Grace of God
The Grace of God can be understood through scripture:
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17 ESV).
The righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22-24 ESV).
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2 ESV).
But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many (Romans 5:15 ESV).
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will 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 ESV).
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.(Romans 5:20-21 ESV).
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7 ESV).
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10 ESV).
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).
Grace of God Discussion
Here are some questions for you to think about with regard to God's grace:
- Is God's grace the source of salvation?
- Does God or you initiate salvation?
- Is grace merited or deserving?
- Is it a favor of God?
- Did God have to reveal himself as Jesus for His grace to be present?
- Did Jesus have to die on the cross?
Of course, the answers are obvious but it helps one understand the love of Christ through His grace. He freely died on the cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day for our salvation. He is an awesome God!
His Grace Enables Obedience to the Gospel
Many people think, primarily because they are taught, that,
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
means they don't have to obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be saved. They think that baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost are works of some kind. Well the person that wrote that scripture, the Apostle Paul, also said:
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).
Paul knew that the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the result of the grace of God. That Jesus died, was buried and rose again (the gospel - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and that by the grace of God, we all are able to obey this gospel. In fact, Paul also said that the result of not obeying the gospel is disastrous:
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
Think about this for a moment and answer these questions:
- Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ remits sins (Acts 2:38), so what work do we do? It is God who remits the sins, not us or the person who baptizes us.
- Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is from God, so what work do we do? Speaking in tongues happens when the Spirit gives utterance, so what work do we do?
I am sure that after you look at these questions in this light you will have an epiphany,
God does this, it is His workmanship - not mine!
From Grace of God to Gospel of Jesus Christ
From Grace of God to Trust in God
From Grace of God to Faith
