Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.”

Dictionary definition for grace;

a. unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b. a virtue behavior showing high moral standards) coming from God
c. a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

To say that someone deserves grace is a contradiction in terms. You can no more deserve grace than you can plan your own surprise party. In the same way that planning voids the idea of surprise, so claiming to deserve voids the idea of grace. You can ask for it. You can plead for it. But the minute you think you deserve it, the it you think you deserve is no longer grace. It is something you have earned.
                       
Grace Can't Be Earned

To earn something is to find an equivalent. There is no equivalent where grace is concerned. Grace is birthed from hopeless inequity. Grace is the offer of exactly what we do not deserve. Thus, it cannot be recognized or received until we are aware of precisely how undeserving we really are. It is the knowledge of what we do not deserve that allows us to receive grace for what it is. Unmerited. Unearned. Undeserved. For that reason, grace can only be experienced by those who acknowledge they are undeserving.

Grace Is Free But It's Not Cheap

As Rick Warren writes, grace "cost Jesus his life. Grace is the most expensive commodity there is. Jesus died on the cross to pay for it.


Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished three things in our lives:

• It paid the penalty for sin. Someone had to pay for the penalty for our sin. If you have a relationship with Jesus, he has taken care of your penalty.
• It broke the power of sin. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us the power to change the habits, hurts, and hang-ups that derail our lives.
• The presence of sin will be obliterated. One day all who follow Jesus will go to heaven, where there won’t be any sin.

The costly grace God offers will change everything about your life.
You just have to accept it!"   - From "How to Receive the Grace of God" 
​​

​Ten Ways We Rely on God’s Grace
By Rick Warren

1.  “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him”(Philippians 2:13 NLT).

As Christians, we tend to think about grace when it’s connected to our salvation. But grace is about much more than just how we come to Christ. Our entire Christian walk must be fueled by the grace of God.

2.  We can do nothing in him or for him that doesn’t ultimately come from his grace. The Bible says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

In fact, grace brings 10 great benefits to our lives:

3.  We’re saved by grace. The only way to heaven is through the doorway of grace. You can’t earn it. You can’t work for it. You can’t buy it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We’re forgiven by grace.Though we don’t deserve it, God wipes our slate clean by his grace (Isaiah 43:25).

4.  We’re sustained by grace. God will never ask you to do anything he doesn’t give you the ability and the power to do. That power and ability is called grace (Philippians 2:13).
We’re healed by grace.God heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounds even though we don’t deserve it (Psalm 147:3).

5.  We’re liberated by grace. Our relationship with Jesus isn’t a bunch of chores to do. Instead it’s about resting in what the Lord has already done. If your Christian life is not a life of resting in Christ, you’re moving into legalism (Matthew 11:28-30).

6.  We’re given talents by grace.God has given each of us the ability to do something well, and we’re to use those abilities for him (Romans 12:6).

7.  We’re used by grace. God uses us to fulfill his purposes in this world, not because of anything we’ve done but simply through his grace (Ephesians 3:7).

8. We’re kept saved by grace.We cannot lose our salvation because it’s a gift of God. If you could earn it, then you could lose it the moment you stopped earning it (Jude 1:24).

9.  We’re transformed by grace.Through his grace, God makes us new through the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).

10.  We’re matured by grace.God’s work of making us more like Jesus happens not because we’ve earned it or by our own effort but by the grace of God (2 Peter 3:18).

God’s grace is not cheap. It cost Jesus his life. Grace is the most expensive commodity there is. Jesus died on the cross to pay for it.

Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished three things in our lives:

It paid the penalty for sin.Someone had to pay for the penalty for our sin. If you have a relationship with Jesus, he has taken care of your penalty.

It broke the power of sin. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us the power to change the habits, hurts, and hang-ups that derail our lives.

The presence of sin will be obliterated. One day all who follow Jesus will go to heaven, where there won’t be any sin.

The costly grace God offers will change everything about your life.

You just have to accept it!

Editor's Note:  To read Rick Warren's devotions click here.

“Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.”

Dictionary definition for grace;

a. unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b. a virtue behavior showing high moral standards) coming from God
c. a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

There Are Six Types Of God’s Grace

Common grace

The kindness or favor God gives to all mankind, believer or not.

Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Emphasis mine)

Saving grace

The provision of salvation through Jesus

Romans 5:15-17 (NKJV)15  But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.16  And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification.17  For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)  

Securing Grace

The favor of God by which the Christian's salvation is kept secure in spite of sin.

John 10:27-29 (NKJV)27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

Serving Grace

The Spiritual Gifts that believers have been given by the Holy Spirit are serving grace. The Greek word translated grace,  charis is the root of the word charisma which is the word Paul used for spiritual gifts.

Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
​

Sustaining grace

Grace given at special times of need, especially during adversity or suffering.

2 Corinthians 12:3‭-‬10 NIV And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace 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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

God’s “sustaining grace” gets you through those times that you don't think you can make it. The times when your world has been turned upside down by the news of a serious, maybe terminal illness for you or a loved one; the death of a parent, child or spouse, loss of employment, a serious financial crises, a divorce, the collapse of a close friendship.  When any of those things happen, and sometimes more than one of them happens at once, it feels as if everything is closing in our you and there's no way out.

We know that because of the sin of Adam and  Eve, we live in a fallen world where bad things happen  but, the scriptures also tell us that if we are in Christ we are more than conquerors.

Romans 8:37-39 NIV No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

They also tell us that no matter the situation we are never alone.

Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”  So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

We also know;

Psalm 34:19 NIV The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;

We quote these and other scriptures  to people who are going through stuff telling them to “just wait on God”,  but we it's us it’s a different story. Stress, anxiety, worry, and depression, start to creep into our minds  and the enemy pounces on these thoughts

When God's Sustaining Grace Kicks In

There are three things that happen when you are under pressure, that come from living in a fallen world; temptation, exhaustion, and trials.

Temptation

God’s sustaining grace helps you keep standing when you’re tempted.

Temptation is the first thing that can cause you to stumble.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)13  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

God says, “I will provide the sustaining grace to always give you a way of escape.” It may mean turning the channel. It may mean running out the door. It may mean changing the way you’re thinking. But God will provide a way to escape temptation.

