What is grace?

As a Bible class teacher I get questions from time to time regarding “grace” or the “grace of God.”  For some reason some people see God’s grace as some “mysterious Bible” thing and it’s not so.  It’s not a hard-to-grasp concept, but I do believe it to be misunderstood by many, hence the questions about it.  Let’s spend a few minutes talking about it and, hopefully, if you see it as a “mysterious subject,” it won’t be when we finish.

Actually I can think of one reason that it’s confusing to some and it’s because of the manner that some preachers and teachers present it.  As an example, I have a book on grace written by a preacher who was, supposedly, an acknowledged  “expert” on this subject but his book is written in such a manner that the subject becomes confusing.  At least it does to me, therefore it would probably make it confusing, thus mysterious, to others also.

It really is regrettable that, because of the style or manner in which it’s taught, a subject so wonderful, not to mention important, as God’s grace is misunderstood by many.  So, what I’d like to do is offer you a concise lesson on “grace” and remove any “mystery” that you might have about it.

The reason that I mentioned the importance of God’s grace is because it is simply that which saves us.  We’re not “saved” by “faith,” by “repentance” or “works” because those are things that we do.  Those are actions on our part and we cannot save ourselves.  It is God, “by His grace,” that saves us.  (Rom. 3:24)

You see, each and everything that we can do, such as: faith, repentance, baptism and all our efforts of righteousness (IE: works) are pointless without the “grace of God.”  I can say this because of what I read in Rom. 3:23-24.  It tells us there that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  But, what “justifies” (saves) us is God’s “freely given grace.”  “Freely given” simple tells us that it’s a “gift” from God and not something we’ve merited or earned.”

The definition of “grace” even speaks to that principle as it means “a manifestation of favor.”  Or, as commonly defined in Bible terminology, “unmerited favor.”  It’s “unmerited” because there is nothing we can do on our part that can overcome our sins.  If it weren’t for this “gift of God” despite all our efforts, we’d still be lost.

Let’s look at some brief facts concerning this wonderful “gift” from God.  First off, “God’s grace” is a universal “gift.”  IE: it’s available to every human being through His Son.  A passage that tells us that is found in Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”

Another way of seeing the universality of “grace” is recall the commission given to the church in Matt. 28:19 and Mark 16:15.  “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.”  No, the “grace of God” is not limited to any one group of people but rather, is universally available to everyone.

However, in my second point, although available to all, it is not “unconditional.”  In other words, there are “conditions” set forth as to how we are to reach “God’s grace.”  You remember old Noah from the account given us about the great flood, don’t you?  In Gen. 6:8 it simply says; “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  He was saved from the flood due to the fact that he was in “God’s grace.”

And why was he in “God’s grace?”  Because he was obedient to “ALL God commanded him.”  (Gen. 6:22)   Now here’s something that I don’t want you to misunderstand about “obedience.”  It does not mean that because we’re “obedient” we have “merited” salvation.  But, what it does mean is that we are willing receivers of His favor.  His Grace.

In speaking of “obedience” and what man is required to do in order to be eligible to receive God’s “gift” we need to follow the example set by Noah wherein he followed the design given by God for building the ark which resulted in his salvation. 

The design or plan that ordained by God now that anyone desiring to be “favored” with His “grace” is very simple - obedience to His Son, Jesus Christ.  That plan to be followed is the Gospel of Christ  (John 14:6, Rom. 3:24 and Rom. 5:10-11).  But probably the verse that says it the most succinctly is Rom. 6:23, where we read: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

And this is where the aforementioned evidence of our obedience comes into play.  Our “faith” (Heb. 11:6), our “repentance” (Luke 13:3), “baptism” (Acts 2:38) and our “works” (James 2:14-26) with the understanding that “works” is simply “evidence” of our “faith.”   These things done by us do not “merit” us the “grace of God,” they just qualify us to receive it.

And here’s my third and last point for today’s lesson.  If “God’s grace” is to be of benefit, be profitable to us, then it has to be continued in.  While on his first missionary journey, Paul, speaking to the congregation in Antioch of Pisidia, urged them “to continue in the grace of God” (Acts 13:43) which bears the implication that one can “not continue.”  In 2Cor. 6:1-3 Paul “beseeches” those Christians in Corinth to “receive not the grace of God in vain” and indicates in verse 3 that “offenses” can take one out of “grace.”

Paul even warns the Galatians not to get “entangled” again in the Law of Moses, which he refers to as the “yoke of bondage,” and tells them that if they do so, then “Christ is become of no effect” to them because they “are fallen from grace.”  (Gal. 5:1-4)   This very simply means that if we’ve lost the “grace of God” we’ve severed our relationship with Christ.

And that final thought, brethren, let’s us know how important “God’s grace” is to us.  When we have His “grace,” we have Christ.  Whether we’ve never qualified to receive the “grace of God” or if we fail to “continue” in that “grace,” means that we are not in Christ which in turn means - we’re lost.

Respectfully submitted,

Ron Covey