God’s Grace
Definition of Grace
- The unmerited favor of God.
- Grace is an attribute of God, that is something which God is and which
cannot be removed from God. Grace was always in the heart of God,
and there isn’t any more grace now than there ever was, and there will
never be any more grace than there is now. It means that Grace is the
way God has always operated and always will.
Mercy vis-a-vis Grace
- Mercy is God’s goodness confronting human guilt, whereas Grace is
god’s goodness confronting human demerit. (Demerit means opposite
of merit)
- Mercy is when God doesn’t give us what we deserve (punishment) or It
is God not punishing us as our sins deserve; Whereas Grace is when
God gives us what we don’t deserve (blessing). It is blessing us
despite the fact that we do not deserve it.
- God’s justice declares the sinner guilty, but mercy holds back the
judgment we deserve. God’s justice declares us unworthy of the lease
of His favors, but Grace is that in God which brings into favor one justly
in disfavor.
- Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to
the unworthy.
- Mercy and Grace are best illustrated in the salvation that is available
through Jesus Christ. We deserve judgment, but if we receive Jesus
Christ as savior, we receive mercy from God and we are delivered
from judgment. Instead of judgment, we receive by grace salvation,
forgiveness of sins, abundant life and an eternity in Heaven. Because
of the mercy and grace of God, our response should be to fall on our
knees and worship and thanksgiving.
- Grace goes beyond mercy. Mercy gave the prodigal son a second
chance. Grace threw him a party. Mercy prompted the Good Samaritan
to bandage the wounds of the victim. Grace prompted him to leave his
credit card as payment for the victim's care. Mercy forgave the thief on
the cross. Grace escorted him into paradise. Mercy pardons us. Grace
gave us eternal life.
God’s graciousness
- God is always good and gracious to all people everywhere at all times.
There is no meanness, resentment or hardness in God.
- Read Essay about God is easy to live with. – It’s a message every
Christian ought to be reminded occasionally. A portion of which reads:
-
- “It is most important to our spirit welfare that we hold in our minds
always a right conception of God. If we think of Him as cold and
exacting we shall find it impossible to love Him, and our lives will be
ridden with servile fear. If again, we hold Him to be kind and
understanding our whole inner life will mirror that idea. The truth is that
God is the most winsome of all beings and His service one of
unspeakable pleasure. He is all love and those who trust Him need
never know anything but that love. He is just indeed, and He will not
condone sin; but through the blood of the everlasting covenant He is
able to act toward us exactly as if we had never sinned. Toward the
trusting sons of men His mercy will always triumph over justice.
- It is true that judgment will still fall on those who repent, yet there will
still be grace.
- Grace is immeasurable like all of God’s attributes. If we want to see
how great God’s grace is, we should measure it against our sin
(Romans 5:20- But where sin abounded, grace did much more
abound) – No matter how much we have sinned, grace abounds to us.
Hence we should be immensely overwhelmed by God’s grace to us.
Question: Does this changes your view of God. Does it affect the way
you relate to God?
How to look at grace
- To know God’s immeasurable grace, we must step under the
shadow of the cross. John 14:6 and Acts 4:12
Benefits of relying on grace
- Grace is not simply connected to our salvation. But grace is about
much more than just how we come to Christ. Our entire Christian walk
must be fueled by the grace of God.
- We can do nothing in him or for him that doesn’t ultimately come from
his grace. The Bible says, “For God is working in you, giving you the
desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT,
second edition).
Grace brings 10 great benefits to our lives:
We’re saved by grace. The only way to Heaven is through
the doorway of grace. You can’t earn it. You can’t work for it.
You can’t buy it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We’re forgiven by grace. Though we don’t deserve it, God
wipes our slate clean by his grace (Isaiah 43:25).
We’re sustained by grace. God will never ask you to do
anything he doesn’t give you the ability and the power to do.
That power and ability is called grace (Philippians 2:13).
We’re healed by grace. God heals our broken hearts and
binds up our wounds even though we don’t deserve it (Psalm
147:3).
We’re liberated by grace. Our relationship with Jesus isn’t a
bunch of chores to do. Instead it’s about resting in what the Lord
has already done. If your Christian life is not a life of resting in
Christ, you’re moving into legalism (Matthew 11:28-30).
We’re given talents by grace. God has given each of us the
ability to do something well, and we’re to use those abilities for
him (Romans 12:6).
We’re used by grace. God uses us to fulfill his purposes in
this world, not because of anything we’ve done but simply
through his grace (Ephesians 3:7).
We’re kept saved by grace. We cannot lose our salvation
because it’s a gift of God. If you could earn it, then you could
lose it the moment you stopped earning it (Jude 1:24).
We’re transformed by grace. Through his grace, God makes
us new through the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).
We’re matured by grace. God’s work of making us more like
Jesus happens not because we’ve earned it or by our own effort
but by the grace of God (2 Peter 3:18).
Talk It Over
Which of the 10 benefits above do you find the most difficult to
accept? Why?
How can you take one of the benefits of grace mentioned
above and help someone else understand and apply it in his or
her life?
What does knowing the benefits of grace give you the
confidence to do or change in your life?
How to Receive Grace
“For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness
came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17 NLT, second edition)
In yesterday’s devotional we looked at the 10 great benefits of God’s grace in our
lives. As you read those benefits, you may have wondered how you can receive
that grace in your life. It would be tragic to discover all God wants to do in your
life through his grace yet never accept it in your life.
So how do you receive the grace of God in your life?
There isn’t a 23-part answer to the question. You don’t need to go to seminary to
discover it.
The Bible gives an easy, three-word answer for how you can receive the grace
of God: by trusting Christ.
The Bible says in John 1:17, “For the law was given through Moses, but God’s
unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ” (NLT, second edition).
God’s grace is entirely wrapped up in a person: Jesus. You can’t get it through
religion or ritual. You can’t get it by following the rules.
You get it through Jesus.
God’s grace is free. You simply need to accept it.
But let me be very clear: God’s grace is not cheap. It cost Jesus his life. Grace is
the most expensive commodity there is. Jesus died on the cross to pay for it.
Jesus’ death on the cross accomplished three things in our lives:
It paid the penalty for [Link] had to pay for the penalty for our sin.
If you have a relationship with Jesus, he has taken care of your penalty.
It broke the power of sin. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us the power
to change the habits, hurts, and hangups that derail our lives.
The presence of sin will be obliterated. One day all who follow Jesus
will go to Heaven, where there won’t be any sin.
The costly grace God offers will change everything about your life.
You just have to accept it!
Talk It Over
What can you say to God today to thank him for his grace?
If the grace of God is relatively easy to understand and its benefits so
amazing, why do you think most people never accept it?
How can you share the message of God’s grace with a friend or family
member this week?