Exhaustion

God’s sustaining grace helps you keep standing when you’re tired.

Sometimes you’re not tempted. Sometimes you’re just tired! Life is often exhausting. It requires a lot of energy, especially when you’re trying to do the right thing rather than the easy thing. But where do you get the power to do the right thing when you’re dead tired?

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NKJV)21  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,22  who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. The key is having the Holy Spirit in your heart to have the energy to do the things you can’t do in your own power.

Trials

God’s sustaining grace gives you the power to keep going when you’re troubled.

There are some hurts that all the wishing in the world won’t make go away. There are some things in life that are unplanned, unrelenting, and undeserved—and they hurt the most.

What do you do in those situations? You first stop doing the “if only” game and instead focus on Christ and his sustaining power.

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)  Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' ​

​
​What To Do When Pushed Against The Wall

What do you do when you can’t fix an unfixable problem? What do you do when you can’t solve an unsolvable riddle? What do you do when you can’t change an unchangeable circumstance? What do you do when you can’t control something that hurts deeply in your life?

You throw yourself on the sustaining grace of God.

How do you get the kind of grace to keep going in spite of temptations, trials, tension, tiredness, and troubles?

Do These Four Things

1. Call out. Cry out for God’s help. When you pretend to be self-sufficient, you short-circuit God’s power in your life. You need to admit your inadequacy and say, “God, I can’t handle this!” The Bible says,

James 4:6-8 (NKJV)6  But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."7  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  

2. Fill your mind with God’s Word. Let God’s Word comfort, strengthen, fill, soothe, and energize you to keep going. Get into it every single day of your life.

Psalm 119:25 (NKJV)  My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word.  
If the solution were to look within yourself, you’d already be changed. You need to look to God! He’s the only one with sustaining strength.

3. Accept support from God’s people. The Bible says by helping each other with our troubles, we obey the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)37  Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'38  This is the first and great commandment.39  And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'40  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."

God never meant for you to go through life on your own. Our weaknesses help us realize how much we need each other. You need to accept support from God’s people.

4. Hold on to God’s promises. There are at around 5,500 of them in the Bible waiting to be claimed. Here’s one of them:

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NKJV)29  He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,31  But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
​
Keep your hope in the Lord and your eyes focused on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and now.

When you’re going through a problem you can’t fix, don’t give up. Just look up!

One of the first posts I published was Strong Finish, Strong Faith, Do You Have The Endurance To Win?.  The theme of the post was our faith but throughout I compared this life to a race, a marathon.  

“To develop the endurance that we need we must have faith and our faith must become strong. If not we will cross the finish line but barely, and in that group of stragglers at the tail end of the race. Yes they finish and will get a ribbon that says they finished but don’t you want to be one of the top finishers? I want you to be one of the top finishers because we know that while all believers will enjoy eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ some will receive greater rewards than others. Those receiving the greater rewards will be those with the strongest faith and having the strongest finish in the race. On my website I give promises of God that help us increase and strengthen our faith.”

Once you ask Jesus into your life as Lord and Savior and you really give your life over to him in confession, your salvation is guaranteed.  

Romans 10:8-11 (NKJV)8  But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11  For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

I know that sounds amazing but once God makes a decision He doesn’t change (see Change Is A Fact Of Life But God Never Changes and Does God Ever Change His Mind?) , and scripture is clear about “once saved, always saved”

John 10:28-30 (NKJV)28  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.29  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.30  I and My Father are one."

Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV)37  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.38  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Let's admit that after we make that confession, and are saved, we still sin.  Our life doesn’t continue to a life of sin but we do still sin which is disobedience. Why does God keep His promise of eternal salvation?  He does it because of  His sustaining grace.

Sustaining grace is given at special times of need, especially during adversity or suffering.  God's sustaining grace is His power in us to keep going, to keep running this life marathon.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

James 4:6 (NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

​God’s Power to Keep Going
By Rick Warren

“God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished” (Philippians 1:6 NLT).

The Bible tells us that God always finishes what he starts: “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished” (Philippians 1:6 NLT). It doesn’t say, “God might finish it.” It doesn’t say, “God hopes to finish it.” It says God will finish it. What does that mean?

It means if you have really given your life to Jesus Christ — if you’ve opened yourself up to God and said, “Christ, be number one in my life” — you are going to make it to heaven. There’s no doubt about it. Case closed. Done deal. You are going to make it across the finish line because it doesn’t depend upon your performance; it depends upon God’s sustaining grace. The only question is how you finish the race. You know as well as I do that some people finish a race poorly while other people finish a race well.

I don’t want you to just get into heaven. I don’t want you to just get across the finish line. I want to help you finish the race of life well. I want you to enjoy life, the abundant life — to figure out what God made you for and then do it.

How can you be sure you’re going to finish the race of life? Because of God’s sustaining grace. God doesn’t want to just save you. He wants to sustain you through life. He wants you to make it.

What is sustaining grace?

Sustaining grace is the power to keep on going when you feel like giving up. It’s the power to do the right thing when you don’t feel like doing the right thing.

There are many pitfalls in the marathon race of life. But regardless of what you go through, no matter what you face this year, you can count on God’s sustaining grace.

“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace” (1 Peter 5:12 NLT).

Sustaining Grace

Grace given at special times of need, especially during adversity or suffering.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Nearly three years ago I started a Grace category for this blog.  I started the category with a four part series.  In that series I wrote that;  “Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.”
 
Dictionary definition for grace;
 
a. unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b. a virtue coming from God
c. a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
 
I identified six types of God’s grace.
 
Common grace
 
The kindness or favor God gives to all mankind, believer or not.
 
Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Emphasis mine)
 
Saving grace
 
The provision of salvation through Jesus
 
Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)15  But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.16  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.17  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
 
Securing Grace
 
The favor of God by which the Christian's salvation is kept secure in spite of sin.
 
John 10:27-29 (NKJV)27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
 
Serving Grace
 
The Spiritual Gifts that believers have been given by the Holy Spirit are serving grace. The Greek word translated grace,  charis is the root of the word charisma which is the word Paul used for spiritual gifts.
 
Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

Sustaining Grace
  
Following something that I read today, the Holy Spirit has prompted me to write more details about these six types of God’s grace,  starting with what I read today about His Sustaining Grace in an excerpt from the book The Comeback by Louie Giglio. 
 
Here a description of the book:
 
Have you ever longed for a comeback?

We all know what it feels like to have life disappoint us and not work out as we’d hoped. We all know what it’s like to long for something different, something better, something more.

The Comeback celebrates new beginnings. It offers encouragement and perspective, and it’s for you if you feel frustrated or confused, if you’re sorrowing or in pain, if you’ve made mistakes or are grieving, if you’re disappointed or feel as though life doesn’t make sense.
​
The good news is that God is in the business of giving fresh starts to people. He gives hope to the hopeless. Direction to the directionless. Help to those who need help. God is always good, all the time, and God’s plans will always prevail, even when our plans don’t.
God already knows what the solutions are. No matter what kind of disappointment or grief or pain or trouble or heartache you encounter, God always offers a new beginning, a change of heart, or a powerful spiritual turnaround. God offers the way forward, and his pathways are always good.

Your current circumstances will not get the final say in your life. God is the God of the comeback, no matter what kind of challenge you’re facing.
​
And your story can become a great comeback story too.
 
The excerpt that I read today, and the one that I am sharing, hit home in a personal way to me because in it Louie talks about those times when there is no comeback.  Something has happened in your life that will never be the same again no matter what God does.  For me it was the death of my wife of over 40 years.  Ruth died, over three years ago, from complications caused by lung cancer.  The day that she died, although God gave me His peace that passes all understanding;
 
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:5-7 NIV
 
However even with that peace and the knowledge that Ruth was now in the presence of God and that I would see her again, I knew that as long as I was still alive and in this body I would not see, hear, or hold her.  A part of my life was gone forever.  What I didn’t realize until today is that what has enabled me to go on without great sorrow is God’s Sustaining Grace. 
 
Here’s are some excerpts from Jesus is Enough from The Comeback by Louie Giglio

Sustaining Grace Is Grace Upon Grace Upon Grace

“But what do you do when you can’t come back?”
 
Jesus is enough

That statement acknowledges there won’t always be happy endings to our comeback stories — at least not here on earth. Things break in this life and can’t always be repaired. Not every story has a happy conclusion on this side of eternity. We don’t understand the reasons God allows grief to come into our lives, but it does.

Still, within the journey, Jesus can become enough for us.

And that’s the strange sort of comeback that God’s Word offers. God can bring Courtney back from her deep loss in a way that only God can define, and the way God is going to bring her back is by being enough for her every day. And God can do the same for you.
I call this sustaining grace, a moment-by-moment grace. It’s the type of grace that God gives for each and every moment of intense grief, frustration, sorrow, agony, or pain. This type of grace is a tailor-made grace specially designed for each person. It does not transfer over, and it’s never repeated exactly the same way, and it’s not experienced the same from person to person.

This grace is specific. Timely. Personal.

This is the type of grace that God gives you when you get a phone call that changes your life forever. The shock of the blow hits you so hard, and your mind is a jumbled mess of questions. Where do I go now? What do I do? Who do I call? God gives you sustaining grace for that moment.

This is the type of grace that God gives you when you walk down a hospital corridor and know that behind the door is the body of the one you love. Nothing can prepare you for this moment. There’s no textbook for this. You have feelings of agony and shock that can’t be put into words, and God gives you a sustaining grace for that moment.

This is the type of grace that God gives you on the day you bury your spouse. You struggle to put one step in front of the other. You can hardly breathe. It feels like half of you has been buried in the grave. And God gives you sustaining grace for that moment.
The sustaining grace you receive in the first moment is different than the grace you receive in the second. And the grace received in the second moment is different than the grace received in the third moment. And in the fiftieth moment. And in the two thousandth moment. And every moment after that.

There is a grace for everything. God gives you what you need, and what you need is Him.

You feel His sustaining grace holding you together. You feel His sustaining grace as you fall apart. You feel this grace because God never leaves you or forsakes you. You feel this grace when you can only be still and know that He is God.

There’s a new grace for you when your child doesn’t live. There’s a new grace for you when your father dies. There’s a new grace for you on the first Father’s Day after your father dies. There’s a new grace for you when you lose a limb to an IED in Iraq. There’s a new grace when you know what’s lost isn’t coming back. There’s a new grace when what was dreamed is never going to come to pass. There’s a new grace when what was hoped for isn’t going to be seen.

This is not a grace that promises you that everything is going to work out for you as you’d hoped. This is not a grace that offers you any guarantees — except one. This grace is seldom fully understood. This grace can hardly be articulated even when it’s felt. This grace is nothing you need to produce on your own. This grace is what God gives to you when you have nothing left. This grace is the only hope of the moment, the hope of Christ today, the grace that Jesus is enough.

Excerpted with permission from The Comeback by Louie Giglio, copyright Louie Giglio.

I’ll end with this prayer for inner peace and calm written by - John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892).

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.
​

Several years ago, I published a Grace category for this blog.  I started the category with a four-part series.  In that series I wrote that; “Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.”

Dictionary definition for grace.

a. unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b. a virtue coming from God
c. a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace

Common grace

The kindness or favor God gives to all mankind, believer or not.

Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Emphasis mine)

Saving grace

The provision of salvation through Jesus

Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)15  But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.16  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.17  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
 
Securing Grace

The favor of God by which the Christian's salvation is kept secure in spite of sin.

John 10:27-29 (NKJV)27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

Sustaining grace

Grace given at special times of need, especially during adversity or suffering.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Sanctifying Grace

Sanctifying grace works within the true believer causing them to grow and mature and progress becoming more Christ-like.

Romans 8:28 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Serving Grace

The Spiritual Gifts that believers have been given by the Holy Spirit are serving grace. The Greek word translated grace,  charis is the root of the word charisma which is the word Paul used for spiritual gifts.

Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

I later read an excerpt from The Grace of God by Andy Stanley.    The excerpt from Andy’s book says that “Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin and yet does not condemn...But not just any grace. The grace of God.”

