God's Gift of Grace (May-June 2012)

May-June 2012
Volume 21, Number 3

Everyone enjoys receiving gifts. True Christians have received the greatest gift of all: God's grace. Most people think of grace only in terms of God's merciful forgiveness and acceptance through the blood of Jesus Christ, but such an idea severely limits this awesome, unmerited gift. The Bible reveals that through the fullness of Jesus Christ, we receive grace upon grace (John 1:16), a continuous flow of divine favor and gifts from God to help us in every situation of life. Through His grace, God supplies our every need.  (iStockphoto)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh
Living By Faith and God's Grace (Part Two)

God's grace is so wonderful and undeserved that, to many of us, it is almost unfathomable. Perhaps we have such a hard time understanding it because we tend to think of it as a "thing" that God dispenses. John Ritenbaugh shows, however, that "grace" is a term that represents God's awesome generosity toward us, His continuously flowing blessings and saving acts.

Ready Answer
The Rape of Dinah
by Mike Ford

An entire chapter of Genesis is devoted to the sexual violation of Jacob's daughter Dinah and its consequences. Many commentators pin the blame on Dinah herself. Mike Ford analyzes the details of this unfortunate incident and reaches some broad conclusions about who was responsible for this grievous crime and its aftermath.

Prophecy Watch
Meet the Minor Prophets (Part Three)
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The lives of the Minor Prophets span the latter part of the history of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah and extend into the post-Exilic period. As witnesses to the decline and fall of these two unrepentant nations, the prophets report the conditions and attitudes that led to their defeat, captivity, and exile. In Part Three, Richard Ritenbaugh focuses on Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai.

WorldWatch
The Greatest Threat
by David C. Grabbe

Over the past year and a half, the "Arab Spring" that swept through the Middle East and North Africa has been an enduring source of worry for the state of Israel. David Grabbe argues that, despite the instability of its neighbors, Egypt and Syria in particular, Israel's greatest threat is an internal problem: its relationship with God.

Bible Study
The Miracles of Jesus Christ:
Healing the Blind Man from Bethsaida
by Martin G. Collins

Only Mark tells us about the healing of the blind man from Bethsaida, highlighting a few important spiritual truths. Martin Collins reveals what makes this particular miracle unique and the lessons that it teaches, as well as the significance of the miracle's location.