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 bygrace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
One of our church’s small groups from our church that I attend weekly is using the study series from the video series “The Chosen” - Season Four on the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. This week session is on the topic of “Grace”. The word “grace” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s dictionary as: (1) Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him. (2) Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin. (3) The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner. (4) A state of reconciliation to God. I’ve heard it said that “Justice” is getting what you deserve. “Mercy is not getting what you deserve. But, “Grace” is getting what you do not deserve. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.
The lesson from our “Chosen” series session is that we are part of a bigger thing that God is doing in His over-arching plan of Salvation. And just like the Believers who came before us, we can resolve to remain steadfast in faith. We can fix our eyes on God’s character and His promises. We can choose to praise Him through the struggles and storms of life based upon who He is instead of how we feel. And our neediness forces us to look to the One who can meet needs. Acts 20:24 says, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Romans 3:20-26 “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” God is gracious and full of grace. It is a fundamental attribute of God that flows out of His nature of love and mercy.
John 1:12-14, 16-17 “But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Whether through Christ’s death, resurrection and the resulting free gift of salvation, or through the conviction of sin that leads to true repentance, or through the ongoing empowering of the saints (those who have been sanctified, made holy; consecrated and set apart for sacred services for the Kingdom of God) to live and act according to their calling. God is always and forever extending His extraordinary grace. In setting your hope on God’s amazing grace, you allow God to work in and through you to change your thoughts and behaviors, making you ready to be utilized by the One who is working to advance His heavenly kingdom until Christ’s returns.
Grace in Christ, Brian
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