Grace

GRACE

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:2

Purpose of this Study: That as Colossians 1:6 says, we may know the grace of God in truth. That we may understand: what grace is, the expressions of grace, the source of grace, how to access grace, how to grow in grace, and the appropriate response to grace; so that we [as Christ the Body] can be a people who [like Christ the Head] are full of grace and truth—John 1:14. As we go through this study, let us always ask ourselves: What does it mean to be full of grace?

What is Grace?

• The word grace, as translated in the New Testament scriptures, is from the Greek word “Charis” which means grace, favour, good will, loving-kindness, gifts, benefits and such like.
• In other words, grace is an umbrella term to describe all the divine benevolent to man, it is a divine influence upon the willing and the yielding heart of believers, helping him/her to be God-like.
• John 1:14-17 refers, the man Jesus Christ is the embodiment and expression of all the divine benevolent, though we are undeserving of the least of this divine benevolent, but through the merit of Jesus we are made partakers. Yes, it is to be enjoyed freely by all, but not cheaply earned for us.
• 1Timothy 2:5 says : “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;”. The word “mediator” includes the meaning: medium of communication. Thus, in the context of God’s grace, the Lord Jesus is the medium through whom God communicates all expressions of His grace to us.
•  As such, the Lord Jesus can be referred to as the person of Grace. His presence (by the holy spirit and by the word) with a person makes the grace of God available to that person. When He manifests Himself to a person, the person experiences an expression of God’s grace.
• Furthermore, Romans 5:21 refers to our Lord Jesus as the person of Grace. It says, “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Both sin and grace refer to persons here. Sin refers to satan—he is named according to his influence, which is sin. Grace refers to the Lord Jesus—He is named according to His influence, which is grace. So the passage is saying that as satan, who is sin, reigned over people [by making them rebellious] and thus leading them to death, even so the Lord Jesus Christ, is reigning over people who receive Him [by making them righteous] and thus leading them to eternal life.
• Therefore, grace is not just mercy and forgiveness which some may take as an excuse to continue in sin—Romans 6:1. Rather, grace is the enablement that helps a person to become righteous. Titus 2:11- 12 tells us that the grace of God teaches us to live righteously. And John 1:12 says “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.” Meaning, grace [as expressed through the Lord Jesus] includes power to transform and uplift a person into becoming a son of God, if the person responds appropriately to Him.
• And since Romans 8:14 tells us that it is those that are led by the Spirit of God that are the sons of God, we can understand that the power in grace enables a person to die to their own will and yield in obedience to the Spirit of God.
• So, grace is not passive it is a mighty working force. It is the full package of divine power towards us. It is power to change (Philippians 3:21), power to save to the uttermost those who trust HIM. Grace is all that flows from God to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is the means through which God can reap His glory in our lives. Simply put God sows grace in us and reaps glory for Himself. (Eph. 1:6, Ps 84:11), so please don’t take it in vain or for granted, it’s a divine investment, you will give account (Parable of the talent refers).
• What do you understand about grace?

What are expressions of Grace?

• As mentioned before, grace is the unmerited favour, good will, loving kindness, benefit, etc. of God to us. These favours or benefits are expressed in diverse ways, and all expressions are through the Lord Jesus Christ.
• [1] Grace that saves—Salvation [of spirit, of soul, of body]: Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 2:7-8, Acts 15:11, 1 Peter 1:13. The initial salvation of our spirit spoken of in Ephesians 2:4, the full salvation of our soul spoken of in 1 Peter 1:5, and the full redemption of our body stated in Romans 8:23, are all the work of the grace of God in us through our Lord Jesus Christ. He shed His blood to quicken our spirits to God, and reconcile us to God; The same Jesus coming into the heart of believers in the power and person of the Holy Spirit continues to dispense His grace to strengthen and guide us in the path of salvation for our souls [victory over sin and change of character]; He will continue in the working of His grace in our lives unto the full redemption of our vile bodies to be conformed unto His glorious body. In summary, everything we learnt in the Salvation study—we have been saved, we are being saved, we shall be saved—are all a working of the grace of God in our lives. Why is it important to know that salvation is an expression of the grace of God? How does the grace of God help us to overcome sin and have a change of character?
• [2] Grace that anoints/enable—Spiritual Gifts [anointing for ministry]: Acts 20:32, Romans 12:6-13, Ephesians 3:7-8, Ephesians 4:7-11, 1 Corinthians 12. A spiritual gift is Christ Jesus manifesting an aspect of God’s ability in a person—the aspect of God that God has ordained for the person to inherit. Romans 8:17 says we are heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. Meaning, there is an aspect of God that each of us has as an inheritance, and each of us jointly inherit that aspect with the Lord Jesus who inherits all aspects of God. It is these aspects of God that is our inheritance that Christ works to establish us in. In Ephesians 3:7 Paul says that the gift of the grace of God is given to Him by the effectual working of God’s power in him, to enable him to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. It is called a gift of grace because it is given as an expression of God’s unmerited favour. In other words, the effort God puts to effectually work His ability [as a spiritual gift] into a person is an expression of His grace. How does grace produce spiritual gifts in a person? And why is it important to know this?
•  [3] Grace that provides: 2 Peter 1:2-3. It is the unmerited favour of God that makes Him committed to provide for all things that pertain to life [our spiritual and physical livelihood] and godliness [the enablement we need to be able to live godly].
• [4] Grace to reign in the realm of life (ZOE): Romans 5:17, 21; Rev 5:10; 1Cor 15:25. This is a dimension of grace that is seldom talked about in the church. The body of believers are constituted under Christ as a kingdom of grace. Everyone who has been called to partake of the Grace of God in Christ Jesus is a crowned king, with Jesus being the KING of kings. Dominion is our mandate.

