What is GRACE?
It seems like a simple question, but the answer has a lot of different angles to it.
“The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.
“Grace” is one of the most important concepts in the Bible, Christianity, and the world. It is most clearly expressed in the promises of God revealed in Scripture and embodied in Christ Jesus.
Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely, the peace of God given to the restless, the unmerited favor of God.
Grace can be defined in Christian terms as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us, even though we fall short of living righteously.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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 5:1-2)
There are many different types of grace in the Bible.
1) Common grace is the grace that is freely given to all of humanity, whether we acknowledge God or not.
2) Prevenient Grace: This grace prepares our hearts and minds to hear and receive the Word!
3) Saving Grace: This is the fact that Jesus Christ came to Earth and died for us.
4) Sanctifying Grace: This grace makes us Heaven worthy. This grace clothes us with the righteousness of Christ Jesus
5) Adopting Grace: Adopting grace is the beautiful moment when we became a part of God’s family. This grace transforms our motives for living for God.
6) Provisional Grace: This grace is a transformation in our understanding of material possessions.
7) Enabling Grace: Enabling grace is the spiritual gift of grace that allows us to do things we thought we couldn’t! It is the physical manifestation of our spiritual gifts!
Through the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to do the works of God!
[ The grace of God is huge ]
[ The grace of God is Large ]
Grace of God is the basis for
1) Our Christian identity: 1 Corinthians 1:10 “By the grace of God I am what I am.”
2) Our standing before God: “this grace in which we stand.” (Romans 5:2)
3) Our living: 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)
4) Our holiness: God“called us to a holy calling … because of his own purpose and grace.” (2 Timothy 2:9)
5) Our strength for living: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Jesus Christ” (2
6) Our way of speaking: “Let your speech always be gracious.” (Colossians 4:6)
7) Our sufficiency: “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 2:9). “
8) Our response to difficulty and suffering: We get “grace to help in time of need,” (Hebrews 4:16)
9) Our future: God and His grace, is everlasting. “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:13)
10) Our hope beyond death: “grace [reigns] through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:21)
The gospel is all about God’s grace through Jesus Christ. That’s why Paul calls it “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24)
Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, which result in judgment.
Judgment kills.
Grace makes us alive. @Farayola Praise: Farayola Praise is an analog design engineer who is trying to grow once again his once-loved passion for writing. When he is not designing integrated circuits (Chips), he is either writing codes (python), designing graphics, or spending time with God and Family. He is blessed with a lovely wife and a wonderful daughter. (farayolapraise@gmail.com) (9/22/2024)