Can We Request Grace from God?

One might consider that the grace of God is a general category for all things good from God. In the early church this also consisted of what are now called spiritual gifts.

For Christians today there is saving grace by which those who trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins are placed by the holy Spirit into the body of Christ. However, there might also be called "continuing grace" that is accessible by Christians as they sort of "tune themselves" into it. This is less a transactional receipt of grace than it is a reception of what is constantly available to all through Christ.

For example, walking by the Spirit instead of the flesh would be one way to be able to receive this grace. Prayer and bible immersion might also be considered ways of tuning in to what God would work in us. These would be the opposite of "quenching the Spirit" Much of this starts with simply rousing from a comfortable slumber that most can find themselves drifting into.

timf said:

One might consider that the grace of God is a general category for all things good from God. In the early church this also consisted of what are now called spiritual gifts.

For Christians today there is saving grace by which those who trust in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins are placed by the holy Spirit into the body of Christ. However, there might also be called "continuing grace" that is accessible by Christians as they sort of "tune themselves" into it. This is less a transactional receipt of grace than it is a reception of what is constantly available to all through Christ.

For example, walking by the Spirit instead of the flesh would be one way to be able to receive this grace. Prayer and bible immersion might also be considered ways of tuning in to what God would work in us. These would be the opposite of "quenching the Spirit" Much of this starts with simply rousing from a comfortable slumber that most can find themselves drifting into.

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"Grace" by whatever language in the word of God means the same in old and new testament, like towards Noah and David to name a few. Vines put it as Accept, Accepted, Acceptable, Benefit, Benefactor, Favor, Favored, Grace, Liberal, Liberality, Liberally, Thank, Thanks, Thankful, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Thankworthy..... It is an eternal desire of Father God concerning all descendants of Adam, but with conditions for God to award to anyone. It is conditional mostly upon having faith in the unseen God enough to obey Him. Jesus put it to his gospel simply as to turn back from sin and not return to those sins, forsake totally, a matter of one's will to do or not to do.
Luke 13:1-5
1 There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
2 And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Enough old and new scripture identifies the conditions of receiving grace from holy God, even from friendly or enemy kings of nations and judges. One should seek grace from whomever wise when in trouble. Giving mouth to repent then returning to whatever sins one chose without repentance is never wise towards expecting to live with holy God in Heaven forever. A person might truly believe Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the grave, a fact known firsthand by every demon and fallen angel, but the last printed warning remains in
Revelation 22:9-20 (KJV)
9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Obey the word of God. Stop wilful sin. Keep your body, mind, soul, spirit worshiping God. Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in you sent from Jesus, which will make you wise to honor God. You, Christian, must seek to be always set apart from the world's ways whose god is Satan, the Devil, defeated as he is by Jesus through the word of God. Immerse yourself in the Word!

Don't fall for the Devil's "get out of jail card". Believe on the gospel of Jesus, repent (reject) sin (well defined in old and new testament scriptures), and obey his word. He stopped referring to followers as servants, now his FRIENDS.
John 15:12-17 (KJV)
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Yes, anyone can pray asking for grace from God, but old and new testaments make it clear that the petitioner won't be awarded such favor if holding onto a sin lifestyle and hardened heart of unforgiveness, for instance. there is a very clear lesson from Jesus in
Mark 11:24-26 (KJV)
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Grace isn't earned by works, yet faith without works is dead, but is awarded upon meeting the demand of holy Father God.
John 15:1-12 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

James 2 explains why a person expecting grace because of professed faith alone without expected works of obedience to Jesus' commandments as his/her new-birth sanctified lifestyle is short of pleasing Father God. Being born again includes having the Holy Spirit inside our "heart tabernacle" leading our spirit into a godly life of holiness. See 1 Peter 1. Be holy!

"Can We Request Grace from God?"

"Ask, and it will be given to you," Jesus says in Matthew 7:7 of His Sermon on the Mount.

But what do we mean by grace?

I understand there is what I call "distant" grace, of God on the throne favoring us by affecting our circumstances in our favor. There are people who seem to only seek distant grace > asking God to do things for them, while they keep on controlling their own selves and lives. What I think works better is we seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness while He decides and provides all He has for us in our circumstances >

"'But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.'" (Matthew 6:33)

So, I see that Jesus wants us to seek God for Himself, and trust Him about what He does in our outward lives . . . while we submit to Him for all He does within us > changing our character, personally guiding us within us, in the ruling of His peace (Colossians 3:15). How He corrects us and how He in us guides us is included in grace.

