“By God’s grace” is possibly the most often repeated words by a believer. But what does it mean? How do we get God’s grace and how will it make a change to us? Let us explore on what the Bible teaches us.
I couldn’t find a better description of grace than the below- “Grace is the opposite of karma, which is all about getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.”- Justin Holcomb. But that exactly is why living a life in Christ is different. We are saved in spite of us. It is not through our human effort but rather His grace that saves us from this wretched human life. The grace of God is the “unmerited favour and mercy” of God. This is the grace that we are saved by with the Lord. 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. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. Romans 11:6. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
So Who receives God’s Grace? It is important to know God had chosen each one of us to him even before we were born. So everyone who truly believes and has faith in him and have surrendered ourselves to his Will, receives his grace. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, Galatians 1:15. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7. 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 5:1-21. Very often when we are suffering or facing challenges we often feel that we have lost his Grace. But that’s far from true. In fact it is in our utmost weakness and vulnerability God steps in. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10
We often don’t realise that what we are today, in whatever shape or form is due to his grace. It is not our skills, our intelligence, our might, our strength – it is His will and Grace. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Galatians 2:21
So what really does Grace do for you or to you? The other meaning of the word grace, is that the grace of God is referring to the divine life, power, and ability of God flowing and operating through us. A person blessed by the grace of God is like a light that shines for others to follow. Through his Grace, God gives us literally ‘everything”. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9. But it is important for us to realise what that “Richness” truly is. I guess it has to be Spiritually rich for without that all other human richness has no value.
The work of grace is not merely demonstrated in earthly things that we achieve, although that is easy to believe and tangible to feel. So we often just relate the work of grace to “human definition of success”. The true impact of the grace of God is in the eternal Forgiveness and Salvation that it brings. The peace and healing that it delivers to us as individuals or families or society at large. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7. And when Jesus pours his grace on us it is with an expectation that we will multiply that many times through the intercession of the Holy Spirit in dwelling in us. May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2. So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:7
Grace gives you the strength and the power to fight evil. For God loves us so much and wills for us to be more like him on a daily basis. And through this grace he empowers and guides us in that direction. For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works- Titus 2:11-14. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved- Ephesians 2:1-22. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry-Colossians 3:1-25
It is hard but not to change when filled with God’s grace. To be saved of our sins past, present and future is only the start to the journey. He did that on the Cross for us. But when he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us he gave the nourishment of His Grace. This is what keeps us going. His grace fills our hearts with love, kindness and compassion. We are transformed into a new self, into his children. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, John 1:12. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. Hebrews 13:9. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. 2 Corinthians 8:7
How do you get God’s grace? Is God’s grace limited or only transient? Grace is given, given freely, but can never be earned. It is through faith and not deeds one receives the Grace of God. Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 2 Timothy 1:9. 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. The Grace we receive comes from the sacrificial love of God. From the Lamb that was sacrificed to set this world free. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16. And the grace he poured from the Cross has not stopped. He keeps giving. And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16
And as long as we believe and have faith in him his Grace will last. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; Lamentations 3:22
