2 Peter 1 says, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness” (vs. 2-3).
You see that the grace of God is more than salvation but also everything we need for life and godliness. The definition of grace could be “God's life, power and righteousness given to us by unmerited favor.” It is through grace that God works effective change in our hearts and lives. Grace gives us a new life which is not condemned by God. Through God's grace we are forgiven, transforming our thinking, resulting in the renewal of our mind and heart. Through grace we live the kind of life that God would like every one of His children to experience.Let’s consider in more detail what the grace of God does in us.
God’s grace saves us.According to Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” It is important to see here that by God's grace we have been saved. It is not by works. Salvation is done strictly on the basis of God's grace. God's gift of grace comes through the cross of Jesus, not our works, the cross makes it all possible.
God’s grace justifies us. According to Romans 3:24, “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” We may be considered to be right by God only because of His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which is available to us because Jesus willingly lay down His life for us, paying the price we deserved for our rebellion against God. Our justification is not something we receive because of good works, but because of the payment Jesus paid for us at the cross when he suffered and died.
God’s grace sanctifies us. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” Indeed, not only are we in right standing with God, but also our right living depends on grace. Sanctification is the process of being set aside, in our case being set aside for the purposes of God. 1 Corinthians 1:30 says, “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.”
God’s grace empowers us to service. God wants us to be so full of His grace in our lives that we can say with Paul: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). The grace of God is not earned by works, but it produces work done in His service. Grace, which is God's life, comes into us and works in us and through us so that we can be all and do all in His service. Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. This means that whatever gifts and abilities God has given us by His grace; we should use them for His glory. God's grace and blessings were not given simply for us to sit in church and feel good. Rather, they were given that we might not only be blessed, but also be a blessing.
In the light of all that has been said, it is clear that it would be difficult to overestimate the importance of God's grace as far as our lives are concerned. Without grace we would not only be useless in God's sight, but we would be lost. There is no work that man can do to make him “good enough for God.”
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 is exercising the gifts that grace provides and spreads the gospel of grace to a hurting and dying world.
Rev. J. Patrick Street is Lead Pastor at Redeemer Church, Marion. Contact him atcoachpatstreet@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter:@CoachPatStreet
Divine grace is a theological term present in many religions. It has been defined as the divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation; and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin.
gives us a new life which is not condemned by God. Through God's grace we are forgiven, transforming our thinking, resulting in the renewal of our mind and heart. Through grace we live the kind of life that God would like every one of His children to experience.
God's grace, as divinely offered gift, does not take away or restrict our freedom; rather, it perfects our freedom by helping us overcome the restricting power of sin, the true obstacle to our freedom. We call the grace of the Holy Spirit that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ the New Law.
It is God acting generously and powerfully, to do for us what we cannot do ourselves. Practically speaking, grace is an energy source that can help us get out of bed in the morning, speak a kind word to a stranger, persevere in a difficult situation, face a fear, or offer compassion to someone who has criticized us.
Finally, grace is not only evident in the help God gives us, but Tripp says that “even pleasure preaches grace.”3 Acts 14:17 affirms this, saying, “He kept constantly doing good things and showing you kindness, and giving you rains from heaven and productive seasons, filling your heart with food and happiness.”
The Lord's grace is sufficient to lift you from death and sin and to endow you with eternal life. It is sufficient to change you, transform you, and perfect you. It is sufficient to enable you to fully realize your divine potential as a son or daughter of God.
It gives us what we don't deserve and cannot earn. The Greek word for grace is also translated as “divine favor” (HELPS Word-studies). It is God's power at work in our lives, empowering us to become who He has called us to be – joint heirs with Christ, new creations, righteous in His sight, and children of God.
The Bible describes at least 5 different categories or expressions of grace: saving grace, sanctifying grace, strengthening grace, sharing grace and serving grace. Let's dig into each of them. Saving grace is the grace God gives to sinners to influence their hearts and turn them to Christ.
The Bible gives an easy, three-word answer for how you 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). God's grace is entirely wrapped up in a person: Jesus.
Forgiveness is essential to living a grace-full. God extends his grace to us, and he expects us to extend that grace to others. When you live your life full of bitterness and unresolved anger, that life is full of stress. People must be constantly watched for the harm you know they will do.
Common grace, as an expression of the goodness of God, is every favor, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God; this includes the delay of wrath, the mitigation of our sin-natures, natural events that lead to prosperity, and all gifts that human use and enjoy ...
Likewise, Paul's statement to the Ephesians “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8) is frequently misunderstood. That salvation is a gift of God—and thus a manifestation of His grace—has already been demonstrated.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
Common grace is what God provides to everyone, even to the unbelievers. Common grace maintains the whole of creation, and every breath that anyone takes is due to it. God still loves His creation and, “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5: 44-45).
Grace is the power that God willingly gives us to help us do what we could never do on our own when God said to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you," He was giving Paul His power to be set free from the thorn that was buffeting him. However, Paul had to understand how to use God's grace in order to be set free.
The means by which God grants grace are many. They include the entirety of revealed truth, the sacraments and the hierarchical ministry. Among the principal means of grace are the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), prayers and good works.
Grace can be defined as “unwarranted favor” or receiving something you do not deserve. When the Scriptures talk about us “being saved by grace” it means that we do not deserve to receive God's favor in Jesus Christ and have forgiveness for our sin.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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