The Story of Grace
from The Grace of God by Andy Stanley

Grace.
                        
It’s what I crave most when my guilt is exposed. The very thing I’m hesitant to extend when I’m confronted with the guilt of others — especially when their guilt has robbed me of something I consider valuable.
                        
Therein is the struggle, the struggle for grace. It’s this struggle that makes grace more story than doctrine. It’s this struggle that reminds us that grace is bigger than compassion or forgiveness. This struggle is the context for both. When we are on the receiving end, grace is refreshing. When it is required of us, it is often disturbing. But when correctly applied, it seems to solve just about everything. Contrary to what is sometimes taught, the opposite of grace is not law. God’s law is actually an extension of grace. The opposite of grace is simply the absence of grace.
                        
To say that someone deserves grace is a contradiction in terms. You can no more deserve grace than you can plan your own surprise party. In the same way that planning voids the idea of surprise, so claiming to deserve voids the idea of grace. You can ask for it. You can plead for it. But the minute you think you deserve it, the it you think you deserve is no longer grace. It is something you have earned.
                        
But grace can’t be earned.

To earn something is to find an equivalent. There is no equivalent where grace is concerned. Grace is birthed from hopeless inequity. Grace is the offer of exactly what we do not deserve. Thus, it cannot be recognized or received until we are aware of precisely how un- deserving we really are. It is the knowledge of what we do not deserve that allows us to receive grace for what it is. Unmerited. Unearned. Undeserved. For that reason, grace can only be experienced by those who acknowledge they are undeserving.
                        
From the beginning, the church has had an uneasy relationship with grace. Yet history has shown that the church and Christianity in general fare best when characterized by grace. The church is most appealing when the message of grace is most apparent. Yet grace is often an early casualty in the world of organized religion. The gravitational pull is always toward graceless religion. Instead of defining itself in terms of what it stands for, the church often takes the less imaginative and easier path of defining itself in terms of what it is against.
                        
The odd thing is that when you read the New Testament, the only thing Jesus stood against consistently was graceless religion.
                        
The only group He attacked relentlessly was graceless religious leaders. So we should not be surprised when we get to the end of the Gospels and discover that the people who crucified Him were those who claimed to know God but knew little of grace. In doing so, they confirmed everything He said about them.
                        
As we are about to discover, grace is not a New Testament idea. Grace didn’t begin with Jesus. But it was certainly personified by Him. John tells us that He was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14; emphasis added). Not the balance between, but the embodiment of. John speaks of “the fullness of his grace” (John 1:16), the idea being that in Jesus we get as clear and as close a look as we will ever get of what grace looks like in an otherwise graceless world.
                        
In Jesus there was no conflict between grace and truth. It is that artificial conflict that throws so much of Christianity into disarray. It is our misunderstanding of grace, as modeled and taught by Jesus, that leaves us feeling as if grace allows people to “get by” with things.
                        
But grace doesn’t dumb down sin to make it more palatable. Grace doesn’t have to.
                        
Grace acknowledges the full implication of sin and yet does not condemn.
                        
Grace is understood best within the context of relationship. After all, it is only within the mystery and complexity of relationships that grace is experienced. It is a story that begins in the beginning. It is a story that traces its way through every book of the Old and New Testaments.
                        
The story of grace includes a broad range of characters — rich, poor, powerful, and powerless. For all of them, it is God’s grace that tips the scale in their favor. In some ways these stories are our stories. For like the individuals who populate the pages of Scripture, we, too, need grace.
                        
But not just any grace. The grace of God.
                        
Excerpted with permission from The Grace of God by Andy Stanley, copyright Andy Stanley.

God did not create us to be Lone Rangers, but to have fellowship with others, first  with Him, then because he saw that it wasn't good for the first person, Adam, to be alone He created Eve.  

Genesis 2:18, 21-23 (NLT) 18  Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”   21  So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the LORD God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.22  Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man.23  “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”

Then there were children and a family.

Genesis 4:1-2 (NLT)1  Now Adam had sexual relations with his wife, Eve, and she became pregnant. When she gave birth to Cain, she said, “With the LORD’s help, I have produced a man!”2  Later she gave birth to his brother and named him Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd, while Cain cultivated the ground.  

Then tribes, nations, groups, clubs, fraternities, sororities, religious organizations, and the Church, , which started on the Day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4, 38-41 (NLT) 1  On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.2  Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting.3  Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.4  And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.   38  Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins, turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ to show that you have received forgiveness for your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.39  This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”40  Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”41  Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.  

We  humans, even those who say they are loners, need to have interaction with other humans.  In order to be a member, or a part of some these groups you must go through an initiation, which is the action of admitting someone into a secret or obscure society or group, typically with a ritual.  Some of these initiations are expensive, sometimes painful, and time consuming. We go through these  initiations because it's  good for our careers​, our businesses,  our lifestyles, or our egos.  At the end of these initiations we become a one of them.  I’m was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi a Greek Fraternity so I’m a Kappa.  If you went through the initiation process for the Masons you are a Mason.  If you went through the process for the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority you’re a Delta.  

If you went through the initiation of salvation you are a Christian, a joint heir with Christ, the Son of God the Creator, and the Founder of this group.  

Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)9  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Romans 8:15-17 (NLT)15  So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”16  For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.17  And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

The benefits of being a member of this group include a one-on-one personal relationship with God the Creator of the universe.  With membership in this group comes forgiveness of all sin. With membership in this group comes eternal life in the presence of God Almighty.   
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Have you been initiated by God?  

I recently read an excerpt for Wild At Heart  by John Eldredge.  The excerpt is titled “How God the Father Initiates a Man”.  The excerpts says a man but it could be a woman, boy, or girl.

How God the Father Initiates a Man

Desperate for Initiation
                        
A man needs to know his name. He needs to know he’s got what it takes.
                        
And I don’t mean “know” in the modernistic, rationalistic sense. I don’t mean that the thought has passed through your cerebral cortex and you’ve given it intellectual assent, the way you know about the Battle of Waterloo or the ozone layer — the way most men “know” God or the truths of Christianity. I mean a deep knowing, the kind of knowing that comes when you have been there, entered in, experienced firsthand in an unforgettable way. The way “Adam knew his wife” and she gave birth to a child. Adam didn’t know about Eve; he knew her intimately, through flesh-and-blood experience at a very deep level. There’s knowledge about and knowledge of. When it comes to our question, we need the latter.
                        
