All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
The Spirit of Grace
Zechariah 12:10: “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace.”
Why is living by the Spirit the same as living by grace? Living by grace and walking in the Spirit are two perspectives of the same reality. Both perspectives describe living or walking in absolute dependence on God. Grace is given by God to help us in our times of need (Hebrews 4:16). And the Spirit is given to us to be our Helper (John 14:26; 15:26). And so, the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of grace. The connection between living by the Spirit and living by the grace of God is well documented in the Scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
We read in Zechariah 4:6-7: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
God was declaring through Zechariah that Zerubbabel would accomplish the task of rebuilding the Temple from start to finish by the Spirit of God. Zerubbabel would rebuild the Temple in absolute dependence on the Spirit of God and not on human resources. The accomplished task would be a clear demonstration of the grace of God. Thus the task would be accomplished by the Spirit through grace. Thus it would be a work of the Spirit of grace.
When we depend on the Holy Spirit we are depending on the grace of God. When we depend on the grace of God we are depending on the Spirit. In the New Testament this is brought out clearly in the work of grace and of the Spirit in producing in us God’s righteousness, which we could not produce on our own.
We read in Romans 8:2-4: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Here the Bible is telling us that the Spirit produces in us God’s righteousness which the Law could not do. The Bible also tells us that righteousness comes to us not by the Law but by the grace of God. “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:21).
Thus, God’s operation in us under the New Covenant is accomplished by the Spirit through grace. Hence, to despise the New Covenant is to despise the Spirit of grace. According to Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
God wants us to serve Him by the Spirit and by grace. God does not want us to serve Him by our might and power but by His Spirit, as Zechariah told Zerubbabel. To serve God in absolute dependence on the Spirit and not our own might and power also implies the same as serving God by grace and not by our works. This fits perfectly with our classical definition of grace in Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”
The early Church experienced the connected work of the Spirit and grace among them. We read in Acts 4:31, 33: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness … And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
Therefore, to live and walk in the Spirit is to live and walk by the grace of God. Both are ways of describing our walk in absolute dependence on God. And so, just as we can come to God in our times of need to find grace to help us, so we can expect the Holy Spirit to help us in our infirmities. Neither the grace of God nor the Holy Spirit is given to us because we are worthy or strong, but to make us worthy and strong in the Lord. Let us not despise the role of the Spirit of grace in our Christian walk.
Why is living by the Spirit the same as living by grace? Living by grace and walking in the Spirit are two perspectives of the same reality. Both perspectives describe living or walking in absolute dependence on God. Grace is given by God to help us in our times of need (Hebrews 4:16). And the Spirit is given to us to be our Helper (John 14:26; 15:26). And so, the Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of grace. The connection between living by the Spirit and living by the grace of God is well documented in the Scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
We read in Zechariah 4:6-7: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”
God was declaring through Zechariah that Zerubbabel would accomplish the task of rebuilding the Temple from start to finish by the Spirit of God. Zerubbabel would rebuild the Temple in absolute dependence on the Spirit of God and not on human resources. The accomplished task would be a clear demonstration of the grace of God. Thus the task would be accomplished by the Spirit through grace. Thus it would be a work of the Spirit of grace.
When we depend on the Holy Spirit we are depending on the grace of God. When we depend on the grace of God we are depending on the Spirit. In the New Testament this is brought out clearly in the work of grace and of the Spirit in producing in us God’s righteousness, which we could not produce on our own.
We read in Romans 8:2-4: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Here the Bible is telling us that the Spirit produces in us God’s righteousness which the Law could not do. The Bible also tells us that righteousness comes to us not by the Law but by the grace of God. “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:21).
