Last week we saw that Apostle Paul called the “Good News” the Gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16) and that the Gospel of Christ is “the Gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).
Today, our interest is in understanding the meaning of “GRACE.” Here is the truth: The gospel is all about “God’s grace through Jesus Christ.” That’s why Mark calls it “the gospel of Jesus Christ” Mark 1:1 says, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Mark also calls it “the gospel of the Kingdom of God” Mark 1:14 says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God” – the Gospel of Repentance.
Paul calls it “the gospel of the grace of God.” Apostle Paul said, “…I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
Paul also calls it “the word of His grace” “Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the Word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3).
“The Word of His grace” is proclaimed from every page of the Bible and ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ.
Through Jesus Christ, “we have all received grace upon grace” (Jn. 1:16). NLT puts it this way, “From His abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.”
The last verse of the Bible summarizes the message from Genesis to Revelation: “The grace of the (our) Lord Jesus Christ be with all” (Rev. 22:21).
What then is grace?
1. Grace is God’s life, power and righteousness given to humanity by unmerited favour.
2. Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely, the peace of God given to the restless, the unmerited favor of God.
3. Grace is mercy when we don’t expect it or deserve it.
4. Grace is the kindness that is freely given by God the Father to humanity.
5. Grace is the gift of God by which He extends mercy, loving-kindness, and salvation to humanity.
6. Grace is “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.”
7. Grace is "unmerited divine assistance granted to humans for their regeneration and sanctification."
8. “Grace is unconditional love toward a person who does not deserve it”
9. Grace is the opposite of karma, which is about getting what you deserve.
10. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve and not getting what you do deserve.
11. Grace is power beyond your ability. Trials may come but they don’t have the power to succeed in your life because of grace.
We don’t have to do anything to earn salvation. In fact, we can’t earn it or buy it. We simply accept it by believing that Jesus, God’s Son, died for our sins so we wouldn’t have to.
God’s ultimate act of grace is an example of how we are to extend grace to others. We are to be quick to forgive, hasty in extending kindness, generous in love - even when others don’t deserve it.
God's grace enables Him to confront human indifference and rebellion with His unlimited capacity to forgive and to bless.
The doctrine of divine grace underlies the thought of both the Old Testament and New Testament. The Old Testament merely anticipates and prepares for the full expression of grace that is revealed in the New Testament.
It is through grace that God works effective changes in our hearts and lives. Grace gives us a new life which is not condemned by God.
Finally, God's grace manifested in Jesus Christ makes it possible for God to cause believers to reflect His grace in their character and relationships.
The condition for receiving God's grace is humility (Jam. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). The essential meaning of grace in the Bible refers to the nature of God's character to exercise goodwill toward His creatures.
This nature finds its supreme expression in Jesus Christ.
By its very definition, this grace is fully accessible to all humans with no other condition than a desire to repent and receive it (Tit. 2:11-12).
Here is the truth: In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us, even though we fall short of living righteously.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23).
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1-2).
Jesus said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9).
Jesus said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Cor. 12:9).
Christians live every day by the grace of God.
We receive forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace, and grace drives our sanctification.
Titus 2:11 us, “…the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives.”
Spiritual growth doesn’t happen overnight.
We “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 2:18). Grace transforms our desires, motivations, and behavior. In fact, God’s grace grounds and empowers everything in the life of a Christian.
We ought to know that grace is the basis for:
1. Our Christian identity: “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 1:10).
2. Our standing before God: “this grace in which we stand” (Rom. 5:2).
3. Our behavior: “We behaved in the world … by the grace of God” (2 Cor. 2:12).
4. Our living: those who receive “the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ,” (Rom. 5:17) by the “grace of life.” (1 Pet. 1:7).
5. Our holiness: God “called us to a holy calling … because of His own purpose and grace” (2 Tim. 2:9).
6. Our strength for living: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:1), for “it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace” (Heb. 13:9).
7. Our way of speaking: “Let your speech always be gracious” (Col. 4:6).
8. Our serving: “…serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (1 Pet.1:10).
9. Our sufficiency: “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Cor. 2:9). “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Cor. 2:8).
10. Our response to difficulty and suffering: We get “grace to help in time of need,” (Heb. 4:16) and when “you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace...will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Pet. 1:10).
11. Our participation in God’s mission: As recipients of grace, we are privileged to serve as agents of grace. Believers receive grace (Acts 11:23), are encouraged to continue in grace (Acts 13:43), and are called to testify to the grace of God (Acts 20:24). Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” (Jn. 20:21). God’s mission is to the entire world.
12. Our future: God and His grace, is everlasting. “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13).
13. Our hope beyond death: “Grace [reigns] through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21).
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit.
- Your friend, I. I. Madubunyi
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