In the movie Gladiator, set in the second century A.D., the hero is a warrior from Spain called Maximus. He is the commander of the Roman armies, a general loved by his men and by the aging emperor Marcus Aurelius. The emperor’s foul son Commodus learns of his father’s plan to make Maximus emperor in his place, but before Marcus can pronounce his successor, Commodus strangles his father. He sentences Maximus to immediate execution and his wife and son to crucifixion and burning. Maximus escapes, but too late to save his family.
                        
Captured by slave traders, he is sold as a gladiator. That fate is normally a death sentence, but this is Maximus, a valiant fighter. He more than survives; he becomes a champion. Ultimately he is taken to Rome to perform in the Colosseum before the emperor Commodus (who of course believes that Maximus is long dead). After a remarkable display of courage and a stunning upset, the emperor comes down into the arena to meet the valiant gladiator, whose identity remains hidden behind his helmet.
                        
COMMODUS: Your fame is well deserved, Spaniard. I don’t believe there’s ever been a gladiator that matched you... Why doesn’t the hero reveal himself and tell us all your real name? (Maximus is silent.) You do have a name?
                        
MAXIMUS: My name is Gladiator. (He turns and walks away.)
                        
COMMODUS: How dare you show your back to me?! Slave! You will remove your helmet and tell me your name.
                        
MAXIMUS: (Slowly, very slowly, he lifts his helmet and turns to face his enemy.) My name is Maximus Decimus Meridius; Commander of the Armies of the North; General of the Felix Legions; loyal servant to the true emperor, Marcus Aurelius; father to a murdered son; husband to a murdered wife; and I will have my vengeance, in this life or in the next.
                        
His answer builds like a mighty wave, swelling in size and strength before it crashes on the shore. The man knows who he is, what he’s made of.
                        
Where does a man go to learn an answer like that — to learn his true name, a name that can never be taken from him? That deep heart knowledge comes only through a process of initiation. You have to know where you’ve come from; you have to have faced a series of trials that test you; you have to have taken a journey; and you have to have faced your enemy.
                        
But as a young man recently lamented to me, “I’ve been a Christian since I was five — no one ever showed me what it means to really be a man.” He’s lost now. He moved across the country to be with his girlfriend, but she’s dumped him because he doesn’t know who he is and what he’s here for. There are countless others like him, a world of such men — a world of uninitiated men.
                        
The church would like to think it is initiating men, but it’s not. What does the church bring a man into? What does it call him out to be? Moral. That is pitifully insufficient. Morality is a good thing, but morality is never the point. Paul says the Law is given as a tutor to the child, but not to the son. The son is invited up into something much more. He gets the keys to the car; he gets to go away with the father on some dangerous mission.
                        
Where do we go? To whom can we turn? To a most surprising source.
                        
How God Initiates a Man
                        
A number of years ago, at a point in my own journey when I felt more lost than ever, I heard a talk given by Gordon Dalbey, who had just written Healing the Masculine Soul. He raised the idea that despite a man’s past and the failures of his own father to initiate him, God could take him on that journey, provide what was missing. A hope rose within me, but I dismissed it with the cynicism I’d learned to use to keep down most things in my soul.
                        
Several weeks, perhaps months later, I was downstairs in the early morning to read and pray. As with so many of my “quiet times,” I ended up looking out the window toward the east to watch the sun rise.
                        
I heard Jesus whisper a question to me: “Will you let Me initiate you?” Before my mind ever had a chance to process, dissect, and doubt the whole exchange, my heart leaped up and said yes.
                        
“Who can give a man this, his own name?” George MacDonald asks. “God alone. For no one but God sees what the man is.” He reflects upon the white stone that Revelation includes among the rewards God will give to those who “overcome.” On that white stone there is a new name. It is “new” only in the sense that it is not the name the world gave to us, certainly not the one delivered with the wound. No man will find on that stone “mama’s boy” or “fatty” or “seagull.” But the new name is really not new at all when you understand that it is your true name, the one that belongs to you, “that being whom He had in His thought when He began to make the child, and whom He kept in His thought throughout the long process of creation” and redemption. Psalm 139 makes it clear that we were personally, uniquely planned and created, knit together in our mother’s womb by God Himself. He had someone in mind and that someone has a name.
                        
That someone has also undergone a terrible assault. Yet God remains committed to the realization of that same someone. The giving of the white stone makes it clear — that is what He is up to.
                        
The history of a man’s relationship with God is the story of how God calls him out, takes him on a journey and gives him his true name. Most of us have thought it was the story of how God sits on His throne waiting to whack a man broadside when he steps out of line. Not so. He created Adam for adventure, battle, and beauty; He created us for a unique place in His story and He is committed to bringing us back to the original design.
                        
So God calls Abram out from Ur of the Chaldees to a land he has never seen, to the frontier, and along the way Abram gets a new name. He becomes Abraham. God takes Jacob off into Mesopotamia somewhere, to learn things he has to learn and cannot learn at his mother’s side. When he rides back into town, he has a limp and a new name as well.
                        
Even if your father did his job, he can only take you partway.
                        
There comes a time when you have to leave all that is familiar, and go on into the unknown with God. Saul was a guy who really thought he understood the story and very much liked the part he had written for himself. He was the hero of his own little miniseries, “Saul the Avenger.” After that little matter on the Damascus road he becomes Paul; and rather than heading back into all of the old and familiar ways he is led out into Arabia for three years to learn directly from God.
                        
Jesus shows us that initiation can happen even when we’ve lost our father or grandfather.
                        
He’s the carpenter’s son, which means Joseph was able to help him in the early days of his journey. But when we meet the young man Jesus, Joseph is out of the picture. Jesus has a new teacher — his true Father — and it is from Him He must learn who he really is and what he’s really made of.
                        
Initiation involves a journey and a series of tests, through which we discover our real name and our true place in the story.
                        
Most of us have been misinterpreting life and what God is doing for a long time.
                        
