2 Corinthians 6:1

Trying;
Webster's New Collegiate, edition 1977
Vain;
1. having no real value
2. marked by futility
3. foolish, silly
4. having or showing undue pride
5. devoid of worth or significance

You may apply every single one of these definitions to DHK's post and explaination; it will fit.
You/we are not to receive the grace of God in these ways.
Continue to read the chapter and you will see Paul expounding on the thought. For example; vs 3 says "giving no offense in anything..."
He goes on to say that we are to prove ourselves the ministers of God by our conduct and then he gives examples of how this was done in his own life.
Unthankfulness is vain in that you show grace has no value, you show undue pride, you act silly, foolish, you show grace is void of worth or significance. All these actions demonstrate an attitude of unthankfulness.
I hope this helps.
In His service;
Jim

 

Hi Ron!!, hope you are well!! I have not been here for a while but when I saw this I wanted to add one more insight. Paul was writing to the Corinthians, who were Gentiles. Before Jesus Gentiles were not offered God's grace, only God's chosen people were. As a whole, the Gentiles have been given the gift of God's grace. How individually will they/we respond? Will we receive it and be saved by it or will we receive it in vain and it will not save us. Either way it is Grace given. Hope that didn't muddy the waters any. Now that I look at it it seems that my answer is like DHK's

Anyway, hope you and your family are well and had the chance to see the fall colors from your boat this year.

Hi DHK!

In Christ,
Brian

 

Brian,

Trying doesn't seem to understand us so maybe your post will be the ONE that Trying does understand!!!

 

T2U,
What is grace?

 

Grace is unmerited favor. </font>[/QUOTE]So, as I pointed out before, we receive God's unmerited favor in many forms: the rain, the sunshine, the fresh air, water to drink, and so many blessings that we receive from God each day. All of these make up God's unmerited favor to mankind. Do you receive it in vain, vainly, with emptiness or emptiness or heart, that is ungratefully.

Since the context is salvation, it is speaking of salvation received in vain. That is what is says, isn't it? It doesn't mean that anyone there did not receive it. It means that they were not grateful for what they had. They were taking for granted the great salvation that Christ had provided for them.
What does it mean: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain?"
DHK

 

The second commmandment is not to make graven images.

 

Trying,

When do you receive salvation and how? I am curious!

 

HI Ron, Glad to hear you are well. I have been spending some time lately on Phatmass Phorum debating some of the Catholics (Thess., Grant)that used to post here, including the recently converted "Brother Adam". We have had some very charitable exchanges.

Anyway, I believe you missed my best point. The Gentiles as a whole received a gift when Jesus died and rose from the dead. They (we) are now included in the plan of salvation. We have been grafted into the tree that once was exclusively for the people of Isreal. The grace received is for the people as a whole. Look at it from the big picture and not the individual picture. The Gentiles as a whole have received God's unmerited favor and have been give the ability to become the adopted "Children of God", with full birth rights. It is received Grace because it is something we (Gentiles) did not have before. If you get something that you did not have before it is received. Now, individually we can recieve it in the love it is intended or receive it in vain.

Ron, does that make sense or am I still missing something? Let me know.

Lorrie, That was very funny above!!! Thanks for the laugh.

In Christ who saves,
Brian

 

[qb]

You are right they are commonly called blessings. They are blessings that we do not deserve. What is grace. unmerited favor (blessigs). These are the blessings, the favor, that we do not deserve. What did we ever do to deserve such goodness from God? I have not changed the meaning at all.

The argument makes perfect sense because the verb is in the imperative tense, just like "pray," "Witness," "study," etc. These are commands written to Christians. The entire epistle was written to the saints or beleivers at Corinth.
An exhuasted definition of "vain" was already given to you by Jim. Why didn't you beieve him?

Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Either by swearing falsely or rashly by his Name, or by condemning it. (Geneva)

Take--in vain; the highest violation of this command is in false swearing.
But it also prohibits every light and irreverent use of God's name. (Family Bible)

"In vain," in the second commandment, Ex 20:7, is unnecessarily and irreverently. (American Tract Society Dictionary)
DHK

 

grace is a process. it is not an instant occurrance.

it begins by the receiving of the "seed".
by the "calling" of the father.

the invitation comes to us in the form of a letter called the "law of moses". (10 commandments)

everyman called and receives the invitation will follow its precepts. the design of the law is not to perfect the saint but to destroy. bringing one into spiritual death and judgement.

but... this is grace?..yep!
we have begun a "process" of salvation.

if we consider this process vain (worthless).

we become "lawless" and reject the laws function.
we refuse to accept the verdict of God towards our carnal spirit.
is this considered refusing christs spirit? sure is.

by refusing to accept the punishment of the law and entering into spiritual death. we are refusing Christ as our lord and savior.

notice the consequences of following "grace" as a minister of reconciliation..

2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

self-righteouseness will not allow this to occur to our lives. for the unfeigned love of anyone other than ourselves.

unless one has been destroyed by the law, has entered into spiritual death. become judged guilty and received a resurrected spirit of Christ.
for only within this spirit can this "grace" be perfected through humility. only within this spirit can one die to self before their enemies for their enemies benefit. for Gods enemies reconciliation.

2Co 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

to receive "grace" we must first become convicted by the law. Its a process we enter into which encompasses many lifetimes. some are resurrected in this lifetime. some resurrected later.

many called ,few chosen...means many recieve the law but refuse the laws function to bring us to death and to receive faith by recieving the resurrected spirit of Christ.

"few" enter into spiritual death via the law and are in the first resurrection.

while the "many" are those who consider "grace" in vain. they consider the function of the law as vanity.

they become "lawlessness" by refusing to enter into spiritual death and receive the resurrected spirit.

thus making "grace" a worthless action of christ towards their carnal spirits.

also identifying themselves as "antichrists".

 

Grace is the free unmerited favor of God. It has nothing to do with processes.

Grace is giving the undeserving sinner that which he does not deserve.
DHK

 

Yet by the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. It doesnt deny our day in court.

and to appear in court. we must be convicted of the law and stand before the judge.

this means entering into spiritual death.
as the OT has been a shadow to those in the NT.

the Law convicts one of being a sinner against God
but one can easily divert the function of the law by denying its power to destroy ones carnal spirit.

without the recognition of the power of God to destroy the carnal spirit in death. the law is useless. so that the recognition of Gods power is tantamount before recognizing the function of the law to convict of sin and its consequences.

Gods methodology is to destroy mans carnal spirit before joining his soul to the spirit of Christ.

all men called of God first receives the seed. its recognition is in the form of an outwards letter.
the law. consider the parable of the sower.

its the seed (law) that is chocked. it doesnt enter into the ground and die. it is the laws "power" that is rendered useless. if it doenst enter into death it cannot be resuurected into a new form (spirit). this is grace in the form of a process of transformation from "law into grace"

from one form into another.

Heb 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

consider the house built on sand. sand representing the law. it will fall. it must fall so that the new house can be built on the rock (grace).

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

q. who does the will of the father?
a. Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

carnal men must be destroyed by the law.
be joined with the ONLY resurrected spirit of christ in death to be able to follow the will of the father.

expressing again that grace is a process. the beginnings start with the introduction of the law to the follower and the willingness to love the truth. wherever the truth leads. even into spiritual death.

God never said it would be easy..

 

Me2 states, "but... this is grace?..yep!
we have begun a "process" of salvation."

If you are seeing salvation as a process, then you are saying that YOU are helping with your salvation. It is saying that Jesus could NOT do it Himself: He needed us. Humans. Sinners. Gee, why would a perfect, sinless God need me, a sinner, to help in my salvation?

 

Lorriegrace,

its a process of election. God has laid out before mankinds history an order whereas men will be saved
in a specific order. some being held in a state of reprobation and others becoming firstfruits.