What is the source of Grace?

• The Lord Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17. Verse 16 says: “And of His fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” Grace for grace means grace upon grace, or grace in addition to grace, or continuous supply of grace. He, the Lord Jesus, is the source of God’s grace. He is the Holy Spirit of grace—Hebrews 10:29.
•  However, John 1:1 and Revelation 19:13 tell us that our Lord Jesus is the Word of God. Which means that the Word of God is the source of grace. How?
• Also, 1 Corinthians 15:45 says that the Lord Jesus is a life-giving Spirit. And 2 Corinthians 3:17 says that the Lord [Jesus] is that Spirit, and where He is there is liberty. Which means that the Holy Spirit is the source of grace. Hebrews 10:29 calls Him the Spirit of grace. But how is the Holy Spirit the Source of grace?
• In summary, the source of grace is the Lord Jesus. Seeing Him as the Word of God points us to the revelation of the scriptures as the source of grace, and seeing Him as the Holy Spirit points us to the leadings and enablement of the Holy Spirit as the source of grace.
• How is the revelation of scriptures a source of grace, and how is the Holy Spirit a source of grace?

How do we access and grow in grace?

• Through Faith: Romans 4:16, Romans 5:2, Ephesians 2:8. Mark 9:23—the all things being possible is a manifestation of grace through faith [believing]. Romans 5:2 puts it very clearly. It says we are able to stand because of grace. But our access into the grace is by faith. Above, we understood that the Lord Jesus, through His Word [the revelation of scriptures], and through His Spirit [His leadings and enablement], is the source of grace. Which means that to access grace, we need to have faith in the revealed word of God [Hebrews 4:2] and faith in the leadings and enablement of the Holy Spirit.
• What does this mean—faith in the revealed Word of God and faith in the leadings and enablement of the Holy Spirit?
• What does it mean to grow in grace? Selah.
• Growing in grace simply means gaining access to higher levels of grace. What does higher levels of grace mean? Selah.
• We have learnt that access to grace is by faith in the Lord Jesus through His Word and His Spirit. As such, higher levels of faith are required to gain access to higher levels of grace. Romans 1:17 says the righteousness of God is revealed to an individual from faith to faith. Faith to faith means increasing levels of faith. Grace is a product of the righteousness of God [the rightness of God]. It is in His right nature to be gracious. In Exodus 34:6 God referred to Himself as being merciful and gracious. As such, the grace of God is increasingly revealed as the person ascends from one level of faith to a higher level of faith—faith in the revealed Word of God and faith in the leadings and enablement of the Holy Spirit.
• What does it mean to have a higher level of faith in the revealed Word of God? What does it mean to have a higher level of faith in the leadings and enablement of the Holy Spirit? How do these help to access higher levels of grace?

How should we respond to Grace? Discuss in the light of Hebrews 13:9b

• By making profitable use of it. By diligently making effort to access and grow in grace as discussed above, so that we can yield the fruits of grace in victory over sin, change of character into the resemblance of Christ, and establishment in different spiritual gifts.
• In the context of Grace for salvation [particularly, the ongoing salvation of our souls], Hebrews 12:15 says we should look diligently [within our individual selves, and in the fellowship] to ensure that no one fails out of the grace of God into bitterness, defilement, fornication, profanity, etc.—sin. Such looking to ensure that we are in grace [to ensure that we are appropriately applying grace in our daily living] is the necessary response to Grace [in the context of salvation]. Galatians 2:20-21 adds to this saying we should not frustrate the grace of God through unbelief [lack of the faith of the Son of God].
• In the context of Grace for anointing and spiritual gifts, 1Corinthians 15:10 and 12:7 let us know that the grace of God given to us must not be in vain. But we should labour with it to yield profit to God [presenting every man perfect in Christ—Colossians 1:28]. 1 Peter 4:10 says everyone should be a good steward of the grace of God that they have received. And Ephesians 3:7 shows us that we should yield in obedience to the effectual working God takes us through to make us vessels fit for His gift.

Grace versus Works/Law:

Romans 4:2-8, 9:32, 11:5-6 Gal. 2:16, 3:10, Eph. 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5.

The major hinderance to enjoying the benefit of grace and growing in the ever-abounding gift of grace is the natural tendency for man to always return to the works of the law rather than seeking and waiting on God for more of His grace to get things done. This tendency is because of lack of faith in the willingness of God to show unmerited favour [grace], especially when we feel undeserving or unworthy. This is not to say we ought not to have good works. James 2 clearly explains. But the issue is that our faith must be in God’s grace. And then that faith can have works of obedience. Our faith MUST NOT be in our works, as though God will accept us because of what we have done. Such works are filthy rags in God’s eyes because they do not originate from faith and appreciation of His grace [Isaiah 64:6]. Share examples of when you feel tempted to approach or please God through works rather than faith in His grace. When are works acceptable?

Prayer

• I receive grace for faith.
• I receive grace for holiness.
• I receive grace for obedience to the Holy Spirit.
• I receive grace for prayer.
• I receive grace for maintaining my devotion to God.
• I receive grace for a sound mind.
• I receive grace for the salvation [and full conversion] of my soul.
• I receive grace to be a vessel fit for God’s use.
• I receive grace to labour profitably in ministry.
• I receive grace to grow in grace.
• I receive grace for faith to access more grace.
• I receive grace to live as a son of God.
• Amen.