We are now about to get into the meat of grace… In Part 1 we began an introduction and we saw how the beautiful thread of grace flows from Genesis to Revelation. In Part 2 we saw six Biblical truths about grace. In these truths the bottom line was that grace is free, it is a gift from GOD, it is undeserved and unearned, and it is by it that we are called into God’s salvation and it is by it that we are even able to be saved and it is by grace that GOD accepts the death of His Son in the place of our own.
We need to think very highly of the grace of God… and not take it for granted… as many do.
Today we are getting into what I like to call the meat of grace.
Remember that as we look at grace, charis, it means gratifying, of manner or act, the divine influence upon the heart and it’s reflection in the life.
Grace is not behavior modification. Grace is not better sin management due to a clearer understanding of the rules… Grace is an inward change and motivation. It is the heart of God at work in your heart from the inside. The influence of the divine hand of God molding and reshaping your inner man so that you no longer reflect sin… but His Son.
Merriam-Websters dictionary defines influence…
an ethereal fluid held to flow from the stars and to affect the actions of human
an emanation of occult power held to derive from stars,
an emanation of spiritual or moral force
Grace is not an ethereal fluid or an occult power from the stars… it is the Spirit of the Creator God from the very heart of God at work in your heart, mind, and soul. It changes us with no effort on our part and no exertion on His.
Grace can blow our minds and bring us to our knees if we really truly think on it… precious one… think on it.
And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.
Acts 4:31-33
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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed
2 Corinthians 9:8
If I am a partaker of the grace of God how should that look in my daily life?
1) Grace should be recognized in you by others
Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; (Acts 11:23, NASB)
For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you. (2 Corinthians 1:12, NASB)
But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. (Galatians 2:7-9, NASB)
2) Grace should be shared with others
with believers…
But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:24, NASB)
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to me for you; (Ephesians 3:2, NASB)
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29, NASB)
with unbelievers…
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. (Colossians 4:5-6, NASB)
3) Grace should empower you
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14, NASB)
4) Grace should build you up
And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32, NASB)
As we look at the Biblical view of grace… we see that it is not some hidden secret thing. If it is real and present in us then it shows… it can’t help but show. God’s inward handiwork is manifested in our outward actions.
Grace gives us the ability to be obedient from our hearts, not from fear of judgment but from faith in justification. Knowing that’s it not by our might or power that we are made righteous… that anyone is made righteous… but it is by His Spirit.
In this knowledge and in this grace… we display grace to others as God displayed it to us. His grace abundantly poured out on and in us should overflow into and onto those around us.