"Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and we boast in hope of the glory of God."1
This word for boast means living with "head up high." We have such bold access to the throne of Grace by faith. This is the foundational principle of the new covenant, by grace are we saved, through faith in Jesus Christ. By grace we are saved, it is unmerited favor, a gift from God, not by works of the law, to be received by faith. So we have access into this Grace, by faith, in which we stand.
"For if, by one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness receiving, in life will reign through the one man Jesus Christ."3
Those who stand in grace will reign, they will have dominion over sin and death, they will have Life. Grace and righteousness is a free gift received by faith in Jesus Christ. Through the act of one man's trespass, condemnation came to all men but through the one act of a Righteous man, to all men, justification.4 Justification means judicial approval emphasizing Christ's full payment of the debt for sin which liberates the believer. This justification comes by faith in Christ.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."5
Christ did not condemn man, but condemned sin which dwells in the flesh of man. Through faith we receive the gift of righteousness, we receive redemption, the forgiveness of sin, cleansed by his blood, born of Spirit we are empowered to have dominion over sin, being washed by his Word. "We have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from opposition."6 Though we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of Jesus and having been reconciled we are saved by the life of Him. Important is the teachings of baptism.
"Now the law entered that might abound transgression, but where sin abounded, grace over-abounded, that as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."7
Grace reigns through the righteousness we receive by faith. Because God so loved the world he sent his Son and through faith in Christ we receive the gift of righteousness and grace, this is the fullness in which Christ came, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."8 Righteousness is by faith, "But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets."9 By faith in Christ I have access to this Grace in which I stand, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."16a
"... how much more the grace of God and the gift in grace which of the one man Jesus Christ abounds to the many."10
Grace is a gift. It is by grace we are saved.11 We stand in grace which we have access to through faith in Christ. The gift in grace is righteousness received by faith, and it is in this grace that righteousness will reign, or put another way, we have dominion over sin under grace. We are not bound to the Law but to Christ. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."12 We know this victory occurs at new birth and it is being worked out in transformation by the renewing of the hostile carnal mind, into one like that of Christ, one that walks by faith, by the Spirit not by the flesh.
"indeed sin you will not rule over, indeed, under the Law but under Grace."14
In Grace we reign. Now, are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? no, of course not but if I struggle with sin, it is not I but sin in my flesh. I can overcome if I continue, abide in His truth. I can meditate on these scriptures Ephesians 2, 5 and Romans 6,7, 8 as I continue I will have freedom, dominion. I can hear and receive but through abiding I have understanding. Do we remove the teachings of Grace because people might sin? do we remove Liberty because people might take advantage of such? nonsense, but there are those who would spy out your liberty seeking to bring you again into bondage. They are not from God.
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."15
To be free one can not be under the Law as it has power through the fear of punishment and death, thus death had dominion over those under the law. In Christ death has no reign. It is truth we are not under the Law and there is a spirit of fear not of God, thus many are taken captive by the enemy through teachings of the law. "Indeed I through the law, to the law, died that I might live to God, I have been crucified with Christ..."16
"For freedom you were called, brothers only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."17
This is the telling sign of a transformed Church, agape love that serves one another. Paul writes being under the law or without the law matters not, but it is "faith working through love." Because we have faith we are being deeply rooted into this grace in which we stand, rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, being transformed into his workmanship, that we may bear fruit to Life. I am not submitting control like some robot but I am being transformed by the renewal of my mind, I am becoming like Christ, who I submitted my will to when I by faith received this gift of righteousness.
"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness."18
Righteousness is my new nature. In my inward being I delight in the laws of God. I received this gift of righteousness by grace through faith. Before I was a slave to sin, this was my nature. Now, by faith I am born of the Spirit, my new nature is no longer of sin, though sin still dwells in my flesh, no, I am not defined by sin but by a new nature of righteousness. I am a slave to righteousness. I can stand before God because of the blood of Christ, I am justified, made righteous, all these from the riches of His grace. I stand in Grace which I have access to by faith.
"Finally be empowered in the Lord and in the dominion of the might of him."19
Now, we are to stand in dominion putting on the armor of God, "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness," shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.20 But before we get to such maturity we must Stand in Grace, which we have access to by faith in Christ, thus "by grace through faith" or "faith working through love" such is a solid foundation to build upon.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."22
Under the Law there was a fear of punishment, thus obedience had motivation through the fear of death. As its definition implies the fear of punishment was to curtail, restrain, curb, to make less by or as if by cutting off.23 Of course we know because of the weakness of the flesh, the Law did not curtail but instead sin abounded, but where sin abounded God's grace over-abounded. Grace curtails sin, lessens its power as we are empowered through the Spirit, and righteousness reigns. The motivation is agape love. Those under the Law were under fear and condemnation, but those who stand in grace, there is no condemnation, death has no dominion, in grace we are being perfected by love.