“I think I’m just trying to get God to make my life work easier,” a client of mine confessed, but he could have been speaking for most of us. We’re asking the wrong questions. Most of us are asking, “God, why did you let this happen to me?” Or, “God, why won’t you just...” (fill in the blank — help me succeed, get my kids to straighten out, fix my marriage — you know what you’ve been whining about). But to enter into a journey of initiation with God requires a new set of questions:
                        
What are You trying to teach me here? What issues in my heart are You trying to raise through this? What is it You want me to see? What are You asking me to let go of?
                        
In truth, God has been trying to initiate you for a long time. What is in the way is how you’ve mishandled your wound and the life you’ve constructed as a result.
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My blog post today is Romans 3:10-22.  Read and meditate on it.  You’ll catch a glimpse of the depth of God’s grace.

All Are Sinners Yet God Gives His Grace

Romans 3:10-22 (NLT) As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” “They rush to commit murder. Destruction and misery always follow them. “They have no fear of God at all.” Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

Yes grace is unmerited favor.  The extent we understand this determines the extent to which we will extend grace and mercy, both to ourselves and others.    Grace doesn’t excuse sin. Grace is God’s presence to do what only He can do, through Christ’s finished work on the cross.   Grace empowers righteousness.

Romans 5:20 (NLT) God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.

Why do some people think that God's grace is a license to sin?

 I would love to hear your answer in the comment section of this post.

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Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) 8  God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.9  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  

A couple of years ago I wrote a four-part blog series on grace.  I started each of the posts with this quote.
 
“Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.”
 
And I included the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition.
 
a. unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
b. a virtue coming from God
c. a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
 
In that series the emphasis was on God’s grace to mankind.  I wrote about the nature of God’s grace.
 
In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sent His only Son to the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. To make even the slightest contribution to our salvation is to rule out the possibility of grace. For one thing, any contribution on our part would be exaggerated in our own minds. - J. I. Packer
 
I wrote about God’s.
 
Common grace
 
The kindness or favor God gives to all mankind, believer or not.
 
Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Emphasis mine)
 
Saving grace
 
The provision of salvation through Jesus
 
Romans 5:15-17 (NLT)15  But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.16  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.17  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
  
Securing Grace
 
The favor of God by which the Christian's salvation is kept secure in spite of sin.
 
John 10:27-29 (NKJV)27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.
 
Sustaining grace
 
Grace given at special times of need, especially during adversity or suffering.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 
Sanctifying Grace
 
Sanctifying grace works within the true believer causing them to grow and mature and progress becoming more Christ-like.
 
Romans 8:28 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
 
Serving Grace
 
The Spiritual Gifts that the Holy Spirit has given believers are serving grace. The Greek word translated grace,  charis is the root of the word charisma which is the word Paul used for spiritual gifts.
 
Ephesians 4:7 (NKJV) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

What I Did Not Include In Those Posts
 
When I read an excerpt from Philip Yancey’s book, Vanishing Grace,  I realized what I did not say in that blog series.  I didn’t write about how those who were the recipients of God’s grace should respond because of it.  
 
Grace is “unmerited favor” and those of us who have received it should, because of it, give grace to those we interact with whether they deserve it or not.  Why? Because under God’s sanctifying grace we are becoming like Christ who though sinless gave His life for those of us who didn’t deserve it.  
 
Romans 5:8 (NLT)  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
 
Romans 8:29 (NLT  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
 
Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT)5  You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.7  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,8  he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
 
The introduction to the excerpts from Philip’s book was “In imitation of the ridiculous love Almighty God has for each of us and all of us, let us live and love without labels.”  
 
That should be our response to God’s gift of grace.  

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Grace on Tap
 by Philip Yancey, from Vanishing Grace
 
Living “in the world,” we can look for natural opportunities to dispense grace — not just words — to those around us. Gabe Lyons recommends inviting community leaders, whether Christian or not, into church to tell how best to engage with the neighborhood and its problems. As he notes, African American churches have historically done that, finding ways to honor teachers, firefighters, social workers, and politicians, all of whom serve without much recognition.

A pastor friend of mine in Chicago operates an internet wedding site. Couples who don’t know a pastor, and thus look for one on the internet, contact him. He insists on counseling sessions before agreeing to perform the ceremony, and he always asks two questions: “Why do you want to get married?” (almost all of them are already living together) and “Why do you want a pastor involved?” Remarkable conversations unfold as the parties struggle aloud with their answers. As one said, “Well, if there is a God, marriage is so important that we think God ought to be involved somehow.”

Kathleen Norris writes about a “cocaine whore” in rural Montana who would sleep with anyone who could provide her with booze or cocaine, or merely show her the slightest bit of attention.

She found Alcoholics Anonymous first, then God, and then church. Soon she was signing up for every Bible study and volunteering for every church-ministry project, as well as for committees that others had to be begged to join. “Salvation took such hold in her that, as the pastor put it, he began to wonder if Christians don’t underrate promiscuity. Because she was still a promiscuous person, still loving without much discrimination. The difference was that she was no longer self-destructive but a bearer of new life to others.” The twelfth step in AA’s guide to recovery — helping others in need — is an act of gratitude. We respond to healing grace by giving it away.

Pastors in both places, Chicago and Montana, began with a good thing, love, and gently pointed toward something even better. Romantic love may lead the way to the Source of all love; passion rightly channeled brings life, not ruin.

I know a former Southern Baptist pastor in North Carolina who, against all odds, now runs a private cigar club. He explains, “I learned from my years in the ministry that when men go deep in conversation and get honest with each other, there’s usually a cigar involved. That’s when they talk about what really counts — sitting on a patio after a golf match or relaxing together on a deck when their wives are inside the house. So in our club we have volunteers available who strike up friendships and know how to respond when the men want to talk about their failing marriages or job layoffs or rebellious teenagers.”

