Gracious God

This week we are going to speak about God’s grace, which is yet another aspect of his goodness.
Grace is the way God has always dealt with his people, not on the basis of their merit of worthiness or what they deserve (which is punishment) but how He simply deals with people according to their need.

Please turn with me to John 1:14-17:

14 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.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) 

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 

17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

As we read through this passage 3 thoughts come to mind:

●       The God of Grace

●       Our Need for Grace

●       Living by Grace

 God of Grace: (v. 14)

Who God is always affects the way He acts with His creation. The eternal Word became human and lived among us and He is full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
He was the ultimate revelation of who God is; He is the fullest expression of love giving of itself, love pouring itself out, reaching out to people, to all of us, who were far from God and dead spiritually in our relationship to God.

God did not send His Son Jesus to the world to condemn us, but to save us through Him (John 3:16-19). Every action of God toward us involves His grace.
From creation, His providence, His conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment, how He sent His Son to die for our sins, His gift of salvation which He gives freely to us, His forgiveness, mercy, answered prayers, how He equips us with everything we need for life and godliness, and the future He has prepared for all those who have placed their faith in Him. All of this is due to God's grace.

This is why Jesus left the glories of heaven and came to a world that could not save itself.

Our Need for Grace

The world works on the merit system. Exceptional performance earns promotions and raises. Sloppy performance will get you fired. Good works bring rewards. Unfortunately we look at God’s grace the same way. Even though we have been saved by grace, how many times do we fall into the trap of trying to earn God’s favor, love and grace?

That is why Paul had to write to the church in Galatia who had gone back to religious rites and legalism as a way to be accepted by God even though they were saved by grace. They started teaching grace plus works.
This is why Jesus rebuked the church in Ephesus in the book of Revelation because they were doing everything right but they had lost their first love. They were no longer motivated and empowered by God’s love and grace.

God’s grace and favor isn’t something you can earn or achieve by being good.
It’s the gift He lavishes on you the moment you believe in Him at the moment you become God’s son or daughter.

Grace is God’s goodness that comes looking for you. It’s the heart of a shepherd who leaves ninety-nine sheep to rescue the single lamb that strayed away from the flock (Luke 15:1–7).
It’s the love of a Father who runs to welcome His son home who wasted away his entire inheritance and his life on wild parties with fair-weather friends (Luke 15:11 – 32).
It’s a love that calls you into the Kingdom not because there was a spark of good in you but simply because God is love and His grace is an expression of His goodness.

This isn’t merely what God the Father would do; it’s what He did do and will do for anyone who places their faith in Him. Everyone needs grace, but not everyone will receive it for various reasons to their own peril (Luke 5:32).

Only God has the power to save you, the power to keep you, and the power to change you. God’s grace gives us a right standing with Him but it is His transforming, dynamic grace, His empowering Holy Spirit at work in our lives which allows us to live by grace. James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives Grace to the humble - this is the key for the third point.

Living by Grace

God’s grace first saves you and then wants to lavishly provide you with everything you need to live a godly life. God's grace changes us (John 1:16).

When you are saved by grace, you become a member of God’s family and then His grace becomes your schoolmaster who instructs, teaches you according to the truth, and at times must correct and discipline you so you become mature in the faith and able to face the challenges of life (Titus 2:11-14).
His grace and truth provide the power you need every day to say no to temptation.

Why would we need to say no to self? That is where most of our struggles come from. Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If any one of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me (NLT).

God has called us to live sensibly, this means pleasing God rather than pleasing people. God does not give us the grace to live in or tolerate sin but gives us the grace to be delivered from it.
We were created to live righteously and godly, manifesting the right conduct.

What do we do with all the grace God has given to us? We extend it to others in:

Serving (1 Peter 4:10), our conversation (Eph 4:29), our conduct (Eph 4:32), giving  (2 Cor 9:6-8).

When we understand the depth God’s grace towards us (His forgiveness, goodness, mercy) then we can extend it to others. But when we don’t recognize or experience His grace, then roots of bitterness and resentment can easily grow in our lives which becomes evident and has a detrimental effect on us and those around us (Heb 12:15).

We need to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ day after day until His return (2 Peter 3:18). With all that we face every day, known and unknown, we need grace, others around us need grace, and it comes from knowing a gracious God.