"Live Free and use this freedom, not as a cloak for evil, but as servants of God."24
This Grace On Which I Stand
"For if, by one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness receiving, in life will reign through the one man Jesus Christ."3
Those who stand in grace will reign, they will have dominion over sin and death, they will have Life. Grace and righteousness is a free gift received by faith in Jesus Christ. Through the act of one man's trespass, condemnation came to all men but through the one act of a Righteous man, to all men, justification.4 Justification means judicial approval emphasizing Christ's full payment of the debt for sin which liberates the believer. This justification comes by faith in Christ.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."5
Christ did not condemn man, but condemned sin which dwells in the flesh of man. Through faith we receive the gift of righteousness, we receive redemption, the forgiveness of sin, cleansed by his blood, born of Spirit we are empowered to have dominion over sin, being washed by his Word. "We have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from opposition."6 Though we were enemies we were reconciled by the death of Jesus and having been reconciled we are saved by the life of Him. Important is the teachings of baptism.
"Now the law entered that might abound transgression, but where sin abounded, grace over-abounded, that as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."7
Grace reigns through the righteousness we receive by faith. Because God so loved the world he sent his Son and through faith in Christ we receive the gift of righteousness and grace, this is the fullness in which Christ came, "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."8 Righteousness is by faith, "But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been revealed, as attested by the Law and the Prophets."9 By faith in Christ I have access to this Grace in which I stand, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."16a
"... how much more the grace of God and the gift in grace which of the one man Jesus Christ abounds to the many."10
Grace is a gift. It is by grace we are saved.11 We stand in grace which we have access to through faith in Christ. The gift in grace is righteousness received by faith, and it is in this grace that righteousness will reign, or put another way, we have dominion over sin under grace. We are not bound to the Law but to Christ. "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."12 We know this victory occurs at new birth and it is being worked out in transformation by the renewing of the hostile carnal mind, into one like that of Christ, one that walks by faith, by the Spirit not by the flesh.
"indeed sin you will not rule over, indeed, under the Law but under Grace."14
In Grace we reign. Now, are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? no, of course not but if I struggle with sin, it is not I but sin in my flesh. I can overcome if I continue, abide in His truth. I can meditate on these scriptures Ephesians 2, 5 and Romans 6,7, 8 as I continue I will have freedom, dominion. I can hear and receive but through abiding I have understanding. Do we remove the teachings of Grace because people might sin? do we remove Liberty because people might take advantage of such? nonsense, but there are those who would spy out your liberty seeking to bring you again into bondage. They are not from God.
"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."15
To be free one can not be under the Law as it has power through the fear of punishment and death, thus death had dominion over those under the law. In Christ death has no reign. It is truth we are not under the Law and there is a spirit of fear not of God, thus many are taken captive by the enemy through teachings of the law. "Indeed I through the law, to the law, died that I might live to God, I have been crucified with Christ..."16
"For freedom you were called, brothers only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."17
This is the telling sign of a transformed Church, agape love that serves one another. Paul writes being under the law or without the law matters not, but it is "faith working through love." Because we have faith we are being deeply rooted into this grace in which we stand, rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, being transformed into his workmanship, that we may bear fruit to Life. I am not submitting control like some robot but I am being transformed by the renewal of my mind, I am becoming like Christ, who I submitted my will to when I by faith received this gift of righteousness.
"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness."18
Righteousness is my new nature. In my inward being I delight in the laws of God. I received this gift of righteousness by grace through faith. Before I was a slave to sin, this was my nature. Now, by faith I am born of the Spirit, my new nature is no longer of sin, though sin still dwells in my flesh, no, I am not defined by sin but by a new nature of righteousness. I am a slave to righteousness. I can stand before God because of the blood of Christ, I am justified, made righteous, all these from the riches of His grace. I stand in Grace which I have access to by faith.
"Finally be empowered in the Lord and in the dominion of the might of him."19
Now, we are to stand in dominion putting on the armor of God, "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness," shoes of the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.20 But before we get to such maturity we must Stand in Grace, which we have access to by faith in Christ, thus "by grace through faith" or "faith working through love" such is a solid foundation to build upon.
"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."22
Under the Law there was a fear of punishment, thus obedience had motivation through the fear of death. As its definition implies the fear of punishment was to curtail, restrain, curb, to make less by or as if by cutting off.23 Of course we know because of the weakness of the flesh, the Law did not curtail but instead sin abounded, but where sin abounded God's grace over-abounded. Grace curtails sin, lessens its power as we are empowered through the Spirit, and righteousness reigns. The motivation is agape love. Those under the Law were under fear and condemnation, but those who stand in grace, there is no condemnation, death has no dominion, in grace we are being perfected by love.
"Live Free and use this freedom, not as a cloak for evil, but as servants of God."24
This Grace On Which I Stand