He favors His children by correcting us in our character so we share with Him in His holiness in His love's "peaceable fruit of righteousness" > Hebrews 12:4-14. And it is clear that we need to submit to our Father in order to get this correction by God Himself in us . . . in our character . . . correcting us by making us more like Jesus and having us love like Jesus.

"Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?" > in Hebrews 12:9.

To me, this means we not only "ask" for real correction of our character as is possible with God; but we actively seek Him to correct us, seeking by submitting to Him. "Seek, and you will find," Jesus also says, in Matthew 7:7.

"Therefore submit to God." (in James 4:7)

We seek God's personal correction, as is possible with Him, by submitting to Him in us and discovering all He does with us . . . how we become, what He has us doing, how we are relating. This is all better than what we could get ourselves to choose, because God so better than we are is the One doing this . . . by this grace.

So, God wants us to be this personal with Him. You could say, I would say, that there is distant grace of how our Father desires to take care of circumstances, and there is the personal grace of God right inside of us working in our character so we share with Him in how His holiness is, and we share with Jesus in us in how He is and loves > this is very personal action of grace, not just distant favor.

And, actually, God is mainly favoring Jesus, by doing all He does in us.

So, then, we want grace which mainly favors Jesus who is God's own Son, and so we share so deeply and personally with Him. Plus, God is all-loving; so His grace brings His all-loving good in our circumstances and in us. This can be why we have to "wait", often enough, for God to take care of things > because He is working what is good for us along with how this will be good for others also. So, we get the best results if prayer is all-loving and not only about ourselves and ones close to us > Jesus says >

"if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (in Matthew 5:46)

So, there is God's redeeming action creating excellence in us.

But a person gets started with Jesus at the cross, with trusting in Jesus crucified > for >

God's riches at Christ's expense, ones say.

Then comes the more personal grace living inside of us >

"for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:13)

And He who is all-loving will work us to pray in His all-loving way.

Allow me an anecdotal answer then scriptural. God is love. Agape love, the highest most precious love possible, available to all humans regardless of situation. Grace is granted towards all sinners not deserving anything from God. His great gift is grace, undeserved favor to have opportunity of salvation. Unfortunately our world of people mostly remain ignorant of such favor, blinded by world religions serving non-existent deities, while all along God awards enough grace to to be welcomed by Father God to meet Jesus. That gift made it possible for any person to respond to Him, like Abel, Enoch.....

A small example of an action of grace from human to human for me was when a great aunt I hardly knew decided to invest in college education for her future heirs. She learned how this poor boy dreamed of being a forest or park ranger, so contacted the only university offering that field of study. She learned the costs and set up an account for me, telling only my mother. Upon graduating high school my mother said I needed to go to the college and sign up. "Just do it, don't worry." My parents had no extra money, I had no scholarship according to the school counselor. It was very hard to believe, but I reluctantly obeyed her. Upon getting to the end of a long line I saw people handing over hundreds. I had $20, nothing like what others were paying, and almost left to go home hopeless. The registrar said "James, welcome. Your first semester tuition, room & board, books, supplies and all fees are paid. Do well, study and enjoy more semesters." That was human grace applied to me until drafted and joining the US Navy 4 years, college education completed with GI Bill funding. By all that human grace, which I believe was guided by God's hand came the opportunities to develop and accomplish my dream.

Our opportunity of experiencing the grace of and from God is sealed for all believers by the blood of Jesus after the pattern of revelations afforded by the old Noahic, Abrahamic/Melchisidec and Mosaic covenants.

Because of the unconditional favor of grace from God it is possible for anyone to respond when called upon by Father God to believe Him by faith like those patriarchs did, regardless of ineligibility because of sin, believing and obeying the gospel (good news) of Jesus the Messiah/Christ from Heaven available to Jews and Gentile heathen alike. Hear the Father call you to Jesus by His grace towards you wherever you might be, believe the gospel of Jesus, repent of sin to the end of your life, follow the leading of Jesus by the Holy Spirit placed in every Christian.
John 6:44-47 (KJV) 44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

Beware the popular saying "once saved, always saved". Believers are buried with Christ, raised with Jesus Christ, and have commandments of holiness. Live holy as He is holy increasingly. Grow in faith, 'eat' the Word daily, partner with Jesus day by day forever, pray every day enjoying His personal friendship, overcoming sin, loving neighbors and even those who don't love back. Learn from Him what the scriptures say, to be strong to witness to others whenever, wherever.

None need to beg God for anything, or ask for grace already showered towards all on earth. Pray to Father God in the name of Jesus only, none other, He will hear you.
John 16:23-27 (KJV)
23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

Take in His never-ending grace no less often than the sunlight by day. Aim your ear towards Him, stay tuned in as a happy disciple.