What easter shows about grace

What Easter shows about Grace

​      Easter is one of my favorite Holy days.  It's the powerful message of God's love for us. Sending his son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins. He redeems us so we can have a relationship with him.  The free gift of grace to all who chooses.

     Grace means favor, goodwill, mercy and kindness. In Greek, the word is xaris; transliteration is charis. Charis means grace and kindness.
        I like the word grace. A picture of a ballerina dancer comes to mind when I think of grace.  The word reminds me of things of beauty because grace is a thing of beauty. Thank you, Lord! (It’s also my youngest daughter’s middle name!)
        A biblical lexicon provides meanings and uses of Biblical words in their original language. From the Helps - Word studies Biblical lexicon of the word grace: “Cognate: 5485 xáris (another feminine noun from xar-, "favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace. 5485 (xáris) is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").”
       What comes to mind with that description of God leaning towards to give himself to us? What a fantastic description of grace. We are favored by God.
     God’s grace is a free gift given through our Lord Jesus Christ. What is so awesome about grace is that we don’t deserve it. We are born with the stain of sin on us.
 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23 NLT
      But because of God’s love for us, He has given a chance for us to be close to Him again through His son Jesus. Instead of receiving the death we deserve, we are given the choice of a free gift. This is grace.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. Romans 3:24-25a NLT
        I want to stress the part of that scripture “when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life.” We have to believe, have a firm conviction in Jesus as our savior for grace to work. God gives us a choice. Grace is the gift of salvation for all people!
      For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11 – 14 ESV
“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” Romans 6:14 NIV
       There is much more to grace than God’s favor and goodwill. Grace strengthens us. Grace assists in keeping us from sin and keeps us in the faith. Grace influences our hearts to be pleasing to God. It frees us from sin and blesses us. God’s grace points us towards Jesus.
       Grace is a power that only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Grace is given to those who are humble and who put their trust in Jesus. Be willing to receive God’s grace and be thankful for the grace he gives. Grace is a supernatural power that can keep us from sin. Acknowledge and wield the power of grace in your life.
 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.  1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV
      Don’t be a slave to sin. Speak of the power of grace in your life. Meditate, write down and speak aloud these Bible scriptures of grace. Pray, trust in and obey Jesus. Believe you are worthy to be loved and live by the Spirit. 
Grace and peace to you many times over as you deepen in your experience with God and Jesus, our Master.
Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! 2Peter 1:2-4 MSG
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.  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. Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV
        I’m going to go back to what I wrote earlier about the word grace reminding me about a ballerina. Grace is both beauty and power, just like a ballerina. Ballet dancers are strong yet graceful. 
                                     I pray you and yours have a blessed Easter weekend! Love ya!

 References:

1. Strong’s Concordance. 5485. Charis.  https://biblehub.com/str/greek/5485.htm   Accessed 1/14/2019
2. HELPS – Word studies. 5485.Charis. Congnate 5485, xaris. https://biblehub.com/str/greek/5485.htm  Accessed 1/14/2019