What is Grace?

What is Grace?

 

Grace is “unmerited / undeserved favour”.  The word “grace” is found in the King James Version of the bible 170 times.  Clearly, the word plays a significant role in the word of God.  What is the significance of grace in the bible?

 

1.  We Are Saved by Grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV]

 Salvation is a gift from God – no man can work for and achieve salvation through their “goodness” or good works.  All it takes to receive this gift is to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved.   “… 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.” [Romans 10:9 NKJV]

2.  Jesus Replaced the Law (Old Covenant) with Grace (The New Covenant)

“First, Christ said, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings or burnt offerings or other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them’ (though they are required by the law of Moses).  Then he said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will.’ He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.” [Hebrews 10:8-9 NLT]

Through sacrificing Himself for our sins on the cross, Jesus put the old covenant of works (under the law, which includes the Moral Law – the Ten Commandments) to an end.  Today we are not only cleansed of our sins by believing in what Jesus did for us on the cross (instead of relying on works of purifying ourselves before God), but we are set free from the sin-consciousness of the law, that led to even more transgressions of the law (Romans 7:5).  “When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.” [Romans 7:5 NLT]

But, under the new covenant of grace, sin no longer has power over the born-again believer, for we are no longer living under the sin-consciousness brought about by the law but under the power of God’s grace.   “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  [Romans 6:14 NKJV]

“So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  [Romans 5:21 NLT]

“When he [Jesus] died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God.  So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”  [Romans 6:10-11 NLT]

3.  Grace Leads to Godly Living

Romans 2:4 teaches us that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.  We see His goodness most in His grace towards us, leading us to choose Him and His grace instead of living in sin.  We therefore choose to obey Him out of realizing His abundant love for us, not out of fear and guilt.

“Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!  Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you.  Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.” [Romans 6:15-18 NLT]

“But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”  [Romans 6:22-23 NLT]

4.  Grace Is Much More Than the Gift of Salvation

4.1  Receiving His grace empowers us to reign in life

“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.” [Romans 5:17 NKJV]

The promise from this scripture is that those who receive both God’s abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign not only in this life but also in eternity, through Jesus Christ.  This means we have to be conscious that grace is much, much more than just the gift of salvation.

In John 10:10, Jesus said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” [John 10:10 NKJV]  This refers to a fulfilling, overflowing life on earth, both materially and spiritually.

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” [2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV]. This refers to material, not spiritual abundance.

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”  [1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV]

“To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” [Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV]

“But you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once [were] not a people but [are] now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” [1 Peter 2:9-10 NKJV]

These scriptures confirm that God, by His grace, made us kings and priests to reign here in this life on earth through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Not only are we are kings and priests in this world, but we are to reign with Christ on earth in the afterlife. “And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.'” [Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV]

“Blessed and holy [is] he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”  [Revelation 20:6 NKJV]

4.2  Grace to Help in Time of Need

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

4.3  The Generality of Grace

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “ [Exodus 3:14 NKJV]

God revealed Himself to Moses as the great “I AM”.  One who is without equal, One who is self-existing, One with the fullness of life in Himself.  He is the God in whom we find whatever we need. In Him we find manifold grace (1 Peter 4:10):

grace to believe in God’s word – Acts 18:27

grace to grow spiritually – Acts 20:32

grace to share the gospel – Romans 1:5

grace to overcome sin – Romans 5:20-21

grace to do certain things well (gifts) – Romans 12:6; Ephesians 3:7-8

grace to work in partnership with God in doing God’s work – 2 Corinthians 6:1

grace to have abundant resources for good works – 2 Corinthians 9:8

grace that overflows into other’s lives drawing them unto us – 2 Corinthians 9:14

grace to strengthen and sustain us in times of weakness – 2 Corinthians 12:9

grace that gives us everlasting consolation and good hope – 2 Timothy 2:16

grace that gives us strength in the spirit (heart) – Hebrews 13:9

The above are simply examples of the manifold grace of God but not an exhaustive list of what we receive by God’s grace.  We find in the great “I AM” the fullness of all our needs which He gives us freely by His grace.  God has placed no limits to His grace: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV]

5.  What Are We to Make of God’s Grace?

God calls us to grow in His grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ: “I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends. Be on guard so that you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.”  [2 Peter 3:17-18 NLT]

God warns us not to receive His grace in vain.  “As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” [2 Corinthians 6:1-2 NIV]

Therefore, we are to take God’s grace seriously and do our best to grow in it to the fullest extent.

How Do You Receive Christ into Your Life?

If you would like to receive the gift of salvation that God has for you today, make a decision in your own heart that you want to be forgiven of your sins and that you wish to turn your back on a sinful life. Believe in the Kingdom of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ [Mark 1:15]. The Bible says if you confess with your mouth (i.e. actually say it) that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, you will receive salvation [Romans 10:9-10]. Salvation is open to any human being who calls upon the name of the Lord [Romans 10:12-13].

If you want to get saved right now:

First silently read the text in the paragraph below and make sure you understand it. It is a confession prayer you can use to get born again this very moment.

If in your heart you agree with the content of the statement below then, read it again, but this time say it with your mouth out loud as you read it:

“Father, I thank You that you sent Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to take my sins and my punishment.  Lord Jesus, I believe that You died for me and that God raised You from the dead.  Today I confess that You are my Lord and my Saviour.  Father, forgive me of all of my sins.  Thank You Father that today, by Your grace, I am born again, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.”

Did you say the above prayer sincerely to receive Jesus Christ into your life? If so, please click on “yes” below to get guidance on what to do next.