Ive seen people calling themselves christians for 50 years.. and they dont have the spirit within them. no understanding. no revelations. just a lot of religion (law)

the ongoin progression of salvation can be seen in overcomers today and its not anything they did or do. (they cant do anything) its something they experienced through the revelation of understanding in their own personal expereinces.its God Expressing himself to them.

what man made religion teaches men is that "if" your not saved today in this life. it'll never happen.

but thats not election. election tells us that some are selected as firstfruits in this age while others that are called will be enlightened in the ages to come.(Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: (israel representing all seed of abraham, born after the "flesh"..ie living by the law)

the only people that are saved and enlightened today are the "few". and they are specifically the elect.

all others are of the "many called" and are in the second resurrection. these follow the literal law, yet not allowing the law to destroy their carnal self righteousness. their house is built on sand awaiting the testing of God via persecution. when it falls. then they will build their new house on the true Rock.

admittingly the process of Grace is not complete in the many called today, yet it will continue in the next age. God guarantees this to the seed of Abraham. both of those of faith and of flesh. as many as the stars of the heavens (those representing spirit) and the sands of the sea (those representing the flesh). (sound familiar?)

you state that I am not a part of my salvation.
am I not placed in the spirit and body of Christ. Doesnt God Himself renew my mind with the mind (thoughts) of Christ? I experience this and much more. I experience the understanding in my own personal life. I master language to express my ideas and thoughts to others. i become a living witness able to express myself of the relationship I have with my God through the spirit of Christ that is within my own flesh.

I become a "Version" of Jesus in my own personal life. and I dont "do" this. It is a sovereign God who designed me to just "be". Im just discovering what I becoming. not that Im doing anything to deserve this New life. Im just understanding that my God loves me as an individual. as a son.
as life is an ongoing process of understanding from different levels of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. It will continue until I receive the fullness of the Godhead intends me to comprehend and experience. and I belive this is what each man is to experience forever.

Me2

 

In the very context of 2Cor.6:1, "Receive not the grace of God in vain," follows verse 2:

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

Now is the day of salvation. Now is the accepted time.
Now points to a definite time; not a process. Salvation is not a process. Salvation points to a definite point and time in the history of a person. I can tell you the exact year, month, day, and hour that I was saved. I am not still being saved. I was saved, and do now possess eternal life and forgiveness of sins.
DHK

 

DHK,

Is the day of Christ... one day?

Is the day of the Lord.... one day?

the "day" a person discovers the resurrected spirit of Christ within their own bodies. I guarantee that much of what they now comprehend was experienced without their having the ability of seeing "afar off".

when we discover that we are actually "saved" and in possession of the spirit within. we begin to understand "what has been happening" for quite some time. perhaps for some...years in changing.

as some say they were "backslidden"...only to find that they were in a process of being secluded from the religious "pack" by God himself and were being tested in their private "wilderness".

interestingly they state that their "beliefs" changed and they had to prove what they now believed to be true to themselves.

solitude with God can be very enlightening.
far from the roar of religion (man made doctrine)

the accepted time...Paul is preaching to those who have already had been delivered the law and have been in testing of God.
Didnt God assemble before paul himself whom God wanted to hear pauls message?
gees...even the apostles were with Jesus 3 years and they werent "saved" they were being convicted of the law......and then on pentacost...they received the resurrected spirit...

and saul..I mean paul...he had the law...and then his wilderness experience..and then he received the spirit. from law to grace...

now is the day to be resurrected from spiritual death.!

by the way paul hints to hearers to be ready for such newly resurrected hearers in thessalonians.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

meeting newly resurrected saints is a blessing to all present and aware. especially to those of us which are "alive and remain". meeting "in the air" is figurative. "spirits dont touch the earth".

we all meet in the clouds...with the lord.

yet even the newly resurrected are still enduring the processes of Grace. for grace is the judging arm of God. the chastening arm. the teaching arm.
it is an ongoing process..
Me2

 

Do you have a dictionary. Use it please. Look up the word grace.
Grace is not an ongoing process.
Grace has nothing to do with judgement. These are imaginary defintions that you have made up.

Grace is God's free unmerited favor, and that is all it is.
DHK