Grace, Pt. 2

I had just a few additional words to add to the topic of grace.  I had too many notes left, and felt I wasn’t quite finished anyway. 

To further elaborate on the definition of grace, Romans 11:6 tells us, ‘And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace’.  We see that grace is directly opposed to works, so that it cannot be earned.  It’s not a wage, but a gift that must be accepted (2 Co 6:1).  And with the gift of grace, specific gifts come with it, the most notable being salvation (Eph 2:6, 8-10).  Justification through Jesus Christ our Savior is a gift imparted by grace (Tit 3:7).  Peace of mind in the presence of religious legalism is a gift of grace (Heb 13:9).  Growing is to be done in grace (2 Pe 3:18).  And although it cannot be earned, we learn that grace is given to the humble (Jas 4:6).

Grace is from God alone, through Christ Jesus (Lk 2:40; 1 Co 1:4; 2 Th 2:16; 2 Ti 1:9).  Paul testified that it was  by grace that he was what he was, and it was the grace of God working in him that brought about all that he’d accomplished (1 Co 15:10).  Jesus -our high priest- has lived this life that we struggle to stay right and get right in.  And he’s not unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but Jesus himself had been tempted in every way just as we are (Remember, temptation isn’t sin; yielding to it is.) –yet was without sin (Heb 4:14-15).  So, we are encouraged to approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (v. 16).  Thank you Lord!