God is….Gracious

We often hear that God is gracious.  Here are some of the verses that say so.  Before we go to the verses however, let's take a look at the definition of gracious so we are all on the same page. 

gracious

1. pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous.
2. characterized by good taste, comfort, ease, or luxury:

gracious suburban living; a gracious home.

3. indulgent or beneficent in a pleasantly condescending way, especially to inferiors.
4. merciful or compassionate:

our gracious king.

5. Obsolete. fortunate or happy.

From <http://www.dictionary.com/browse/gracious>

I think definitions 1 and 4 would be the most applicable here. 

So God is gracious.  Who is He gracious towards?  I believe He is gracious towards those who are of the family of God.  In other words, towards those who have accepted Jesus.  That is different from many who say that God loves everyone and therefore He is gracious to all.

I both agree and disagree with that statement.  In the sense that God makes salvation available to everyone I and therefore is gracious, I would agree.  But in the sense that God is "pleasantly kind, benevolent, and courteous, I would disagree.  That "special treatment" if you will, is reserved for God's people.

Now let's take a look at a few Scriptures.

Exodus 22:27(NKJV)

For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious.

Exodus 33:19(NKJV)

Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 

2 Kings 13:23(NKJV)

But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.

Nehemiah 9:31(NKJV)

    Nevertheless in Your great mercy     You did not utterly consume them nor forsake them;     For You are God, gracious and merciful.

Strange customs

They sure had some strange customs back in the day.  Check this out.

Acts 21:17-26(NKJV)

And when we had come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. 

On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. 

When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 

And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 

but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 

What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 

Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 

Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law. 

But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”

Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.

How does that prove that Paul is telling the truth?  Doesn't it seem more like he would be buying their testimony with this approach?

Paul's Touch

I just noticed this.  I had not thought about this before.  There is a parallel here to the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment.  But Jesus was still in the garment when she touched it to receive His healing power. 

Acts 19:11-13(NKJV)

Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 

so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. 

Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 

Here we have cloth that simply touched Paul and was no longer touching him that is used to heal people.    And just to be clear this power wasn't attributed to Paul because Paul was very clear that he was speaking in the name of Jesus.  Wow!

No other name!

No other name than Jesus.  Seems pretty simple to me. 

Acts 4:12(NKJV)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

What I find so interesting is the criticism Christians get for believing that Christ is the only way.  The reason I find it interesting is that other religions believe they are the only way and nobody criticizes them for their belief.   For example Muslims believe that their way is the only way.  No criticism of that.  Why do you think that is?

What do you think "true justice" means?

 

Zechariah 7:8-9(NKJV)

Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, 

“Thus says the Lord of hosts:      ‘Execute true justice,     Show mercy and compassion     Everyone to his brother.

What do you think "true justice" means? 

Why???

I read this verse and my first thought was why? 

Acts 16:1-5(NKJV)

Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 

He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 

Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 

And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 

So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Why circumcise him?  Who's going around looking at his penis all the time?  The disciples had already said that circumcision wasn't necessary for non-Jews.  I just don't get why Paul felt it necessary. 

God is….Salvation

Well right off the bat I am seeing two types of salvation.  There is the traditional, eternal salvation that we normally associate with God but there is also a here on earth "salvation" as well. 

Interesting.  The Scripture below is an example of what I am talking about.  Moses tells the people "don't worry, God is going to save (salvation) you from your enemies, the Egyptians. 

Exodus 14:13(NKJV)

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 

It almost seems that the references to salvation in the OT are more about salvation here on earth vs. in Heaven. 

Psalms 79:9(NKJV)

    Help us, O God of our salvation,     For the glory of Your name;     And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,     For Your name’s sake!

Lamentations 3:26(NKJV)

    It is good that one should hope and wait quietly     For the salvation of the Lord.

Micah 7:7(NKJV)

    Therefore I will look to the Lord;     I will wait for the God of my salvation;     My God will hear me.

Luke 1:77(NKJV)

    To give knowledge of salvation to His people     By the remission of their sins,

Acts 4:12(NKJV)

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Revelation 7:9-12(NKJV)

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 

and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 

All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 

saying:      “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,     Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,     Be to our God forever and ever.     Amen.”

Interesting stuff!