Biblical Reflections · Christian Life

What is God's grace?

4 min read, approximately

2 Corinthians 12:9
“He has said to me: My grace is enough for you, for my power is perfected in weakness. Therefore I will gladly boast instead in my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest upon me.”

Many people speak of God’s grace… but what is God’s grace?
To understand God’s grace, we must first understand these points, 1, 2, and 3:

1.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

2.

“Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)

And 3.

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)

In a few words… Whenever we sin, we all break the law… and the sentence is death.

Is there anyone who does not sin?

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

Furthermore,

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:10)

Then could none of us be saved?

If we have all sinned and have no one to intercede or justify us before God, then our wages are death. This is where God’s grace comes in:

“for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

How so? It means that

“…God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more, then, now that we have been justified by his blood, we will be saved through him from wrath. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, now reconciled, will we be saved by his life. And not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)

Therefore, God’s grace is God’s gift to us and allows us to be

“…justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God presented as an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his patience he had passed over former sins. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26)

Are there any conditions for receiving God’s grace?

As we have read, it is God’s gift, a gift from him. Yet God’s Word shows 3 requirements:

\1. Being humble

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)

\2. Having faith

“Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace wherein we stand; and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

\3. Being forgiven

“having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved: in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:5-7)

This third point is a matter of decision, because if we repent and

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

God’s grace is absolutely necessary for salvation!
But be careful not to misunderstand it…

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)

Do we now understand why the Lord said

“…My grace is enough for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)?

Do we long for God’s grace?

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May God continue to bless you, and may you keep enjoying an excellent day in Christ Jesus!