RR Favor and Sanctity by David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom {{firstName}},
Paul took this stewardship seriously.
... I don’t consider my life of any value, except that I might finish my course and the office I received from the Lord Yeshua, to declare the Good News of the grace (charis/favor) of God. (Acts 20:24)
God’s favor towards humanity is rooted in His love. He favors those who find favor in His eyes.
As we’ve discovered, there are all sorts of manifestations of charis/chen/favor. Consider some nuances of God’s charis: favor to save, favor to sanctify, and favor to serve.
The following is one of the more important sections of Scripture pertaining to sanctifying favor. No survey of God’s charis could be complete without considering these verses.
For the grace (charis/favor) of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age.
We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11–14)
The favor of God has appeared (epiphanēs). This charis is described as the appearing (epiphanēs) of God’s kindness and love for mankind (Titus 3:4).
God’s favor (charis) is foundational to our forgiveness. Through the offering of the Messiah He forgives all who place their faith in Him. This is amazing favor towards beloved sinners. He favors them to the degree that He provides salvation for them.
His favor does not end there. He doesn’t save us and then leave us as helplessly corrupted creations. He sees our capacities that, when redeemed and empowered through His favor, can set us apart for fruitful expressions of loving interaction with those in need.
This sanctifying favor does not override our free will. Every human is ennobled with aspects of free will that image our fully free Creator. However, Father’s favor initiates a sanctification process that, upon saving us, trains us.
What motivates enabling favor to change? The same reason favor is always given. When God sees you, you find favor in His eyes. Having saved you, there is now grace on top of grace.
Expect training.
How will it come? When will it come?
This training is operative in this present evil age. At this time, self-controlled, righteous, godly behavior are behaviors that are swimming upstream. Thank God there is an age to come wherein righteousness is the norm and not the exception.
We have been acculturated by this ungodly cosmos with which our worldly desires are a perfect fit. Isn’t it good that we receive training and power to live in such a way that we will fit into the coming age? We confidently anticipate the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. Until then, we are in training.
What is the desired outcome of this training in this age? The purity of His people which will be seen by the world as zeal for doing good deeds.
The spiritually mature are called to exemplify this lifestyle.
Paul wrote Titus:
in all things showing yourself to be an example of good deeds (Titus 2:7a)
Yeshua stressed this goal.
... let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
So did Peter.
Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. Then while they speak against you as evildoers, they may—from noticing your good deeds—glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)
This is a lifestyle that is learned.
And let our people learn to devote themselves to doing mitzvot to meet urgent needs (Titus 3:14a)
It is a result of the training grace (charis/favor) of God.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat14-Feb-202627th of Sh'vat, 5786
Parashat Mishpatim Shabbat Shekalim
Ex 23:26-24:182 Ki 12:1-16 [17]Mt 17:22-27
Paul took this stewardship seriously.
... I don’t consider my life of any value, except that I might finish my course and the office I received from the Lord Yeshua, to declare the Good News of the grace (charis/favor) of God. (Acts 20:24)
God’s favor towards humanity is rooted in His love. He favors those who find favor in His eyes.
As we’ve discovered, there are all sorts of manifestations of charis/chen/favor. Consider some nuances of God’s charis: favor to save, favor to sanctify, and favor to serve.
The following is one of the more important sections of Scripture pertaining to sanctifying favor. No survey of God’s charis could be complete without considering these verses.
For the grace (charis/favor) of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, training us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live in a manner that is self-controlled and righteous and godly in the present age.
We wait for the blessed hope and appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. He gave Himself for us so that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and so that He might purify for Himself a chosen people, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11–14)
The favor of God has appeared (epiphanēs). This charis is described as the appearing (epiphanēs) of God’s kindness and love for mankind (Titus 3:4).
God’s favor (charis) is foundational to our forgiveness. Through the offering of the Messiah He forgives all who place their faith in Him. This is amazing favor towards beloved sinners. He favors them to the degree that He provides salvation for them.
His favor does not end there. He doesn’t save us and then leave us as helplessly corrupted creations. He sees our capacities that, when redeemed and empowered through His favor, can set us apart for fruitful expressions of loving interaction with those in need.
This sanctifying favor does not override our free will. Every human is ennobled with aspects of free will that image our fully free Creator. However, Father’s favor initiates a sanctification process that, upon saving us, trains us.
What motivates enabling favor to change? The same reason favor is always given. When God sees you, you find favor in His eyes. Having saved you, there is now grace on top of grace.
Expect training.
How will it come? When will it come?
This training is operative in this present evil age. At this time, self-controlled, righteous, godly behavior are behaviors that are swimming upstream. Thank God there is an age to come wherein righteousness is the norm and not the exception.
We have been acculturated by this ungodly cosmos with which our worldly desires are a perfect fit. Isn’t it good that we receive training and power to live in such a way that we will fit into the coming age? We confidently anticipate the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Messiah Yeshua. Until then, we are in training.
What is the desired outcome of this training in this age? The purity of His people which will be seen by the world as zeal for doing good deeds.
