Grace

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” (I Cor. 15:10) 

Introduction

The subject of grace is not only a keyword in Holy Scripture, but it’s what Christianity is all about. All thirteen letters written by the apostle Paul open with the greeting of grace and end with a closure of grace. Everything that is written between the salutation and the benediction of these letters is based on the foundational truth of God’s grace. Salvation is the theme of the Bible, but it’s God’s grace that provides it (Titus 2:11). The word grace contains within itself the whole teaching of God’s Word.  When good is conferred upon someone because it is due, then it’s not grace. Justice gives to every man according to his works, but the “finished” (Jh. 19:30) work of Christ upon the cross grants grace to those who “believe” (Acts 16:31). In and through the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s grace has come to men and is the sum and substance of the Christian faith (I Tim. 4:1,6). Since man is totally depraved, he is totally dependent on God to take the initiative in saving him. Man does not have the ability or the desire within himself to seek salvation.

Our understanding of grace is the key that unlocks our understanding to the door of God’s heart. Apart from grace, one cannot make sense of God or the teachings recorded in His Holy Word. Unfortunately, the topic of grace is being neglected in the modern day church and all that we do is suffering as a result, including our methodology of evangelism. How sad it is that we hear many professing Christians talk about the grace of God, but frustrate and deny it in action. Failure to grasp the true meaning of grace can lead to an ecclesiastical legal system of works. There has never been a time when genuine REFORMATION and REVIVAL was needed in the churches of our land more urgently than today. However, such will not be the case without a renewed awareness of what the grace of God really is. Not until there is a rediscovery of the doctrine of grace will the blessings of God once again fall upon the church.  

The Nature of Grace

Start  The doctrine of grace can be simply defined as God’s undeserved favor or His unmerited love. From the Old Testament Hebrew, grace means favor and from the New Testament Greek, it means good will or loving-kindness. Grace is the free gift of God’s mercy, meaning that the One showing grace is not obligated to do so. There is nothing that man can do to ever be worthy of God’s grace. Man is a totally undeserving recipient of the grace of God.

It is out of God’s mercy that He bestows upon us His grace and love (Eph. 2:4-9). Mercy is a word that means pity, kindness, or good will and it describes why God blesses us with His love and grace. Love and grace are two words that have become virtual synonyms because the concepts behind both are identical. God’s “love” (Rom. 5:5) is as sovereign, efficacious, unconditional, and free as His grace.  In love, God chose “Israel” (Rom. 9:6-8) to be His people, thus making the church the “bride” (Rev. 21:2) of Christ. God’s love for His people is a spontaneous, selective, unevoked, and undeserved love (Deut. 7:6-9, Jh. 3:16). To speak of God’s supernatural love, the Greek word, Agape was invented and is used throughout the New Testament. 

Grace is God moving in goodness to save sinners, entering into “covenant” (Heb. 8:13) with them, and leading them into a personal knowledge of Him. When Adam and Eve failed to keep the covenant of works, God revealed his covenant of grace and promised a coming Redeemer. God’s grace saves us from the consequences of our sin and teaches us about true happiness and eternal joy. Grace is found in the “church” (Eph. 5:25) because it is grace that brought it into being. However, the church is NOT the originator of grace nor does the church control the subjects unto whom it is administered. God alone is the author of grace and He alone freely chooses those who will benefit from his “mercy” (Rom. 9:15,18). Grace is a marvelous wonder that only God in His infinite ability can bestow. Though it is freely given in salvation, it cost God the death of His only begotten Son. Of all the wonders of the world, the wonder of grace is most amazing. It was so amazing to John Newton that it moved him to write the words:

Amazing grace!
How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost,
but now am found,
was blind, but now I see.

T’ws grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believed!

Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home. 

The Riches of Grace

Although a person, in this life, may be financially well off, he is a spiritual pauper if he does not have “the riches of” God’s “grace” (Eph. 1:7, 2:7). The manner in which God computes riches is far different from the way man does it. To be given “the gift of the grace of God” is to possess “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). God’s grace not only involves the bestowal of His favor in the forgiveness of sin, but in the giving of a particular “gift” (Eph. 3:7) enabling one to serve Him, including the spirit of generosity in giving (II Cor. 8:19).  