Thus, God’s operation in us under the New Covenant is accomplished by the Spirit through grace. Hence, to despise the New Covenant is to despise the Spirit of grace. According to Hebrews 10:29, “Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
God wants us to serve Him by the Spirit and by grace. God does not want us to serve Him by our might and power but by His Spirit, as Zechariah told Zerubbabel. To serve God in absolute dependence on the Spirit and not our own might and power also implies the same as serving God by grace and not by our works. This fits perfectly with our classical definition of grace in Romans 11:6: “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”
The early Church experienced the connected work of the Spirit and grace among them. We read in Acts 4:31, 33: “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness … And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
Therefore, to live and walk in the Spirit is to live and walk by the grace of God. Both are ways of describing our walk in absolute dependence on God. And so, just as we can come to God in our times of need to find grace to help us, so we can expect the Holy Spirit to help us in our infirmities. Neither the grace of God nor the Holy Spirit is given to us because we are worthy or strong, but to make us worthy and strong in the Lord. Let us not despise the role of the Spirit of grace in our Christian walk.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Juan on
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I have a question on works
What about keeping his commandments because we love him?
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
We cannot keep his commandments on our own even if we try.
2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Therefore, dont we rely on his grace to help us walk in the light as he is in the light?
1Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Keeping his commandments are works that God has ordained that we should walk in them but they dont justifiy us.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
And our works don't get us saved nor keeps us saved
Eph 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
But rather his grace that enables us through his Spirit to walk in them.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
In conclusion, it is by his grace that we are able to walk with him despite any setbacks that we may encounter along the way.
Rebukes, corrections are welcomed. -
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Permalink Reply by PoiemaDei on
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Thanks, Juan. It is by the grace of God we fulfill God's righteousness.
Let us always bear in mind we did not invent the idea of grace but it's presented in the Scriptures as God's chosen way of dealing with us through Christ. In fact, to convince us now that God's dealing with us from start to finish will be by His grace the Bible tells us in the ages to come we will be put on display for all to see that our accomplishments were completely by God's grace to us. "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7).
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That is so amazing! Why won't a helpless creature like me accept it?
Juan, you may also want to look at some of the earlier postings on grace to get acquainted with the discussion we have had so far on the topic in the group. God bless you. -
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Permalink Reply by Alliah Seri on
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I thank you very much for this post ,because it made me a lot of property!
I want in the name of JESUS CHRIST, the spirit of grace will guide me in my christian life ! -
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I am convinced that the Lord will answer your humble cry and will not disappoint you, Alliah. He gives grace to the humble. I am praying for you.
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Permalink Reply by mary jamieson on
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i need the spirit of grace to handle l
staying with my family in australia i see so much i dont like and i sure the lord sees too i dont know how not to be angry and how to deal with what i see -
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Mary, it is that sense of helpless that bring us to the throne of grace to obtain God's mercy and grace to help. God is true to His word. I am encouraging you to take the problem and your sense of weakness to God and I am sure the Lord will give you His strength to overcome. I am praying for you.
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Permalink Reply by Ginnybee on
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Thanks for this, Poemia.
Such topics can become a bit confusing, at least, they can to me. I know we are saved by grace and not through works, but with that statement often arises the question of whether or not that implies we should ignore acting in righteousness. I know that is not the case. We need to serve the Lord and glorify Him through our actions. But one can probably see what I mean about this topic becoming confusing. I gather from your post that what you are saying is we acquire right judgments through the impressions brought on us by the Holy Spirit, who manifests in us by the Lord's grace. Therefore, everyone impressioned by the Holy Spirit lives by grace. Without the Holy Spirit, one cannot reap the benefit of the Lord's grace, and thus resumes without life. Did I appraise that right? Thanks ahead of time. Please continue to bless us with your wisdom! I enjoy reading.
Your words are my treasure. Thank you,
GB -
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Yes, indeed, Ginny, you are to the point. You may want to read the messages on active grace and passive grace. They expand on what you said about grace enabling us to do what is pleasing in the sight of God. God wants us to live by grace in order that we can depend constantly on Him to fulfill His righteousness and never seek to do it on our own. We just cannot please God on our own. God bless you.
I have been unable in recent days to spend much time online as I would like to but will soon be back keeping the group posted. Thanks for your prayers. -
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