Once, while speaking on the topic of grace in Toronto, I asked the audience about their own experiences conveying grace to others. One woman shocked us all: “I feel called to minister to telephone marketers. You know, the kind who call at inconvenient hours and deliver their spiel before you can say a word.” Immediately I flashed back to the times I have responded rudely or simply hung up. “All day long these sales callers hear people curse at them and slam the phone down,” she continued. “I listen attentively to their pitch, then I try to respond kindly, though I almost never buy what they’re selling. Instead, I ask about their personal life and whether they have any concerns I can pray for. Often they ask me to pray with them over the phone, and sometimes they are in tears. They’re people, after all, probably underpaid, and they’re surprised when someone treats them with common courtesy.”

Hearing such stories, I am aware how often I miss possible hinge moments in my own interactions with people. I marvel at the Toronto woman’s gracious response and think of the times I get irritated with marketers and with employees on computer help lines who don’t speak good English. I catch myself treating store cashiers and Starbucks baristas as if they were machines, not persons. I get a wedding invitation and groan at the hassle of having to shop for a gift and dress up. I rush away after a golf match rather than relaxing on the patio with my partners. Subtly or not so subtly, I let the other person know that I’ve been interrupted and need to get back to work. In the process, I miss golden opportunities to dispense grace.

"What would it take for church to become known as a place where grace is “on tap”?

All too often outsiders view us as a kind of elite club of the righteous.

An alcoholic friend once made this point by comparing church with AA, which had become for him a substitute church. “When I show up late to church, people turn and look at me. Some scowl, some smile a self-satisfied smile — See, that person’s not as responsible as I am. In AA, if I show up late the meeting comes to a halt and everyone jumps up to greet me. They realize that my desperate need for them won out over my desperate need for alcohol.”

One gray fall day in Denver I visited an urban church that makes grace the center point of ministry. This congregation addresses the contentious gay issue not by writing position papers but simply by welcoming all who come. Their bulletin expresses it this way:

Married, divorced or single here, it’s one family that mingles here.

Conservative or liberal here, we’ve all gotta give a little here.

Big or small here, there’s room for us all here.

Doubt or believe here, we all can receive here.

Gay or straight here, there’s no hate here.

Woman or man here, everyone can serve here.

Whatever your race here, for all of us grace here.

​In imitation of the ridiculous love Almighty God has for each of us and all of us, let us live and love without labels.

From there I went to a barbecue fundraiser for a nonprofit organization that provides food for Denver’s hungry population. A number of sponsoring churches had sent representatives, and I agreed to say a few words and give away some books. The organizers hoped for a turnout of three hundred, but a cold, drizzly rain kept attendance down to less than half that. The Denver Broncos football team was playing that day, and it occurred to me, as I looked out over the sparse crowd huddled under umbrellas, that sixty thousand screaming fans in a stadium had gladly paid to sit through miserable weather for three hours. Instead, a cause like hunger attracted a small group of churchgoers, idealistic college students, and street people who always seem to know where food is being served.

In the sermon I had heard at church that morning, the guest preacher mentioned she had puzzled over the story of the widow who gave all she had, no more than a few pennies. Why did Jesus merely use her as an object lesson, contrasting her with the rich people who proudly made large contributions? Why didn’t He do something to address her state, perhaps by proposing a poverty program? The preacher told us her conclusion: “God leaves the justice issue up to us.” I had heard Gary Haugen, founder of the International Justice Mission, say something similar:

“God has a plan to fight injustice, and that plan is us — His people. There is no Plan B.”

I pondered that statement as I stood in the rain and watched a small crowd of volunteers assemble food parcels while a soul sister belted out, “His eye is on the sparrow.” For whatever reason, God seems to leave a lot of issues up to us. And the church totters on; we are, after all, the chosen channel for God’s good news.

Excerpted with permission from Vanishing Grace by Philip Yancey, copyright Zondervan, 2014.

His Grace, Not My Virtue

We all like to be in control of our relationships.  That includes, if we are really honest, our relationship with God. We don’t really want to feel any sense of obligation; we don’t want to feel powerless or needy; we hate to beg; and we want to collect on all the promises of God so we can relax, and then count on God whenever we need Him.  

We think that we can get to that place and have that sense of security by doing all the religious things, giving our tithes and offerings, and obeying the rules.  These things are great but, they are useless in solving the biggest problem--and that is that our sinful hearts make us unfit for a relationship with a holy God. All the good we do can’t erase even one of our bad deeds.

Romans 3:23 (HCSB) For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

1 John 1:10 (HCSB)  If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

So what’s the answer?  What was God’s solution?  Grace!!

From the beginning, even before mankind’s fall into sin, the God the Father lovingly designed the rescue he knew that only his Son could carry out.  God’s grace was personified through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who came to earth as a man.

Romans 3:24 (HCSB)   They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

So, where does peace with God come from? 

Don’t look at your works. Look at Christ’s work on the cross.  There on the cross God punished every sin by punishing his Son. There God forgave every sin by punishing his Son. Your salvation and redemption was earned through his suffering, death, and resurrection.

I’ll end with these excerpts from “A Few Words About Grace” by William R. Newell 

The Place of Man under Grace:

1. He has been accepted in Christ, who is his standing! 
2. He is not "on probation." 
3. As to his life past, it does not exist before God: he died at the Cross, and Christ is his life.
4. Grace, once bestowed, is not withdrawn: for God knew all the human exigencies (needs) beforehand: His action was independent of them, not dependent upon them. 
5. The failure of devotion does not cause the withdrawal of bestowed grace. 

The Proper Attitude of Man under Grace:

1. To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret. 
2. To refuse to make "resolutions" and "vows"; for that, is to trust in the flesh. 
3. To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth. 
4. To testify of God's goodness, at all times. 
5. To be certain of God's future favor; yet to be ever more tender in conscience toward Him.
6. To rely on God's chastening hand as a mark of His kindness. 
7. A man under grace has no burden regarding himself; but many about others.

Things Which Gracious Souls Discover:

1. To "hope to be better" is to fail to see yourself in Christ only. 
2. To be disappointed with yourself, is to have believed in yourself. 
3. To be discouraged is unbelief, -- as to God's purpose and plan of blessing for you. 
4. To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves. 
5. The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion. 
6. Real devotion to God arises, not from man's will to show it; but from the discovery that blessing has been received from God while we were yet unworthy and undevoted. 
7. To preach devotion first, and blessing second, is to reverse God's order, and preach law, not grace. The Law made man's blessing depend on devotion; Grace confers undeserved, unconditional blessing: our devotion may follow, but does not always do so, -- in proper measure.