The spiritually mature are called to exemplify this lifestyle.
Paul wrote Titus:
in all things showing yourself to be an example of good deeds (Titus 2:7a)
Yeshua stressed this goal.
... let your light shine before men so they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
So did Peter.
Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles. Then while they speak against you as evildoers, they may—from noticing your good deeds—glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)
This is a lifestyle that is learned.
And let our people learn to devote themselves to doing mitzvot to meet urgent needs (Titus 3:14a)
It is a result of the training grace (charis/favor) of God.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat14-Feb-202627th of Sh'vat, 5786
Parashat Mishpatim Shabbat Shekalim
Ex 23:26-24:182 Ki 12:1-16 [17]Mt 17:22-27
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2026
January
RR Psalm 42:12(11) Part 8RR Psalm 43:1 Part 1RR In Praise of Milk By David HarwoodRR Psalm 43:2 Part 2RR Psalm 43:3 Part 3RR Psalm 43:4 Part 4RR Psalm 43:5 Part 5RR Psalm 44:1-5(1-4) Part 1RR “The Priority & Power of Relationship” by Jerry MillerRR Favor on top of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:6-9(5-8) Part 2RR Psalm 44:10-13(9-12) Part 3RR Psalm 44:14-17(13-16) Part 4RR Psalm 44:18-22(17-21) Part 5RR The Throne By David HarwoodRR Psalm 44:23-27(22-26) Part 6RR Psalm 45:1-3(1,2) Part 1RR PPsalm 45:4(3) Part 2RR Psalm 45:5(4) Part 3RR Psalm 45:6(5) Part 4RR Psalm 45:7(6) Part 5RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Doubting Favor by David HarwoodRR Psalm 45:8(7) Part 6RR Psalm 45:9(8) Part 7RR Psalm 45:10(9) Part 8RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 9RR Favor and Calling By David HarwoodRR YESHUA BEYOND THE BIBLE By Dr. Raymond Finney RR Psalm 45:11-13(10-12) Part 10
February
RR Psalm 45:14-16(13-15) Part 11RR Psalm 45:17,18(16,17) Part 12RR Psalm 46:1,2(1) Part 1RR Psalm 46:3,4(2,3) Part 2RR Charismata - Signs of Favor By David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 3RR “Guarding our Relationship with the Lord” by Jerry MillerRR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 5RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) – Part 4RR Psalm 46:5-8(4-7) Part 6RR Psalm 46:9-12(8-11) Part 7RR THE ONE AND ONLY YOU (Part 1) The Amazing Mystery of Light and You By Dr. Raymond FinneyRR Favor and Sanctity by David HarwoodRR Psalm 46:9-12 (8-11) Part 8
2025
May
RR Psalm 28:5 Part 5RR Psalm 28:6 Part 6RR Psalm 28:7a Part 7RR Psalm 28:7b Part 8RR Psalm 28:7c Part 9RR Psalm 28:7d Part 10RR Psalm 28:8 Part 11Rabbi’s Reflections - Saturday, May 10, 2025 by David HarwoodRR Psalm 28:9 Part 12RR Psalm 28:9 Part 13RR Psalm 28:9 Part 14RR Psalm 28:9 Part 15RR Psalm 29:1 Part 1RR Psalm 29:2 Part 2Favor From a Fooled Philistine By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:3 Part 3RR Psalm 29:4 Part 4RR Psalm 29:5 Part 5RR Psalm 29:6 Part 6RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7RR Psalm 29:7 Part 7Favor/Grace in 2 Samuel and 1 Kings By David HarwoodRR Psalm 29:8 Part 8RR Psalm 29:10 Part 10RR Psalm 29:9 Part 9RR Psalm 29:11 Paert 11RR Psalm 30:1,2 Part 1RR Psalms 30:3 Part 2RR Psalm 30:4 Part 3Favor (Chen/Charis) in the Psalms By David HarwoodRR Psalm 30:5 Part 4
June
RR Psalm 30:6 Part 5RR Psalm 30:7 Part 6RR Psalm 30:8 Part 7RR - Psalm 30:9-11 Part 8RR Psalm 30:12,13 Part 9RR Favor (Chen/Charis) in Proverbs By David HarwoodRR Psalm 31:1,2 Part 1RR Psalm 31:3 Part 2RR Psalm 31:4 Part 3RR Psalm 31:5 Part 4RR Psalm 31:6 Part 5RR Psalm 31:7 Part 6RR Kohelet By David HarwoodRR “Taking Our Thoughts Captive – Part 2” By Jerry MillerRR Psalm 31:8 Part 7RR Psalm 31:8 Part 8RR Psalm 31:9 Part 9RR - Psalm 31:10 Part 10RR Psalm 31:11 Part 11Zechariah and Favor By David HarwoodRR - Psalm 31:12-14 Part 12RR Shalom SpecialRR Psalm 31:15 Part 13RR Psalm 31:16,17 Part 14RR Psalm 31:18 Part 15