Grace is one of the most beautiful and powerful words in the Bible. It is the unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor of God that He shows to us, even though we are sinners and fall short of His glory. Grace is not something that we can earn by our good works or our obedience to the law, but it is a free gift that God gives us through faith in Jesus Christ, who died for our sins and rose again. Grace is the basis of our salvation, our sanctification, and our glorification.
But what does grace mean for us as Christians? How does grace affect our lives and our relationships? How can we grow in grace and share it with others? In this post, we will explore these questions and more, as we look at the meaning, the importance, and the implications of grace.
We will see that grace reveals God’s character, responds to our need, empowers our obedience, and sustains our hope. We will see that grace also requires humility, demands gratitude, fosters generosity, and inspires grace. We will see that grace is not a license for sin, but a motivation for holiness. We will see that grace is not a doctrine to be learned, but a lifestyle to be lived.
My hope for you is that this post will help you to understand and appreciate the grace of God more deeply, and to apply and share the grace of God more widely. Grace is the most amazing and wonderful thing that God has given us, and we should never take it for granted, but always treasure it, celebrate it, and live by it.
The Meaning of Grace
The word grace comes from the Greek word charis, which means “favor, kindness, or blessing.” In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word chen has a similar meaning, and is often translated as “grace” or “favor” in English. The Bible uses the word grace in different ways, but the most common and significant meaning is God’s grace toward us as sinners.
We will see that grace is not a license for sin, but a motivation for holiness. We will see that grace is not a doctrine to be learned, but a lifestyle to be lived.
~ Anchored In Hope
God’s grace is His loving and merciful attitude toward us, His willingness to forgive us and bless us, and His provision of salvation and eternal life for us through Jesus Christ. God’s grace is not based on anything that we have done or can do, but on His own character and His own purpose. God’s grace is not dependent on our performance or our response but on His promise and His faithfulness. God’s grace is not limited by our failures or our weaknesses, but by His power and His sovereignty.
Some aspects of God’s grace that the Bible reveals are:
- Collective grace: This is the grace that God shows to all people, regardless of their faith or their status. Collective grace includes God’s creation, God’s providence, God’s moral law, and God’s restraint of evil. Collective grace is meant to display God’s glory, to testify to God’s existence, and to lead people to repentance (Psalm 19:1-6); (Acts 14:15-17); (Romans 1:18-20); (Romans 2:4).
- Saving grace: This is the grace that God shows to those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Saving grace includes God’s election, God’s calling, God’s justification, God’s adoption, God’s regeneration, God’s indwelling, and God’s sealing. Saving grace is meant to deliver us from sin and death, to reconcile us to God, and to grant us eternal life (Ephesians 1:3-14); (John 3:16); (Romans 8:28-30); (Titus 3:4-7).
- Sanctifying grace: This is the grace that God shows to those who are saved by Jesus Christ and are being transformed into His image. Sanctifying grace includes God’s teaching, God’s correction, God’s discipline, God’s guidance, God’s empowerment, and God’s fruitfulness. Sanctifying grace is meant to conform us to Christ’s likeness, to enable us to obey God’s will, and to equip us for good works (John 15:1-8); (2 Timothy 3:16-17); (Hebrews 12:5-11); (Galatians 5:22-23).
- Glorifying grace: This is the grace that God will show to those who are saved by Jesus Christ and will be glorified with Him. Glorifying grace includes God’s resurrection, God’s rapture, God’s judgment, God’s reward, God’s inheritance, and God’s presence. Glorifying grace is meant to complete our salvation, to fulfill our hope, and to give us the ability delight in God forever (1 Corinthians 15:51-57); (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18); (2 Corinthians 5:10); (Revelation 21:1-4).
The Importance of Grace
Grace is not only the means of our salvation but also the motivation of our Christian life. Grace is what drives us to love God, to serve God, to worship God, and to glorify God. Grace is what compels us to love others, serve others, forgive others, and share the gospel with others. Grace is what enables us to overcome sin, to endure suffering, to grow in holiness, and to hope in glory.
Some of the reasons why grace is so important for us as Christians are:
- Grace reveals God’s character: Grace shows us who God is, what He has done, and what He will do. Grace displays God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s justice, God’s faithfulness, God’s power, and God’s glory. Grace helps us to know God, to trust God, and to praise God. Grace is the essence of God’s nature and the expression of God’s heart.
- Grace responds to our need: Grace meets us where we are, but does not leave us as we are. Grace acknowledges our sinfulness but does not condemn us. Grace offers us forgiveness but does not excuse us. Grace gives us a new identity but does not erase our responsibility. Grace transforms our lives, but does not eliminate our struggles. Grace is the solution to our problem and the answer to our question.
- Grace empowers our obedience: Grace does not abolish the law, but fulfills it. Grace does not promote licentiousness, but holiness. Grace does not encourage laziness, but diligence. Grace does not negate effort but inspires it. Grace does not depend on works but produces them. Grace is not opposed to obedience, but enables it.
- Grace sustains our hope: Grace does not ignore reality but transcends it. Grace does not deny hardship but overcomes it. Grace does not minimize pain but comforts it. Grace does not promise ease, but endurance. Grace does not guarantee success, but faithfulness. Grace is not wishful thinking, but a confident assurance.
The Implications of Grace
Grace is not only a doctrine to be learned, but also a lifestyle to be lived. Grace is not only a gift to be received, but also a duty to be performed. Grace is not only a privilege to be enjoyed, but also a responsibility to be fulfilled. Grace is not only a blessing to be grateful for, but also a challenge to be faithful to.
Some of the implications of grace for us as Christians are:
- Grace requires humility: Grace reminds us that we are not worthy of God’s favor, that we cannot earn God’s favor, and that we do not deserve God’s favor. Grace teaches us to acknowledge our sin, to repent of our sin, and to confess our sin. Grace helps us to depend on God, to submit to God, and to honor God. Grace is not a reason for pride, but for humility.
- Grace demands gratitude: Grace shows us how much God loves us, how much God forgives us, and how much God blesses us. Grace leads us to thank God, to praise God, and to worship God. Grace motivates us to serve God, to obey God, and to glorify God. Grace is not a cause for complacency, but for gratitude. (You might ask demand? God never demands anything from us which is so true, but when you receive Jesus and you realize the sacrifice made you are overwhelmed with gratitude, it is a driving force demanding more of you)
- Grace fosters generosity: Grace reveals to us how much God has given us, how much God has done for us, and how much God has prepared for us. Grace encourages us to give to God, to share with others, and to invest in eternity. Grace challenges us to be generous with our money, our time, our talents, and our gifts. Grace is not an excuse for selfishness, but for generosity.
- Grace inspires grace: Grace demonstrates to us how God treats us, how God relates to us, and how God communicates with us. Grace urges us to treat others with kindness, to relate to others with compassion, and to communicate with others with truth. Grace calls us to forgive others, to serve others, to encourage others, and to witness to others. Grace is not a license for judgment but for grace.
In conclusion, grace is the most precious and powerful gift that God has given us through Jesus Christ. Grace is not only the means of our salvation but also the motivation of our Christian life. Grace reveals God’s character, responds to our need, empowers our obedience, and sustains our hope. Grace is not something that we can take for granted, but something that we should treasure, celebrate, and live by. Amen.
