Have you ever wondered about the concept of grace? It's one of the most significant ideas for Christians, yet it’s often misunderstood. Amid our bustling, demanding lives, God’s grace presents a transformative gift that many of us may not fully comprehend or, perhaps, we take for granted.
Yet, grace is one of the most precious gifts that God bestows upon us. It’s the very foundation of the Christian faith. We are saved, sustained, and sanctified through grace, yet it can remain a challenging concept to grasp.
This post explores grace and its different facets, its impact on our lives, and how to live in the light of this incredible gift from God. Whether you’re new to the concept or want to deepen your understanding, this post aims to remind us of the immeasurable love and mercy we receive daily from our Heavenly Father.
What is Grace?
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionaryonline dictionary defines “grace” as follows: “1 a: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; b: a virtue coming from God; c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance.” That’s a great definition, but it’s as murky and muddy as the water in a pond on a stormy day. The Bible can help us better understand what grace means for Christians.
Grace, in its simplest form, is God's unmerited favor and love extended to all people. Grace is not something we deserve or can earn. Instead, God freely gives it out of His infinite love for us. Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV says, “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.”
Do we deserve God’s grace? No, not one of us does. God sends His grace to all people, but not everyone accepts God’s freely gift of grace. Yet, our Heavenly Father forgives us and sends His blessings, even though we are not blameless before Him.
To receive His grace, we must ask for God’s forgiveness, believe Jesus is God's Son, and believe He came to save us from our sins. As the Scriptures say, all of us have sinned.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2 NKJV
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
Titus 2:11-14 NKJV
God's grace and forgiveness are freely given. No one can earn His grace; it is given out of our Heavenly Father's unconditional love and compassion that He shows toward us, the humans He created. These freely given gifts are made possible by Jesus’ sacrifice and death on the cross and His resurrection and ascension. Grace and forgiveness are made free to all who believe in Christ.
…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NKJV
What if you’ve done terrible things in the past? Can you still be saved by God? The answer is yes. The Scriptures tell us that anyone who confesses their sins, accepts Jesus as their Savior and God's only begotten Son, and wants to be in a relationship with God can be saved through His free gift of grace.
Why is Grace So Important?
…that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7 NKJV
Does receiving God’s grace make us perfect Christians? No, it doesn’t. Some believe that once you are saved, that’s it, and there’s no need to grow or change. They don’t realize that grace is given not only to redeem us but to make us mature in the Spirit. The ultimate goal is to be reconciled with our Father and to work for His kingdom.
Without grace and salvation, we remain dead in our sinful lives. The Bible says, in Romans 6:12-23, “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”
You might say that grace is the heartbeat of the Christian faith. It defines our relationship with God, influences our interactions with others, and shapes our faith journey. Understanding and embracing grace allows us to live in the fullness of God’s love and extend that love to the world around us.
Remember, it’s crucial to understand that grace is a lifelong journey. While the concept of grace is simple, it’s still profound. The gift is free but costly. Grace underpins the entire relationship between God and us.
The Impact of Grace
Grace changes our lives; it redefines our relationship with God and others. Understanding and accepting grace can cause us to:
- Embrace humility: we recognize that our salvation and any good in us are not due to our own merit but to God’s grace.
- Feel gratitude: grace also makes us thankful for the boundless gift of love and grace God has given us.
- Have compassion: through God’s grace, we can extend grace to others, forgiving as we have been forgiven and loving as we have been loved.
- Mature in the Spirit: grace is also the foundation of our spiritual growth. It is through grace that we are sanctified. We learn to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions and learn to live with self-control. Grace helps us develop the character and virtues that reflect Christ’s nature.
God's Grace Saves Us
Grace is central to our belief in God and in receiving His salvation. By accepting His grace through faith, we are redeemed and enter into a relationship with God. This is how grace saves us.
The starting point of our salvation is grace. God initiates the process of salvation, offering us redemption despite our sinfulness. This grace only comes through Jesus Christ. He took our sins upon Himself on the cross, paying the penalty (death) for our sins in full through His sacrifice. Only through belief in Jesus can we be saved and have eternal life.
God freely gives us grace; however, it can only be accepted through faith. We must believe in Jesus Christ and that He is God's only Son, His work on the cross, His resurrection, and His ascension to receive the free gift of salvation. It is our faith in Christ that “activates” the saving power of grace in us and in our lives.
Grace brings justification, too. What does this mean? Grace justifies us before God, declaring us righteous in His sight. Our justification is not based on our own merit or works. It is only based on the righteousness of Christ, which is granted to us through faith.
Remember Romans 3:23-24 NKJV, which says, “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...” Justification brings reconciliation with God and restores the broken relationship caused by sin.
But there’s even more to grace—it also brings transformation. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, grace sanctifies us, allowing us to grow in holiness and become more like Christ. The ongoing transformation is evidence of God’s grace at work in us.
Finally, grace empowers us to live a new life in Christ. It provides the strength and guidance to overcome sin and live according to God’s will. This new life is characterized by relationship with God, guided by His grace.
Concluding Thoughts
Grace is a gift from God that starts, accomplishes, and sustains our salvation. Through Christ's sacrificial love, we are offered grace, which we receive through faith.
Grace justifies us, brings reconciliation with God, transforms us, and empowers us to live a new life in Christ. By understanding grace and how it saves us, we can more fully appreciate God’s depth of love for us and the transformative power of His unmerited favor.
God bless,
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