“For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

 

In Christian theology, grace is the supernatural assistance of God bestowed upon a rational being with a view to his sanctification. It denotes the sovereign divine favour shown towards undeserving and ungrateful men simply on account of their need. Hence, it is not the answer to legal claim on God but to faith in Him. (The Oxford Dictionary Of The Christian Church, F.L. Cross p. 586).

 

Grace designates the principle in God of man’s salvation through Jesus Christ. Grace comes free of charge to people who do not deserve it. The notion of God’s love given to us free of charge, with no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. It is God’s unmerited, unconstrained love towards sinners, revealed and operative in Christ. It is God’s way of meeting and conquering man’s sin.

 

In addition the word ‘grace’ is frequently used to express the concept of kindness bestowed upon someone undeserving thereof. Hence undeserved favour bestowed upon sinners through Jesus Christ. Grace is also regarded as the sustaining influence enabling the believer to persevere in the Christian life. Thus it is not merely the initiatory act of God in grace which secures the believers’ eternal salvation, but also that which maintains it throughout the entirety of Christian life. (Zondervan Compact Bible Dictionary, Zondervan p. 205).

 

When Jesus was among men, Jesus saw grace everywhere. Aware of our inbuilt resistance to grace, He communicated grace through the parables in His teachings. His actions in the Bible showed us the abundant grace bestowed upon humanity. Even the last act before His death demonstrated His grace when he told the dying thief that today he will be with Him in paradise. The thief never studied the Bible, never went to church and never made amends to all those he had wronged. He simply asked Jesus to remember him. This is a reminder to us that grace does not depend on what we have done for God but rather what God has done and will do for us.

 

Indeed, the whole range of Christian life within the Church is derived from grace as when the generous support of needy fellow Christians is prompted by calling, ‘the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty, you might become rich’ (2 Corinthians 8:9) and the most comprehensive blessing that can be invoked always includes the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself as a God of grace and mercy, who manifested love to His people not because they deserved it but because of His own desire to be faithful to the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Grace in the New Testament continues this theme.

 

It is God’s presence and love through Jesus Christ, given to believers by the Holy Spirit and imparting to them mercy, forgiveness, and the desire and power to do God’s will.

 

The whole movement of the Christian life from beginning to end is dependent on this grace. God gives a measure of grace as a gift to unbelievers in order that:

 

they may be able to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

they be made free from sin (Romans 6:20,22).

they will pray (Zechariah 12:10).

they will grow in Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

they will witness for Christ (Acts 4:33; 11:23).

 

God’s grace must be diligently desired and sought for. Some of the ways by which God’s grace is received are: 

 

studying and obeying the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15).

hearing the proclamation of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17-18).

praying (Hebrews 4:16).

worshipping Christ (Colossians 3:16). 

being continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

participating in the Lord’s Supper (Acys2:42, Ephesians 2:9).

 

Indeed, God’s grace is amazing. Grace is personal. As Henri Nouwen points out, “God rejoices. Not because the problems of the world have been solved, not because all human pain and suffering have come to an end, not because thousands of people have been converted and are praising him for his goodness. No, God rejoices because one of his children who was lost has been found. (What’s So Amazing About Grace? Philip Yancey p. 53).

 

God never lets us go. He will always keep us in His sight for His grace abounds. In the words of the psalmist, our God is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Hence, grace in a believer is determined by his/her personal, intimate relationship with God. This grace will descend upon the believer who calls upon God. The apostle Paul admonishes us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18a).

 

The greater our weakness and trials for Christ, the more grace God will give us to accomplish His will. What He bestows on us is always sufficient for us to live our daily lives, do work for Him and to endure our sufferings for 1 Corinthians 10:13 teaches us that ‘there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” As long as we draw near to Christ, Christ will bestow His heavenly strength and comfort us.

 

The apostle James teaches us to ‘Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.’ Receive God’s amazing grace through faith in Christ.

 

Dn. Tony Law.

 

 

 

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