And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. – Ephesians 2:6-9.
Introduction
Grace is one of the greatest expressions of God’s love towards us. It is His unmerited favour, freely given to those who do not deserve it. We are saved, forgiven and sustained not because of our goodness or what we have achieved, but because of God’s grace.
Grace reminds us that when we could not save ourselves, God made a way for us through Jesus Christ. It is this wonderful gift of grace that gives us hope, transforms our lives and enables us to live for God.
In a world where people are often judged by their failures, achievements and shortcomings, the message of grace is both comforting and challenging. It tells us that we can come to God as we are, but it also calls us to become more like Christ.
So, what exactly is grace? Why is it so central to our Christian faith? And how should the grace we receive from God influence the way we live and relate to others?
Let us take a closer look at this wonderful gift of God.
What Is the Definition of Grace?
Grace is an essential part of God’s character. It is closely related to God’s benevolence, love and mercy. Grace can be variously defined as “God’s favour toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence towards the undeserving.” In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we do not deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously.
Grace is the basis for the Christian faith. We are saved by grace, something we cannot earn but have received freely from God.
A simple way of remembering what grace means is: “Mercy, not merit.”
To fully understand grace, we need to consider who we were without Christ and who we become with Christ. We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and we were guilty of breaking God’s holy laws (Romans 3:9–20, 23; 1 John 1:8–10). We were enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 10; Romans 8:7; Colossians 1:21), deserving of death (Romans 6:23a). We were unrighteous (Romans 3:10) and without means of justifying ourselves (Romans 3:20). Spiritually, we were destitute, blind, unclean and dead. Our souls were in peril of everlasting punishment.
But then came grace. God extended His favour to us.
Grace is what saves us (Ephesians 2:8). Grace is the essence of the gospel (Acts 20:24). Grace gives us victory over sin (James 4:6). Grace gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16).
Paul repeatedly identified grace as the basis of his calling as an apostle (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2, 7). Jesus Christ is the embodiment of grace, coupled with truth (John 1:14).
Everything that we do outside of God’s grace is worthless. Everything good that comes in us and through us is only by the grace of God. Grace saves us, justifies us, sanctifies us and empowers us for His service. Grace filled living means exercising the gifts that grace provides and spreading the gospel of grace to a hurting and dying world.
Grace is also intended to enable us to more perfectly keep God’s commandments and pursue a godly walk until we attain the full stature of Christ.
The Attributes of Grace
Grace is not merely something we receive from God. It is also something that should be reflected in the way we live and relate to others.
- Grace is our path to civility, compassion and peaceful relationships.
- Grace is a catalyst for the “greater good” at work, at home and in our communities.
- Grace is a clarion call for the goodness in the world around us, as well as a practical guide to implementing grace in our own lives.
GRACE as an Acronym
GRACE can also be remembered as an acronym representing five attributes:
- G – Generosity: The willingness to do something more for others.
- R – Respect: Recognising the dignity and value of every person and their work.
- A – Action: The willingness to act and become an instrument of positive change.
- C – Compassion: Showing genuine concern for the needs and struggles of others.
- E – Energy: The spirit and enthusiasm that motivates us to make a difference.
These qualities remind us that grace should not remain only an idea that we understand. Grace should become a way of life. Having received grace from God, we are called to demonstrate grace to others through our words, actions, attitudes and relationships.
Receiving Grace
Grace is God giving us something we do not deserve: forgiveness and eternal life. But grace comes through the conduit of faith in Jesus Christ alone.
Grace cannot be earned by getting our lives together first. Jesus did not come for good people; He came for sinners. We must acknowledge our spiritual bankruptcy before we can receive forgiveness for our debt.
We do not come to Christ because we have become worthy. We come because He is gracious.
Receiving Jesus means receiving grace.
When we receive His grace, we receive forgiveness for our sins, reconciliation with God, new life and the hope of eternity. Grace gives us a new beginning and reminds us that our past does not have to determine our future.
The grace of God is therefore not merely about what God has done for us in the past. It is also about what He continues to do in us and through us every day. His grace sustains us when we are weak, strengthens us when we are discouraged, corrects us when we go astray and empowers us to fulfil His purposes.
May we never take the grace of God for granted. May we recognise that everything we are and everything we have is ultimately a testimony of His grace. And having received His grace so freely, may we also learn to extend grace to others.
To be continued!
Stay Blessed!
Please note: The preaching programme on Sunny 88.7 FM every Tuesday at 5:30 a.m. has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM every Sunday at 5:30 a.m. and YFM 107.9 every Sunday at 6:30 a.m. for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for Hymns and Their Stories.
