WHAT IS THE GRACE OF GOD? (2)

Grace differs from luck. Whilst we are unable to tell the origins of luck, grace comes from God as a special gift for all occasions. Grace is God’s undeserved favour not earned by works but freely from God as part of God’s character to restore blessings, peace and favour against evil. 

It enables us to access God’s unconditional favour irrespective of our circumstances. It comes with no conditions save that we must not waste it whilst it abounds. It is sufficient for every situation.  The bible describes it as a gift because we do nothing to deserve it.  

How does God’s grace work?

God’s grace manifests in many ways and biblical examples are by no means exhaustive. We will refer to some biblical examples as set out in scripture as follows:    

Grace is found in God’s word

Acts 20: 32 says and now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. One way of tapping into God’s grace is by his word which the bible describes as the word of grace. We read, meditate and pray over it.

Grace grants divine justification

Romans 3: 24 says they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. We cannot be justified before God without his grace because we cannot obey every divine law, hence by divine law, we will be found guilty. Grace therefore gives us access to divine favour with God.

Grace intervenes against our sins

Romans 5: 20-21 say law came in, to increase the trespass; but where sin increased, grace abound all the more, so that as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Since we cannot escape sin, God gives us enough grace to mitigate his anger and to grant us our needs to satisfy his plans for us though it terminates upon death.

Grace is not a justification for sin

Romans 6: 1 says are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? Romans 6: 15 says are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! It slows down God’s anger to act swiftly. If God reacts swiftly, not a soul will survive his anger. His grace gives us time to reform but it will end one day when we least expect. 

Grace enables God’s other gifts to us

Romans 12: 6 says having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in the proportion to our faith. It opens the way for us to receive gifts from God which otherwise we do not qualify for. God’s gifts are to be exercised to God’s glory and not to be wasted. Every gift of God to us is for a purpose and we have a responsibility to exercise it by grace though we are undeserving of it.  

Grace perfects our weakness

2 Corinthians 12: 9 says my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Our human nature is fraught with physical and spiritual weaknesses to fight any battle. God therefore has granted us sufficient grace as our enabler to overcome our weaknesses by his perfection. Grace therefore makes us strong whilst we are weak because of Christ Jesus. 

Grace gives us contentment 

1 Corinthians 15: 10 says 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 which is in me. Grace enables us to praise God however we are. It motivates and not discourages us to achieve more to God’s glory. We soar by grace not by works.

Grace keeps the conscience awake

2 Corinthians 1: 12 says for our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience that we have behaved in the world, and still more toward you, with holiness and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God. It saves us from a seared or dead conscience. It makes us differentiate wrongs from right and to choose the right path. Our conscience is our immediate judge and is enabled by God’s grace. 

Grace enables godly humility

2 Corinthians 8: 9 says for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. God’s grace enables us to imitate the humility of Christ Jesus to sacrifice for others so they can also make it in life. The character of God’s grace made Christ Jesus to sacrifice for us to be rich in spirit. We must do likewise for his sake.

Grace grounds our faith in God

Ephesians 2: 8 says for by grace have you been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. We cannot exercise faith without grace which is God’s spirit. Faith does not stand on its own but is supported by grace. Without grace, faith will rely on our own deeds and will fail but because it is a gift from God, our faith cannot fail if it is supported by grace.

Grace enables God’s mercy

Hebrew 4: 16 says let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. In times of need, we need God’s grace to receive his mercy because by our sinful nature there is a barrier to our cry to God. We can also draw near to God without his mercy. In all circumstances, we need God’s grace to reach him. 

Grace overcomes animosity

Hebrews 12: 15 says see to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled; that no one be immoral or irreligious like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. Since anger is a spirit, we can only overcome it with a higher spirit which is God’s grace. Grace works out patience and patience yields forgiveness and forgiveness peace. Grace is God’s policeman against anger. We all need God’s grace in all aspects of life.

Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, please save us spiritually and physically by your grace. Walk with us and lead us by your grace. Strengthen and bless us by your grace. Revive us and give us inner peace by your grace. Nourish our souls and use us by your grace. Let us obey your will by your grace. Establish us in the beauty of your holiness by your grace. In your holy name we pray, Amen!!