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
In my last post “God’s Grace – Part Two”, I identified the forms of God’s Grace. They were;
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.
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 is in control 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.
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.
Stop it! 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.
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.
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.
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