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who through grace had believed” (Acts 18:27).
  2. Built up by grace. “And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).
  3. Testify of grace. “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
  4. Dependent upon grace. “But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will” (Acts 15:11).
  5. Holy through grace. “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).
  6. Continue in grace. “And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43).
  7. Evidenced by grace. “When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad…” (Acts xi. 23).

This has been adapted from the commentaries of F.E. Marsh, coming soon to the Blue Letter Bible. If you would like to help pray or contribute to this portion of the ministry, please contact us here.

Comments

  1. What a wonderful way for me to start the day! Being reminded of our Lord’s grace is exactly what I needed. Thank you and God bless you!

  2. When I went today to Church, I ask one of the Pastors about baptism, “because I was baptist when I was an infant”!

    My Question is about John 3:5 and Romans 6:3-5????

    He said we must be “baptize with Water”, after we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Then he said: read Romans Chapter 6, I did, but their says noting about “Water” I checked my Link: http://www.blueletterbible.org/​commentaries by Chuck Smith, yes Chuck is talking about Water Baptism, then I went on Audio/Video, with J.Vernon Mc Gee, and he said the same like my Study Bible from Jimmy Swaggart, and that is what it says from the Study Bible:

    Romans 6:3; Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ (plainly says that this Baptism is into Christ and not Water [1.Corinthians 1:17; 12:13; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:11-12]), were baptized into… His Death (When Christ died on the Cross, in the Mind of God, we died with Him; in other Words, He came our Substitute, and our Identification with Him in His Death gives us all the benefits for which He died: the idea is that He did it all for us!)

    1.Corinthians 1:17; For Christ sent me (Paul) not to baptize (presents to us a Cardinal Truth), but to preach the Gospel (the manner in which one may be saved from sin): not with Wisdom of Words (intellectualism is not the Gospel), lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (This tells us in no uncertain terms that the Cross of Christ must always be the emphasis of the Message.)

    1.Corinthians 12:13; For by one Spirit (the Holy Spirit Alone does this) are we all baptized into one Body (at Salvation, the Holy Spirit Baptizes the Believing sinner into the Body of Christ, which is Born-Again experience; it doesn’t refer to Water Baptism), whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free (all must come in the same manner, “by and through Jesus Christ and what He did for us at the Cross”); and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. (The Holy Spirit is the Agent Who affects the Work of Redemption carried out in our Lives, which is made possible by the Death, Burial, Resurrection, Ascension, and Exaltation of Christ.)

    Galatians 3:27; For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ (refers to the Baptism into His Death at Calvary [Rom. 6:3-5]; the reference is not to Water Baptism) have put on Christ (means to be clothed with Him [Jn.14:20]).

    Ephesians 4:5; One Lord (Jesus Christ), one Faith (what He did at the Cross), one Baptism (our Salvation, referring to Believers Baptized into Christ, which was done at the Cross; it has nothing to do with Water Baptism [Rom. 6:3-5]).

    Colossians 2:11-12; In Whom also you are circumcised with the Circumcision made without hands (that which is brought about by the Cross [Rom. 6:3-5], in putting of the body of the sins of the flesh by the Circumcision of Christ (refers to the old carnal nature that is defeated by the Believer placing his Faith totally in the Cross, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude to work):

    12. Buried with Him in Baptism (does not refer to Water Baptism, but rather to the Believer baptized into the death of Christ, which refers to the Crucifixion and Christ as our substitute [Rom. 6:3-5]), wherein also you are risen with Him through the Faith of the operation of God, Who has raised Him from the dead. (This does not refer to our future physical Resurrection, but to that spiritual Resurrection from a sinful state into Divine Life. We died with Him, we are buried with Him, and we rose with Him [Rom 6:3-5], and herein lies the secret to all spiritual Victory.)

    Blue Letter Bible – Commentaries
    http://www.blueletterbible.org..

    • Aha, somebody has been reading the same book I have for 38 years and apparently someone got saved to know actually what these verses are talking about. FZ Great job on the doctrine BLB.

  3. Some receive the Holy Spirit baptism while being lifted out of the baptismal water. I truly felt, saw what Paul calls ‘the newness of life’. I somehow had had a hatred -death- for my old ways, friends, music, movies etc. That really increased my faith. Be not deceived. Go for the right baptism. Let God operate upon you. In the OT anointing was essential for ministries. How much more in NT? So make sure you deal with a consecrated, anointed servant, minister of God. I really had misgivings about the ‘rightness’ of my baptism, but this undeniable newness spurred and sustained my faith. God’s foolishness is better than mere man’s wisdom and wisecrack! Humble yourself, God will teach you, show you, guide you. He keeps the proud at arm’s length, afar off Ps.138. He hears, answers, respects you. Show me another God like this. Let grace teach you godliness.Titus.2:12. Grace be with you all.
    Poor and needy one,
    Mathew

