GRACE-FORGIVENESS (part-3)
When we think about God’s grace,
we will most likely have this question:
“How does God’s grace affect me?”
Grace is what saves us.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith;
and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
(Ephesians 2:8)
Grace is the heart of the gospel.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim
is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has
given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
(Acts 20:24)
Grace gives us victory over sin.
But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
(James 4:6)
Grace gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope”.
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our
Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us
eternal encouragement and good hope,
(2 Thessalonians 2:16)
Paul repeatedly identified grace as
the reason he was ‘called’ to be an apostle.
Yet I have written you quite boldly on some points to
remind you of them again, because of the grace God
gave me
(Romans 15:15)
By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as
a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But
each one should build with care.
(1 Corinthians 3:10)
Surely you have heard about the administration
of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
(Ephesians 3:2)
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s
grace given me through the working of His power.
(Ephesians 3:7)
Jesus Christ is the living picture of grace (coupled with truth).
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14)
The Bible repeatedly calls grace a “gift” (example – Ephesians 3:7).
This is important because it teaches us some key things about grace.
First of all, anyone who has ever received a gift understands that
a gift is much different than a loan. A loan requires repayment
or return by the recipient. The fact that grace is a gift means that
nothing is owed in return. In addition, a ‘gift’ is not a ‘gift’ until it
has been ‘received’, and ‘receiving’ is our responsibility. If we do
not choose to accept God’s gift, then it is a gift to others, but not
to us.
Secondly, there is no cost to the person who receives a gift. A gift
is free to the recipient, but it is not free to the giver, who bears the
expense. The gift of salvation costs us sinners nothing. But the price
of such an extravagant gift came at a great cost to our Lord Jesus,
who died in our place.
Thirdly, once a gift has been given, ownership of the gift has been
transferred and it is now ours to keep. There is a permanence in a
gift that is not present in loans, or advances. When a gift changes
hands, the giver permanently relinquishes all rights to renege, or
take back the gift in the future. God’s gift of grace is ours forever.
Fourthly, in the giving of a gift, the giver voluntarily forfeits something
he owns. He willingly loses what belongs to him, so that the recipient will
profit from it. In essence, the giver becomes poorer so the recipient will
become richer. This generous and voluntary exchange from the giver to
the recipient is visible in scripture:
“You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though
He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you
through His poverty might become rich.”
(2 Corinthians 8:9)
Question:
When is the last time you have given someone something for no reason
and without expecting anything in return (including a ‘thank you’)?
Note:
It may not even be something material, but just
a word of encouragement, or some act of kindness.
As followers of Jesus, God has transformed (or is
in the process of transforming us) to have the same
kind of ‘selfless’ attitude as our Savior. As He
continues to ‘sanctify’ us, He will replace our
‘selfish’ attitude with a new one that is concerned
about others.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
not looking to your own interests but each of you to
the interests of the others. In your relationships with
one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 2:3-5)
Finally, the Bible teaches that grace is completely unmerited. The
gift and the act of giving, have nothing at all to do with our merit,
or natural abilities. In other words, we cannot do anything to ‘earn’
this incredibly valuable gift from God. It is His gift of love to all who
are willing to become a part of His family.
Now to the one who works, wages are
not credited as a gift but as an obligation.
(Romans 4:4)
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen
by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on
works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
(Romans 11:5–6)
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because
of anything we have done but because of His own purpose
and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before
the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through
the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed
death and has brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel.
(2 Timothy 1:9–10)
Note:
The Bible makes it clear that we don’t deserve God’s salvation.
It also makes us aware of the importance of what Jesus did for
us, which has given us an opportunity to be reconciled to God.
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Since we have now been justified by His blood,
how much more shall we be saved from God’s
wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s
enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the
death of his Son, how much more, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!
(Romans 5:8–10)
(watch for part-4 of the series tomorrow….)
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