Grace: Free Unmerited Token of God’s Love

Today the Lord has me meditating on particular Scriptures regarding His glorious grace, substituting the definition of grace in for the word.

grace: the free and unmerited favor of God (shown towards man)

favor: something given as a token of love

The word “grace” is thus replaced with “[the free and unmerited token of God’s love]” (or its grammatical equivalent) in these Scriptures (NIV 2011). May you receive the free and unmerited token of God’s love herein! 

Luke 2:40 – And the child [Jesus] grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and [the free unmerited token of God’s love] was on him. [I would remove “unmerited” in THIS case!]

Acts 4:33 – With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s [free unmerited token of love] was so powerfully at work in them all. 

Acts 14:3 – So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of [the free unmerited token of His love] by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. 

Acts 20:32 – Now I commit you to God and to the word of his [free unmerited token of His love] which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Romans 5:2a – through whom we have gained access by faith into this [free and unmerited token of God’s love] in which we now stand. 

Romans 5:17 – 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 [His free and unmerited token of love] and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

Romans 5:20 – The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, [the free and unmerited token of God’s love] increased all the more

Romans 6:14 – For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under [the free unmerited token of God’s love].

2 Corinthians 6:1  – As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s [free unmerited token of His love] in vain.

2 Corinthians 12:9 – But he said to me, “My [free unmerited token of my love] 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.

Galatians 1:6  – I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the [free unmerited token of the love] of Christ and are turning to a different gospel

Galatians 2:21 – I do not set aside the [free unmerited token of God’s love], for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

Galatians 5:4 – You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from [the free unmerited token of God’s love]

Ephesians 2:5 – [God] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by [the free unmerited token of God’s love that] you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:7 – in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his [free unmerited token of love], expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 2:1 – You then, my son, be strong in the [free unmerited token of God’s love] that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 12:6  – We have different gifts, according to the [free unmerited token of God’s love] given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith

Ephesians 4:7  – But to each one of us [the free unmerited token of God’s love] has been given as Christ apportioned it.

1 Peter 4:10 – Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s [free unmerited token of His love] in its various forms.

2 Peter 3:18a – But grow in the [free unmerited token of God’s love] and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

So very much love in Christ, your sister deanna