    • Both of you, Matthew and Daniel Kroen, speak of Baptism happening at some certain time after conversion. I would agree with you on that point if I had not read Billy Graham’s book on the Holy Spirit. I know Baptism of the Spirit is a large debated subject, however I think Mr.Graham does a good job of pointing out our need not to confuse filling of the Holy Spirit with baptism of the Holy Spirit. He also makes a good point about how verses, specifically those that Daniel mentioned, may not actually point to a certain state of mind or body down here on earth, but may be pointing to the day we stand before the Lord.
      Mr. Graham also makes a good point when he says that Christians differences of opinions on Baptism of the Holy Spirit may only be a lack of defining what is meant when we say that.
      Another debated passage is found in Acts, where some men were saved, but had not received the Spirit yet. Some point out that this passage simply tells us that not all conversions are true conversions. Others say that something went wrong with those that preached the gospel there. this in turn caused false conversions to happen, so that Paul and other disciples came down to sort things out and get the believers there on the right track again.
      On a whole I think there is still much we can all learn about the Holy Spirit. Many aspects of the Holy Spirit will probably not be clarified until we get to Heaven.
      I do not mean to criticize anyone’s viewpoints as much as I wish to challenge them and learn from them myself. I will be very grateful if either of you point out the basis for your belief of Baptism of the Spirit so that I may learn new things as well.
      May God Bless you as you seek to understand some difficult concepts!
      – Bible Studier

      • Very glad to know that you are a LEARNER. The Master says come, learn of Me. I don’t have the credentials to do the job. Come and see Jn.1:39; Dan.2:11. Without controversy great is… the cloud of witnesses! Re-read Acts. It is all ‘according to his own will’ (Heb.2:4). ” Determination to be wise is the first step toward becoming wise.” Pro.4:7 TLB. So if you are truly determined NOT to do the will of the Gentiles (1Pet.4:3), but set like flint to do the will of God, he himself will lead you into the truth. Don’t try to take control,mark the FOUR levels in Eze.47. You’ll never be beached or go aground like Costa Concordia!!! David was anointed thrice. How much more in this age of Holy Ghost and fire? Age of “greater things”? Forget about American idols, count, believe the “Behold..”s in the Bible. You will behold it if you believe- be willing to leave status quo. Come (to our church) and see. Ministry after the power of an endless life (Heb.7:16). The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isa.9:7). Peace and grace be with you. Amen.
        Poor and needy one,
        Mathew

    • The Holy Ghost is given when the Gospel is being preached. See 1 Thess. 1:4-5 Pauls preaching did not come to the elect in word only! but with Power! and then he says much assurance!! thats what happened to me when I was a boy. Water has nothing to do with it. Absolutely nothing. A week later I was baptized in a swimming pool, nothing to do with salvation though, just obedience.FZ

  4. Acts 8:36-39 (NASB)
    36 As they went along the road they came to some water; and the eunuch *said, “Look! Water! What prevents me from being baptized?”
    37 [And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”]
    38 And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down into the water, Philip as well as the eunuch, and he baptized him.
    39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; and the eunuch no longer saw him, but went on his way rejoicing.

  5. Eph.4:5 sounds like baptism too is a subtle MCQ! One baptism, only one answer (1Pet.3:21) is right, all else deceptive distracters. Neh.8:8 gave sense. Philip too. When we take water baptism, we are declaring and being knit into the generation of Jesus Christ Mat.1:1-. People INVENT to themselves instruments..counterfeits Amos.6:5 See Solomon’s conclusion, ” but they have sought out many INVENTIONS.Ecc.7:29. Want more proof? Ps.106:29. Be not deceived. Walk humbly, circumspectly. The Spirit of the Lord CAUGHT AWAY.Acts 8:39. Prototype of rapture. He can snatch us away from error, accidents.. in our day-to-day life and finally rapture the Bride too. ….& his wife hath made herself ready Rev.19:7. We are called by grace, but we should not frustrate the grace, come short of it, come behind in no gift Heb.4:1 ; 1Cor1:7. God is faithful, let us be too. Grace be with you all.
    Poor and needy one,
    Mathew

    • Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the POWER of God. Mat.22:29. Please click at the above “1Cor.1:7” of mine. How much more sensitive, the word of God (Heb.4:12), the Holy Spirit, God would be? Yet people change title, leave alone jot or tittle! I tremble, Lord, help me. Ps.119:4, but we are prone to neglect(Heb.2:3) the precision. Our precision should be finer than that of NASA! Remember Paul’s voyage to the third heaven? Lord, sharpen our sensitivity for your glory. Amen.
      Poor and needy one,
      Mathew

  6. Sad to say, but I heard an old preacher say once that the television sets have taken the power of God out of the Churches. We have all the latest greatest tech devices but do we really have the power of God in our churches. Our televisions are saturated with false teachers spitting out deception and the masses seem like they want more.God wants you to be rich, He wants you to be healthy always(not advocating he wants us all to be sick here)etc. etc. We want something explained to us by men that articulate in a way we have never heard before. We just want it all POSITIVE. Sorry not in the book I read and study. God help us all to be what he wants us to be and to please him and not man.FZ