God’s Gift of Grace

  

Ephesians 2:4-8 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”

 

The late, Pastor D. James Kennedy once wrote: The more I reflect upon it, the more convinced I am that we can encapsulate the whole essence of the Christian gospel in one single word—grace. What is this “amazing grace”? I have asked many people, and I have yet to meet an unconverted person who understands the concept. Only those who have experienced God’s grace know what it is, and yet many still don’t have words to describe it. Grace is beyond comprehension; it is, I am sure, the greatest thing in all the world. God alone by His grace alone through Christ alone justifies sinners, Sola Gratia (Grace alone) - Salvation is the free gift of God to man. It is given by God’s Grace alone and not through any merit on the part of the Christian.

 

So, what is grace? Grace is not justice (getting what we deserve), because it is above fair. The wages of sin is death; that’s fair. Grace is infinitely higher, more exalted, and more noble than fairness could ever be. Grace isn’t the same as love. Even though grace has love within it, not all love has grace in it. Is grace not the same as mercy? Mercy is not getting what we deserve, but grace is getting what we do not deserve. 

 

Now, we’re getting closer to the target. But grace still goes beyond extending love to someone who does not deserve it. Grace is the free, unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits mankind receive from Him. Grace is totally unmerited favor given to those who deserve disfavor. Grace is receiving everything good when we deserve everything bad. Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). This gift is offered to all, but not accepted and taken by all. God will save anyone, but not everyone. Without the right to choose, human beings would not bear God’s image. God’s gift of grace through Jesus Christ must be chosen to receive, accept and opened in faith.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

Pastor Kennedy explains that we will never appreciate grace until we see our need for it. When we see ourselves as sinners/rebels against God, as willful breakers of His laws, as capable of all manner of evil in thought, word and deed … when we know that our hearts hold depravity and inequity … when we see ourselves as sinners in the deepest, darkest parts of our being. Then we will begin to appreciate the meaning of grace. GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. 

 

When the God of all grace freely and willingly forgives and accepts us on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done, then we experience grace. And after experiencing it, we want to share it freely with others, because “grace saves”. If you were a beggar and found an endless supply of bread, wouldn’t you share it with your fellow beggars who is starving to death? That picture gives us just a small glimpse of what it’s like when we share God’s amazing grace with others; it’s the Gospel truth to forgiveness and salvation. Can you share God’s grace with someone today?

 

Soli Deo Gloria