Two Powerful Truths About Grace

We hear a lot about grace. It is essential to our spiritual well-being. But there are misunderstandings about the nature and, even, the definition of grace.

Grace is God’s unmerited favor. That means God does good things for us that we do not deserve and cannot earn. You can never earn God’s favor. There is not enough goodness in any of us to give us an argument that we deserve all the blessings God gives us.

The Work of Grace

It’s God’s grace that makes salvation, sanctification, daily power and all good things possible.

God’s grace doesn’t stand alone. Frequently it is paired with faith. We must believe in the promises and work of God for it to take effect in our lives. Jesus was full of grace and truth (John 1:14, 17).

Two Powerful Truths

Grace does not excuse disobedience

I have heard people talk about their lives of disobedience very casually as if grace would cover all their sins no matter that they did. When we experience God’s grace in salvation, it brings about a change in our lives. We don’t continue to sin (1 John 3:6, 9) when we have a new life in Christ.

We cannot continue to do what we want to do. Salvation always includes a radical change in who we are, how we think, what we say and what we do. Change into Christlikeness is the fruit of salvation.

Grace does not remove the requirement to obey. Jesus said we must obey all that the commanded. Paul made it clear that obedience is part of our new lives in Christ. He bookends Romans with these statements (emphasis mine):

through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,

Romans 1:5 (ESV)

but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Romans 16:26 (ESV)

Grace empowers obedience

Not only does it save us, but grace is the door to service in the kingdom of God.

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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV)

Notice how grace and faith pave the way for our work in the kingdom.

We never have the power or strength to do what God wants us to do. He gives us that power and strength so we can succeed.

It is God who transforms our desires so that we want to live obedient and fruitful lives.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)

God’s grace isn’t available just to cover our sin, weakness, failures or rebellion but to transform us into the people he wants us to be: holy, powerful, useful kingdom sons, daughters and servants with an eternal purpose.

Get serious

Today, allow God to work in your life so that you are transformed and empowered to carry out his work in and through you.

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