WHAT IS GRACE
As common as the word grace is, most people do not really grasp the depth of what it really means. Despite being one of the most frequently mentioned words in Christianity, many of us miss the profound essence of what grace really means. Grace is such a beautiful word. It’s a testament of God's wonderful nature. It's not just a Sunday school word; it's the very core of who God is. Commonly, grace is described as "God's favor toward the unworthy" or "His benevolence on the undeserving." But what does that truly entail? Let's explore together the transformative power and beauty of God's grace.
To really understand grace, we need to look at our state without Christ. We're born in sin, as David acknowledges,
"Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (Psalm 51:5).
We've all broken God’s laws,
"For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one'" (Romans 3:9-12).
And we were enemies of God,
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life" (Romans 5:6, 10).
The Bible states that our end was death,
"For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23a).
We were spiritually deprived, blind, unclean, and dead, with our souls charged with everlasting punishment.
Then comes grace. God, in His mercies, showed favour to us. Paul tells us,
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We did not do anything to earn the mercies of God, that he can save us, but in His love and grace, he sent his son Jesus for the redemption of our sins. This shows us that grace is the essence of the entire gospel. Jesus Christ personifies grace,
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
In Acts 20:24 the Bible states
"But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God".
Without the grace of God, the gospel does not exist.
Grace empowers us to live in victory over sin, teaching and transforming us from within. As Titus 2:11-12 explains,
"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."
This grace not only saves us but also equips us to reject sin and embrace a life of righteousness. It is only through Grace that we can reflect God’s holiness in our lives, and be more like Him. "
But remember, God offers us even more grace, when we humble before Him, scripture tells us,
'God resists the proud, but pours out grace on the humble'" (James 4:6).
This grace brings not only eternal encouragement but also profound hope, as we're reminded,
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave us everlasting comfort and hope through grace, be with us" (2 Thessalonians 2:16).
The Bible often describes grace as a "gift," as seen in Ephesians 4:7 :
"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift."
This highlights several profound truths. Unlike a loan, a gift requires no repayment and does not cost the one receiving the gift anything, the person giving the gift incurs all the expenses. For example our salvation cost us nothing but was incredibly costly to Jesus, as described in 2 Corinthians 8:9:
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich."
Again , I Corinthians 6:20 says
'For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.'
And remember, grace is unmerited; it has nothing to do with our own worth, but the mercy of God.
"Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness" (Romans 4:4-5).
Grace does not end at salvation—it continues to flow abundantly through every aspect of our lives. It justifies us, as Romans 3:24 reminds us:
“and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
It grants us access to God, offering redemption and forgiveness, as Ephesians 1:7 explains:
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.”
Grace deepens our intimacy with God, as shown in Exodus 33:17, where the Lord tells Moses,
“You have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
It also disciplines and nurtures us, training us to live godly lives, as described in Titus 2:11-12:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.”
Grace enriches us spiritually, for
“The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22),
and it provides help in every need, Hebrews 4:16 tells us,
"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence."
Think about it - we're approaching a throne defined by grace, where the very nature of the One seated there is to treat us better than we deserve. But there’s more to it: "so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Or, in a more literal sense, "so that we might find mercy and grace for timely assistance." Isn't it amazing? God’s grace isn't just a warm word; it's His heart's desire to shower us with kindness, coupled with His active involvement to provide us help exactly when we need it most.
Grace is constantly at work within us, shaping and empowering us in ways we could never achieve on our own. As Paul beautifully expresses in 1 Corinthians 15:10,
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."
This verse reveals how grace not only transforms us but also fuels our efforts, enabling us to fulfill God's purpose in our lives.
As recipients of grace, we are called to let it flow through us, shaping our lives. Grace should define everything about us, how we treat others as Ephesians 4:32 urges:
"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
It should also be reflected in our leadership, marked by humility and a servant’s heart. As 1 Peter 5:2-3 teaches, leaders are to;
"shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."
Grace, in essence, should be the foundation of how we live and lead.
Grace is the heartbeat of the Christian faith, the reason for our hope, and the call to extend unmerited favor to others. It's not just for our salvation but for our daily walk, our community, and our witness to the world. Grace is God's love in action, a gift that keeps on giving, transforming us from the inside out, for now and for eternity. Remember, as you go about your life, grace is greater than all our sin (Romans 5:20), and it's through this lens that we live, love, and look forward to an eternity where God will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4).
