Grace

“we have all received grace upon grace” John 1:16 

To Christianity, Grace is probably one of the most important concepts you can find. However we must be careful not to fall into the trap of taking God’s grace to another level and it turns into extreme grace like some Christians are living in. Where you can live anyway you want because God grace is abounding. The Bible tells us that we must work out our salvation with fear and trembling so extreme grace gets knocked out in that case.

A commonly used acronym is God’s Riches at Christ’s expense. Right through the Bible Grace is reflected in God’s promises to us and in Jesus Himself who was the very embodiment of Grace. For me personally I find and have been touched by grace because I felt unloved and unwanted rejected and cast aside and it was the grace and love of God that changed who I am and what I have become. According to the world and family and church I never merited favour in any way shape or form however God’s grace began to work on my behalf. Today I am loved and secure and seen His favour on my life like never before.

Grace is God reaching out His hand to those who hate him and rebel against Him.

Rev. John Stott said  “Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.”

Grace is also unconditional love to someone who may not deserve it at all.

When I was a Buddhist I was told I will get what I deserved but Grace is the opposite to that Karma. Jesus took it upon Himself so I can be free even though I may have sinned.

Grace is about the goodnesss and love of God towards us so we can live every day by His grace. I don’t have do anything in order to merit His favour. It’s just as if I have not sinned.

We receive forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace. Paul tells us, For the [remarkable, undeserved] grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to reject ungodliness and worldly (immoral) desires, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives [lives with a purpose that reflect spiritual maturity] in this present age, awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,  who [willingly] gave Himself [to be crucified] on our behalf to redeem us and purchase our freedom from all wickedness, and to purify for Himself a chosen and very special people to be His own possession, who are enthusiastic for doing what is good. Titus 2:11 amp

When we begin to grow  and mature in our spiritual life grace transforms our desire and motivates even our behavior. It’s funny but where sin abounds Grace abounds more it says in the Bible.

Therefore Grace is the measuring stick for:

1. Our Christian identity: “By the grace of God I am who I am.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10
   
2. Our standing before God: “this grace in which we stand.” – Romans 5:2
   
3. Our behavior: “We behaved in the world … by the grace of God.” – 2 Corinthians 2:12
   
4. Our day to day lifestyle: those who receive “the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ,” – Romans 5:17 by the “grace of life.” 1 Peter 1:7
   
5. Our holy calling: God“ called us to a holy calling … because of his own purpose and grace.” – 2 Timothy 2:9 
   
6. Our strength: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ” – 2 Timothy 2:1  for “it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace.” – Hebrews 13:9
   
7. Our speech: “Let your speech always be gracious.” – Colossians 4:6
   
8. Our service: “serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” – 1 Peter 1:10 
   
9. Our all sufficiency: “My grace is sufficient for you.” – 2 Corinthians 2:8-9 “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.”
   
10. Our response to trials and suffering: We get “grace to help in time of need,” – Hebrews 4:16 and when “you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace…will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”- 1 Peter 1:10
    
11. Our continuance 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” – John 20:21. God’s mission is to the entire world.
    
12. Our eternity: 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 Pter 1:13
    
13. Our hope beyond death: “grace [reigns] through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”- Romans 5:21

The gospel is all about God’s grace through Jesus Christ operating in our lives all the time. That’s why Paul calls it “the gospel of the grace of God” – Acts 20:24  and “the word of his grace” – Acts 14:3

Every time Paul wrote to a church in any of his Epistles you see him starting or ending with the word grace. He was one man who knew what the grace of God was because he experienced it operating in his life on a daily basis. If we take time to meditate on God’s grace our lives will be the better for it.

The last verse of the Bible summarizes the message from Genesis to Revelation: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all” – Revelation 22:2

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