Full of Grace
Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, is full of grace and truth. (John 1.14) He who was from the beginning, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwells, is full of grace and truth. If you touch Him, grace will come forth. If you hear Him, you will hear truth. The woman with the issue of blood, just touched the hem of His garment and she was healed. Grace was released with just a touch, because Jesus was full to overflowing with grace. In Christ, there is a fullness of blessing of every kind. There is a fullness of grace to forgive, to justify, sanctify and preserve. There is a fullness at all times; a fullness of comfort in times of affliction; a fullness of wisdom to gain wealth; a fullness of love for all people and a fullness of power over all that the enemy brings against us. The river of grace is always flowing. It is forever full.
Traditionally, grace has been defined as unmerited favor, yet it is much more than that. Favor has to do with approval, openness and friendship with others, whereas grace is the divine influence and power to do and become. Grace is God’s power made available to us who believe, giving us the ability to do and be what He wants us to do and be. By grace we have been saved and by grace we live. Grace is experienced in the outstanding miracles as in the subtle, ordinary influences of the Spirit. It is grace that fully justifies us in the blood of Jesus, that triumphs over death in resurrection and forgives all sin. As Jesus is full of grace and truth, we have been filled in Him, (Col. 2.9). All that He has, we have been given access to and all that He is we can become.
The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of Grace, (Heb. 10.29), and He is ours for the asking. Jesus said that the Father who is in heaven desires to give good things to those who ask Him, (Mat. 7.11). And in Luke 11.13, He says He would give the Holy Spirit to those who asked. It is the Father’s desire to give. Is it our desire to receive? Grace has been made available to all, but must be accessed by faith. It is not, however, a faith void of human response. It is a faith that acts. (James 2.21-26) The virtue of the Holy Spirit, this power of God that we call grace is accessed through our obedience to God. Grace and obedience are not enemies. They go hand in hand. They are co-workers in the establishing of God’s purpose here on earth.
Mentally agreeing with the Word of God is not faith, it is acting on the Word of God. Smith Wigglesworth used to say: “Faith is an act.” God told Paul that His grace was sufficient for him. That His power would be perfected in Paul’s weakness. (II Cor. 12.9) As Paul acted according to the Word of God, he would have the divine ability to overcome life’s adversities. Obedient faith accesses grace. Kenneth Hagin has said: “If someone would approach you and say, ‘What are you going to do now?’ Just smile and answer, ‘I’m going to act like the Bible is true!’” When Peter responded to Jesus’ invitation to get out of the boat and come to Him on the water, he did the impossible. Peter walked on the water. The 5000 were fed on a few loaves of bread and a couple of fish, when the disciples obeyed the Lord. The grace of God abounds, has no limits, when there is an obedient response to God’s Word. His fullness of grace is our fullness as well.
Scriptures to meditate on:
John 1.14-16; Col. 1.19; 2.9; Ps. 16.11; James 4.6; Mat. 7.11; Eph. 2.7-8