To know God’s grace is to receive the unsearchable riches of Christ and become a possessor of spiritual wealth. Our redemption cost God the death of Christ in our stead (Rom. 3:24). The “election of grace” (Rom. 11:5) was made “before the world began” (II Tim. 1:9). From the “purpose and grace” of God flows faith to believe the truth (II Thess. 2:13). As a result of our redemption, a believer inherits spiritual riches that are immeasurable. God’s riches cannot be earned nor merited, but only received as a “free gift” (Rom. 5:15-18) of His divine favor (Eph. 2:8-9). Living for the glory of God is to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt. 6:20). The Christian is not only an “heir” (Gal. 4:7) to spiritual riches, but “joint heirs of God with Christ” (Rom. 8:17). This means that all Christ inherits, we too shall inherit. Our future inheritance is a wealth that can only be contributed to the grace of God. 

Living Under Grace

God’s Old Testament economy consisted of a system of “law” that pointed toward the New Testament fulfillment of “grace” (Jh. 1:17). The Old Testament law was never given as a method of salvation, but was intended to guide men in holy living. Its purpose was NOT to supplement one’s faith unto salvation. Law keeping plays NO part in Justification because Justification is by faith alone. To believe otherwise is to “frustrate the grace of God” (Gal. 2:21). Propagating righteousness through works of the law is to fall from grace (Gal. 5:4). This doesn’t teach the loosing of one’s salvation (Jh. 10:28-29, Rom. 8:38-39), but the denial of grace. Those who are truly saved by grace do not trust the works of the law and neither do they assume that they are free to sin because grace abounds (Rom. 6:11-23).

Grace does not abolish the law, but rather establishes it (Matt. 5:17). The Holy Spirit writes God’s law upon our hearts, instructs us from God’s Word, and causes us to examine ourselves in light of it. Rather than falling into a legalistic trap of bondage, we need to see the law as a family code by which to live pleasing to God once we are saved by grace. The one to whom most has been forgiven will love Him the most and show it the most (Lk. 7:40-50). To live “not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14) is a supreme privilege for a Christian. 

The life of grace is a life of freedom in at least three different ways. First, we are free from commending ourselves to God by hopeless law keeping. We are free to fail, which we will all do time and again, and every time we confess and repent, we will find pardon. Countless times, God will discipline us back into submission and for that reason, we ought to be willing to forgive others who sin against us without keeping record of how many times we forgive (Matt. 18:21-2).  Secondly, we are free from the dominion of sin. Only by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, can a believer resist the urging to sin (Rom. 8:13). A born again believer has become a new creature in Christ and has received a new nature that desires to please God and failure to do so brings conviction. Thirdly, we are free from spiritual bondage and fear (Rom. 8:15). Knowing God as our Heavenly Father and having the assurance of a home in heaven takes the fear out of both living and dying. To be a child of God means that we have an inheritance awaiting us and an eternal joy guaranteed. 

Closing

The outpouring of grace is evident in all three Persons of the Godhead (I Pet. 5:10, Acts 15:11, Heb. 10:29). Paul knew from personal experience that God’s grace is sufficient for whatever we face in life (II Cor. 12:9). Regardless of how great our sin, God’s grace is greater (Rom. 5:20b). Another hymn writer captured the meaning of this verse of Scripture when he penned the words: Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide, What can avail to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide; Whiter than snow you may be today. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe; You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive? Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.

All God’s dealings with His people are on the basis of grace. By using the acrostic for grace, we can illustrate and visualize the loving kindness of God toward hell deserving sinners. 

God
Redeeming
At
Christ’s
Expense 

Upon the cross, God’s grace was displayed for all to see so that the unworthy recipients who believe can be given the best that heaven has to offer. God is love (I Jh. 4:8), but when He bestows His love on guilty rebellious sinners, then that love becomes grace. Grace is God showing us love and mercy when all we deserve is wrath and judgment. From the doctrine of grace come forth all the other doctrines upon which a believer must build his life and testimony. Without a correct understanding of grace, we will have an incorrect foundation upon which to establish theology.