Do You Want This Grace?

This grace that I have written about in this post is available to everybody.  By definition it’s unmerited so you can’t work to earn it.  It’s a gift from God and it can only come through Jesus.

John 6:29 (NLT)  Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” 

Romans 10:9-12 (NLT) If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.  As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.

If you want to receive God’s grace all the benefits that God has promised to His children then pray this prayer in all sincerity (only you and God know if you’re really sincere);

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB)8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

Grace is the most important concept in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus Christ himself.

Grace

Merriam-Webster Dictionary 

• a. unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
  
• b. a virtue coming from God
  
• c. a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
  

In my last post “God’s Grace – Part Two”, I identified the forms of God’s Grace.  They were;

•  Common grace - The kindness or favor God give to all mankind believer or not.
•  Saving grace - The provision of salvation on the cross of
•  Securing grace - The favor of God by which Christians are kept secure in spite of sin.
  
• Sanctifying grace - Sanctifying grace works within the true believer causing them to grow and mature and progress becoming more Christ-like.
  
•  Serving grace - Spiritual Gifts that believers have been given by the Holy Spirit.
  
• Sustaining grace - Grace given at special times of need, especially during adversity or suffering.

The Nature Of God’s Grace

J. I. Packer describes grace this way:
In the New Testament grace means God’s love in action towards men who merited the opposite of love. Grace means God moving heaven and earth to save sinners who could not lift a finger to save themselves. Grace means God sent His only Son to the cross so that we guilty ones might be reconciled to God and received into heaven. To make even the slightest contribution to our salvation is to rule out the possibility of grace. For one thing, any contribution on our part would be exaggerated in our own minds.

God's grace is undeserved

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:7-9 (NKJV)7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Titus 3:4-7 (NKJV)4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

God's saving grace can be received only through Jesus

 It's no secret, it’s available to all men, but only through Jesus.

Ephesians 1:6-7 (NKJV)6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

John 1:17 (NKJV)  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

God's grace has appeared to all men

All God's promises and saving work from the time that He created man have shown His grace   All of his blessings and gifts have been designed to lead men to repentance and salvation.  

Titus 2:11 (NKJV) For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men

Grace is pure it's never a mixture of God's actions and human effort 

Grace is entirely the work of God, man didn't cause it, and it's completely undeserved.  It doesn't matter what we accomplished before salvation even if it was good things, and it really doesn't matter what we do later it's still undeserved..

Romans 4:4-5 (NKJV) Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,

Romans 11:6 (NKJV) And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.

Grace is the sovereign work of God

Since we have no claim on God’s grace and cannot contribute anything to it, then grace must be sovereign.   Grace isn't looking for good men but for condemned, guilty, and helpless men and it will save, sanctify and glorify them.

Some people have a problem with that but again it’s God’s favor and He gives it to whomever He will based on the requirements that He set and they are His requirements not ours.

Romans 9:15-16  (NKJV) For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.  "

Grace is the source of righteousness

While the Law defines righteousness, only grace delivers it. The Law was never intended to be a means of obtaining grace; it was given to demonstrate to men that grace was desperately needed:

Romans 3:19-21 (NKJV)19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Here is something that I read written by Robert L. (Bob) Deffinbaugh in an article on Bible.org
No matter how pious legalism appears on the outside, it dishonors God by revealing a deep-seated distrust of God. Stop and think about it for a minute. Why do men insist upon putting agreements in writing? Why are legal contracts necessary? For only one reason—men are fallible. At best, we tend to forget the things we have committed to do. At worst, we never intended to do them in the first place. A legal contract gives one man a basis for forcing another to do what he has promised.

Do you really believe God is so unreliable that we must create a contract which binds Him? All of the biblical covenants are those which were initiated by God, not man. And most of these covenants are unconditional; that is, they are not conditioned by any action on man’s part, but only on the faithfulness of God Himself. Legalism by its very nature implies that God is so untrustworthy that we must be sure to get it down in contractual form. Far better it is to leave blessings in the hand of the One who is gracious.

Grace is given only to the humble

When Jesus came to the earth, He came to minister to the poor, the suffering, the needy. He came to minister to those who were in need and knew it. When Jesus chose to associate with the needy rather than with the elite of His day, it greatly offended the Jewish religious leaders:

Mark 2:16-17 (NKJV)16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?"17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

James 4:6 (NKJV) But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

Grace can never be an excuse to sin

Just because God has given us grace through Jesus to cover all of our sin past, present, and future it doesn't give us license to sin.  That makes no sense at all.   We died to sin so we can't casually and carelessly continue to sin.  That's inconsistent with our new life in Christ.

Romans 5:20 (NKJV) Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

Romans 6:1-2 (NKJV)1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

1 Peter 2:16 (HCSB) As God’s slaves, ⌊live⌋ as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.

Grace is always in harmony with God’s other attributes

It's possible to misunderstand the grace of God by thinking that grace somehow is granted at the expense of God’s holiness or His justice. Grace doesn't  aside the requirements of justice; it satisfies them. The Christian is no longer guilty before God and need not stand under the condemnation for sin. But somebody has to pay the penalty for sin. For the Christian that person is our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 3:24-26 (NKJV)24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Grace, then, meets the demands of justice and holiness it does not set them aside. Grace is never granted at the expense of any of God’s justice.

Are You Still Guilty?

Have you ever sinned?  If you have then you are guilty of violating God’s prohibition against sin and He says that the penalty is death.  But there is God has given His grace as a gift to all mankind, and that gift is eternal life.  The catch is that it is only available through his Son Jesus Christ.

 Romans 6:23 (NKJV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here’s all you have to do to get this gift of eternal life

Romans 10:9-12 (NKJV) 9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11  For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.

Do you want it?  Then then pray this prayer in all sincerity (only you and God know if you’re really sincere);

“Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.”

If you have just prayed this prayer, in all sincerity, call, text, email, Tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody, leave me a comment here or send me an email with this Link.  Then find a bible believing church and start to fellowship with other believers.  Welcome to the family of God.