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1 Timothy 1:14
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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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