Grace. Have you received it?

This past Wednesday night at the Prayer service I took time to share a few reflections on Grace in the Bible.  I am reading new book by Leonard Sweet The well-played life, and I resonate with concepts he is introducing.

Even though Christian reformation theologians emphasized grace and salvation by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) yet the work ethic, the importance on work seems to continue be main emphasis.

A couple of weeks ago I asked a question during the Sabbath School discussion: “what is the difference between mercy and grace?”  Many know the answer – mercy is not getting what we deserved, and grace is getting what we don’t deserve.  Mercy is not being punished for that is the only thing we deserve, as wages of sin is death.  We all, righteous and rebels, are under mercy of God.  Even devil is still under mercy.  Grace is much more!  Reading Romans 5:17 I got struck with a thought that “Grace is God’s Gift of Righteousness.”  Or, to paraphrase, Grace is God’s given gift to us to live right, to do what is right, to function according to God’s design.  Grace empowers people who receive it to live right with God.  When we accept by faith God’s grace we invite the Holy Spirit power and God’s presence into our lives, to change us, to enable us to live in love!

So then, God’s Grace produces in us the work, the will and to do, as Apostle Paul writes to Philippians 2:13 “it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

The classic verse on Grace comes from letter to Titus 2:11-14 “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”  Notice, the Grace of God teaches us how to live.  The Grace of God in us makes us zealous for good works.

Grace is not a license to do as we please.  Grace is God’s power producing in us the fruit of repentance and righteous living.  To be under God Grace is to be governed by God’s Law of Love, law of liberty, law of life.  Put first thing first – Grace, works will result.  Most Christians occupy their mind with thoughts about keeping ourselves “in line” instead of being “in love”.  Grace comes as a free gift when we enter by faith into loving relationship with God.  One who is “in love” with God is kept “in line” by His Grace!

Have you received God’s Amazing Grace?