The grace of God is the sinner’s only hope – “by grace you have been saved” – there is no other way.
Much has been said and written about grace but who can ever fully understand it? It is truly divine, sourced in the infinite goodness of God. It is a gift from God. We can never earn it, but through this grace we receive forgiveness, acceptance, glorification and part in God’s eternal purposes.
God’s – it is of Him, not of us
Riches – “every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ” plus many more in our earthly life as well
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Christ’s – all of our blessings are “in Him” and because of what He has done
Expense – how deep and unfathomable the cost to our Saviour
God’s grace alone effects the miracle of the transformation of the lost sinner into a favoured son of God.
It is God’s unmerited favour.
Finally, God will be forever glorified by the display of Hs grace to a wondering universe (Eph.1:6).
Grace does not relieve us of responsibility for our actions. Grace “teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ”.
Aiden Tozer wrote that success in the Christian life “requires common sense, hard work and wise co-operation with the law of cause and effect”.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke of “cheap grace” whereby we may mistakenly think to appropriate God’s gift without obedience. He wrote:
“Cheap grace is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate”.[1]
The Apostle Paul says: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!”[2]