Hey Y'all,
The grace in which we now stand is the righteousness, justification, and salvation that Christ has provided for us. The point is our position to it. This gracious gift has been provided for in Christ. We receive and stand in the gracious provision by faith. We enter relationship with Christ by faith. We are justified by faith. We are made righteous by faith. We are saved by faith. Here's the context...
Rom 4:13-16
It was not through law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value and the promise is worthless, 15 because law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring-not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham.
Rom 5:1-2
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Rom 5:15-17
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
It is a gracious gift that must be received by faith. Scripture clearly shows us that faith is not considered a work. Scripture also shows that our faith can be placed in all kinds of things (we can have little faith, weak faith, and even a faith that is shipwrecked, etc.). Biblical saving faith is belief that the Work has been completed by Christ. He did the work. He pleased the Father. You and I couldn't, but He did. Faith doesn't save us. It is faith / belief in the fact that He is our Salvation and provision of Grace that saves!
Thanks for your response Rick. As you can probably tell from what I've highlighted above in the context of Romans 4 and 5, I think the grace in which we now stand is specifically referring to a saving / justifying grace that is entered into by faith. Any and all additional "graces" come by virtue of the reception (by faith) of the original gift of Christ (without Him I can do nothing).
I would also be interested in what you think about the original post and what, "He purified their hearts by faith" means?
We are clean as soon as the righteousness of Christ is laid to our account - which is as soon as we believe. And, we are not clean (righteous) before belief, in fact we are unrighteous and still under God's wrath prior to belief. The thing that I have the hardest time with is how can someone have Life, which I see only as coming by being connected with Christ, before belief? It is the faith that connects you to Life, not Life connecting you to faith.
