Yeshue
FAITH OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF ANTIOCH
Chapter 2: Class 1
Written by:
Chev. Dr. K. O. Mathew Konkara(Rtd Supdt of Police)
Grace the precious gift from God
Who are the fortunates? Those who receive Grace the precious gift from God are very fortunate persons.
By the grace of God I had a miraculous escape from an accident. By God's grace my journey was pleasant.Knowingly or unknowingly we often use the term grace.
When God leads and cares for us in this way, we remember Him with gratitude, acknowledge the divine grace we receive, glorify God, and offer thanks with a grateful heart. In the Holy Bible and in the prayers of the Holy Church, including the Holy Qurbana, we continuously ask for God’s grace and express gratitude for the grace bestowed upon us.
At the beginning of the Holy Qurbana,
the hymn that starts with, begins by Praying to the mother of our Lord Holy Mary and to Holy fathers and
ends with a plea to God for grace ,through their prayers .
During the elevation of the Holy Qurbana, the hymn that we sing is a prayer to Lord, asking for and praising God’s grace.
The grace of God is a precious blessing given to those upon whom God bestows HIS favor, HIS great mercy and compassion. Grace from God is eternal life.(Romer 6;23)The word “grace” also means favor or divine guidance. Grace is the supernatural and inner gift from God, given to us without any merit of our own, but through the merit of Jesus Christ. It is not something we earn; it is a gift from God.
Some Verses about God’s Grace:
Ephesians 2:7 — That He might show the incomparable riches of HIS grace, expressed through kindness to us in Christ Jesus, for all future generations. We are saved by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8 — For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith,and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Exodus 33:19 says, “I will show grace to whom I will show grace, and compassion to whom I will show compassion.”
Ephesians 4:7 — But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
God loves those who believe in Him, who accept Him with holiness, and live according to His will. Such people receive grace from God freely"
Romans 3: 23,24
"Seeig as everyone has sinned and is lacking God's glory,24. and are freely acquitted by grace, and by the salvation that is in Jesus the Messiah"
“If anyone believes in me and keeps my commands with purity, he is my beloved.” Those worthy of God’s love receive grace as a priceless reward or blessing.
Those who receive God’s grace are granted eternal life.
Romans 6:23 — The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Those who are worthy of God’s grace have the Holy Spirit dwelling within them. God works through all their small and great deeds. Their prayers are answered. If they live according to God’s will without giving place to sin and spiritual death, even the devil cannot harm them.
Satan was unable to touch Job, who lived as one deserving of God’s grace by following God’s will (Job 1:10). Job faced severe trials only after God allowed Satan to test him (Job 1:12).
Saint Paul the Apostle reminds us
Hebrews 12:15 — See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God.
Who has received God’s grace?
Jesus, the Son of God, who was both fully God and fully man without sin lived in grace.
Luke 2:40 — “The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.”
The holy Virgin Mary, chosen by God to bear Him, was full of grace.
Luke 1:28 — “The angel entered her presence and said to her " Shlama'( In Syriac..slama; lit.. peace to you) you who are greatly favored; our Lord is with you, who are blessed among women"
God's message to St.Paul during his discomfort.
“My grace is sufficient for you.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 —
“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, to keep me from becoming conceited, a thorn was given me in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
It is not explained what type of thorn by which St.Paul was tormented from.But he prayed for its removal.The third time he was answered.Everything was contained in that answer . (1) "My grace is sufficient for you".
Which means you are in my grace.If you are in my grace,then why you are bothered about your discomfort ? Whatever you are suffering, or indulging into are all being known and noticed.
(2) "for my power is made perfect in weakness"
The above verses are God's revelation of why he is facing such thorns eventhough St.Paul is HIS apostle.
St.Paul glorifies God, realizing that he is in God's grace and how useful the thorn that makes him uncomfortable is for the power that is to be poured out of God upon him to be completed.Grace is God's gift when one zealously observes God's commandments and lives in a way that is pleasing to God. This is a verse that greatly strengthens those who are in God's grace. Many kinds of thorns will come in the way of our spiritual journey as mental agony, criticism, depression disease, ailments or even death to our dear one's. When we ourselves abhor these thorns that we often face as Satans terrible trials, let the words of St.Paul strengthen us that we must go through them in order for Gods power to be perfected in us.