Do You Know the Grace Of God?

The Apostle Paul gave us a very personal testimony in 1 Corinthians 15:10.  He reveals the secret of his blessed and fruitful life when he said: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me has not been in vain." 

This grace and its vital activity can be manifest in all of our lives. The Scripture speaks of this abundance of grace. Paul testifies in Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."  Do we know the grace of God?  

Some may now raise a legitimate question: "What is grace?"  We would like to give a few short answers:

In light of the Bible, grace is an attribute of God. Scripture testifies that our God is a "merciful" God. Just as He is holy, so He is merciful. God's patience, goodness, mercy, and favor are summarized in this one word "grace." Grace is a favor that is shown to all mankind. People have sought and found grace by their faith and belief in a merciful God. We read of Noah who found grace in the eyes of the Lord even when the rest of mankind was destroyed by the flood. This shows us that God not only offers grace but also practices justice.

The holy Scripture declares the grace of God as a power. In Romans 5:20, Paul speaks of the powerful effect of sin and the more powerful effect of grace: "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more." Grace is shown as a superior power.  John testifies of the fullness of grace in John 1:16: "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace." He also tell us in John 1:14 where we can find this grace: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Jesus put His life on the line in order to obtain the saving and redemptive grace for all mankind. Through His sacrificial death and victory on the cross, God's grace became a power that could overcome any sin. Without a doubt, sin has wrought horrific destruction, but grace works the amazing power of healing. God's great love for us is shown through this gift of salvation and grace. God's mercy comes to the forefront. What is bestowed upon us through God's great compassion and mercy, we call grace. 

This power of grace does what no other power can. Grace subdues the power of the law. What bound us by the law, grace can release. What was condemned by the law, grace can acquit. Paul explicitly explains the difference between the law and grace in the book of Romans. In this discourse, Paul clearly explains that the law gave us the knowledge of sin but grace allows us to find pardon and salvation. Thank God for His saving grace! 

Further, no person can demand this extraordinary gift of grace. God offers His grace to us freely. It can not be earned but is a gift which everyone can receive. Grace is the undeserved, saving intervention in the life of a person.  Where all resources fail, where all hope is extinguished, and all prospects are over, there grace can begin to abound.

We think about a person who through his own guilt has been judged and condemned by the law. For him there are no more rights, there is no defense, no intercession, and no escape. But now, the highest authority, the king steps in, waves his punishment and sets him free. That is grace!

Christ took our deserved punishment on Himself so that we might have grace and peace. God's grace lifts us into the blessed state of salvation. Through grace, we have forgiveness, acquittal, fellowship, and peace with God. Paul experienced this grace and based on his blessed and fruitful life he could say: "His grace toward me has not been in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Do you know this grace? Turn to it and experience its saving, uplifting, and carrying power. Let the grace of God perform the miracle of salvation in your life and you will be able to say with Paul: "By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me has not been in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Friedrich Krebs