By God's Grace Series

BY GOD’S GRACE

By: C. Mason Davis

A man died and went to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the pearly gates. St. Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I will give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.” “Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.” “That’s wonderful,” says St. Peter, “that’s worth three points!” “Three points?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.” “Terrific!” says St. Peter, “that’s certainly worth a point.” “One point? Golly. How about this: I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.” “Fantastic, that’s good for two more points,” he says. “TWO POINTS??” the man cries, “At this rate the only way I get into heaven is by the grace of God!” “Exactly, son! Come on in!”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 2: 8-9; “For by grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Grace is when God grants us blessings we don’t deserve. God's grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Mercy is when He spares us from the fate, we brought upon ourselves. Love is when He is generous with both. And gratitude is what we feel when we realize how much grace, mercy, and love God has given us. What is God's grace in our daily lives? It is God acting generously and powerfully, to do for us that we cannot do ourselves.

God's grace is amazing because it is an undeserved and free gift. It is the exact opposite of what we deserve; there is nothing we can do to earn or merit it. It is from God out of His kindness and love. He offers us the hope and help we need, starting with salvation. God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. While God's grace is free to all those who trust in Jesus as their personal Savior, it was purchased at great price. The great price that Jesus paid on the cross. Grace refers to God's favor upon those who have transgressed his law and sinned against him. God's grace not only offers salvation but also secures it.

But what is unexpected grace: Most people think everything that happens is all random coincidence. The truth is that all things happen for a reason, even though some things are too perfect to be random, and some seem to be perfect because they’re random. It all comes down to God’s purpose and His plan for us all. 2 Corinthians 12:9 states, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 1 Corinthians 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” The grace we stand in is a state where we can receive blessings from God that we could not receive before. We have gone from outside grace to inside grace. We now have a new relationship with God where He is our loving Father instead of our judge. We have gone from deserving punishment to receiving undeserved favor.

God demonstrated His grace for us by not only saving us from the punishment of sin, but also offering us the opportunity to spend an eternity with Him. That is the true standard of Grace. The Creator of the universe took away our punishment and offers us eternal life. In John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” God's mercy and grace give me hope - for myself, and for our world. What gives me the most hope every day is God's grace; knowing that his grace is going to give me the strength for whatever I face, knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.

We are building up of the body of Christ. This takes courage. It involves our life-long obedience, including the ways we treat our families, others and ourselves. Sacrifice Proportionately--As Christ sacrificed for us. Acknowledge our faith and show our faith in the gospel for the glory of God. Have you ever noticed times in your life where you overcame difficult circumstances, or temptations, or were able to extend love and forgiveness to others when you didn't really “feel” like it? That's the grace of God flowing through you! The Lord's grace is sufficient to lift you from death and sin and to endow you with eternal life. It is sufficient to change you, transform you, and perfect you. What shines with God's grace? God's grace is not a theory or a concept, it is a reality that shines brightest amidst our human needs and limitations. There is light at the end of the tunnel! You just may not be able to see it yet. But if you continue to follow Christ, walking by faith and not by sight, your faith will eventually become sight. To walk In Grace is not just a tagline–it's an invitation.