If you are a regular at church, you’re probably familiar with the phrase, “by his grace”. We mutter and tut about God’s grace when we meet, don’t we? Sadly, we talk about grace (and even fervently sing the classic hymn, Amazing Grace) without really understanding its full import.
However, the Christian faith is based on grace, which has profound implications for how you live and enjoy your life. Have you ever thought about what grace truly means? Do you know how it affects your faith and life?
Here are some things you should know about:
Grace Is God’s Free Gift
Unmerited grace means that God’s kindness is a gift to us – we don’t have to earn it. Grace, as an expression of God’s generosity, changes the way we think about faith.
Here’s what the Bible says about Grace:
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about – ( Ephesians 2:8-9)
All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins – Romans 3:23-24,
Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because of God’s gift of undeserved grace to us – Ephesians 1:7-8
These verses above clearly show grace as one of the fundamental and transformative aspects of Christianity.
Grace Reshapes Our View Of Sin And Salvation.
Did you know that our understanding of grace alters our view of sin and salvation? If we’re saved by grace and salvation is a gift from God, we don’t have to earn God’s favour by following the law or doing good works. This “unmerited” free gift of grace”, then, shifts the salvific focus from human actions to divine grace.
The understanding of “Grace” has played a pivotal role in understanding sin and salvation throughout Christian history. Augustine, Luther, and Wesley, in particular, have provided insights into the nature of grace and its profound implications for faith and life.
Grace Is 100% Free But Not Cheap
Being grace-oriented can be challenging. One problem is that many people think grace means they’re exempt from God’s law (antinomianism). It’s mistakenly thought that Jesus’ followers don’t have to worry about the law because grace covers all sins.
Some people mistake grace for leniency or permissiveness. But if grace allows sin without consequences, it is “cheap grace”. Nothing more. Nothing less.
The balanced view of grace, however, would view it as both God’s free gift and our responsibility to live ethically.
Grace Transforms Everyday Life!
Unmerited grace has a big impact on how we live every day. Ideally, our goal should be to be worthy of the grace we’ve received and show gratitude for it. We can make a big difference in our world through our decisions and actions inspired by God’s grace.
Humility
To start with, Grace is God’s gift. We must recognize that everything good in our lives is a gift from God, not something we’ve earned ourselves. This idea of grace makes us see our successes, talents, and blessings as things
God has generously given us, rather than things we achieved on our own. So, we learn to be thankful and humble.
Love
Secondly, unmerited grace changes the way we relate to people. God’s grace forgives us, so we need to forgive others too. The experience of grace enables us to become more compassionate, kind and patient.
We learn to love more freely and without conditions. We learn to love others not because of what they can do for us, but simply because of God’s love in our hearts.
Witness
Finally, our experience of Grace must also impact our service. By reflecting God’s grace, we become channels of His love and mercy, transforming relationships and communities. Historically, grace has provided a force for such change and continues to inspire the Church for action.
Conclusion
Grace transforms us, compels us to treat others with the same grace we’ve received and encourages us to live lives that reflect God’s generosity. Our journey forward should be filled with gratitude and humility, mindful of this incredible free gift of God.
- Can you recall moments when you recognized the good in your life as gifts from God?
- How has experiencing God’s grace influenced your ability to be kind to others?
- In what ways does your expression of love serve as a testament to the nature of God’s grace?
