THE CASE FOR GOD'S GRACE
What is the grace of God, and is it relevant today? Can a case for God's grace be made
today? If so, what is the evidence for God's grace in modern society?
I EVIDENCE THROUGH THE DEFINITION OF GOD'S GRACE:
God's grace is a gift to us through Jesus Christ, resulting in salvation from sin and
eternal life. Grace is different from mercy. Mercy means to withhold from us the
punishment we deserve, while grace is giving us the forgiveness we do not deserve.
Both mercy and grace are the results of God's love in that they are like two sides of the
same coin. Some other definitions of grace are "love that cares and stoops and
rescues." (John Stott) and "grace is God reaching downward to people who are in
rebellion against him." (Jerry Bridges) Ephesians 2:8,9 says we have nothing to boast of
since the faith to receive God's grace comes from God himself.
a.All have sinned and are justified by God's grace. Romans 3: 8,9
b.Grace leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:21
II EVIDENCE THROUGH THE NECESSITY OF GOD'S GRACE
In Romans 5:12-19, Paul gives the reasons we need God's grace. These are the key
verses on the necessity of God's grace in the entire Bible. We need God's grace because
of sin, and sin came into the world through Adam who disobeyed God's command. This
disobedience caused sin, and this sin and death were inherited by all human kind,
although they had not sinned in the same way Adam did. God solved the sin problem by
sending Jesus Christ as a type of second Adam who took upon him all sin by dying on
the cross and by granting eternal life to all who accept the gift of God's grace. Sin and
death came through Adam, but forgiveness of sin and eternal life came through Christ,
which was far better than sin and death through Adam. We need God's grace to escape
the penalty of sin, resulting in death, and to receive forgiveness of sin and eternal life
through Christ. However, a person who wants to find fault in this evidence for God's
grace will say that it depends on the belief in a historical Adam, which is difficult to
believe in this day of science and evolutionary thought. Recently, a book came out which
made a scientific case for the possibility of the origins of Adam and Eve alongside
evolution.(December 2019) This book was written by a scientist named S Joshua
Swamidaas and explains how it is possible for Adam and Eve to be "rightly identified as
the ancestors of everyone." This book is acclaimed even in the scientific world of
"opening possibilities for understanding Adam and Eve consistent with the current
scientific consensus and with traditional readings of scripture."
However, despite any new findings and research as to the possibility of a real Adam and
Eve, those who deny their validity are not left off the hook, considering that death has
been around since the beginning of time and sin is rooted in our instinct by nature.
All of us have sinned and come short of God's intention for us. The grace of God is a
necessity. Other verses for the evidence for the necessity of God's grace:
a.Grace of God offers salvation to all. Titus 2:11,12
b.Let no one fail to obtain the grace of God. Hebrews 12:15
c.We are no longer under law, but grace. Romans 6:15
III EVIDENCE THROUGH THE GREATNESS OF GOD'S GRACE: .
In verse 15 of Romans 5, Paul says that because of Adam's sin all have died spiritually
and eventually physically. However, God's grace is much more powerful than spiritual or
physical death. Grace is much greater than all our sins. God's grace and mercy have no
bounds. Consider a person who has lived a sinful life for most of his days. Once he
accepts Christ, all of his sins are forgiven. When a person works an eight hour day and
receives pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person completes and receives a
trophy, that is a prize. When a person receives recognition for years of service, that is an
award. When a person has done none of these, but still gets a gift, that is grace.
I communicated with a lady on my email ministry who insisted that she had committed
the unpardonable sin. I had a difficult time convincing her that God's grace covers all her
sin. The hymn writer lifted up God's grace when she wrote "grace, grace, God's grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within. God's grace, grace that is greater than all our
sins."
a.Grace that overflows. 1 Timothy 1:14
b.From his fullness we have received grace upon grace. John 1:16
c.The riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:7
IV EVIDENCE THROUGH THE PURPOSE OF GOD'S GRACE:
One of the purposes of God's grace is to share it with others by living a righteous life in
the world through Christ. Christ has said to let our lights shine so others can see our
good works and thereby glorify God. Grace is meant to be given to others. One way we
can do that is by forgiving others as we have been forgiven. Also, ask for forgiveness
when needed. Here are some things about showing the grace that I needed.
1.Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has no
food.
2.Before you complain about your wife or husband, think of someone who is crying
out for a companion.
3.We say things not pleasing to God, yet he offers grace and forgiveness to us.
4.When God sets his grace upon us, he gives to us who do not deserve his
attention.
5.Realize that without his grace, we cannot know real grace for ourselves.
6.In order to give grace, we must understand it in our lives.
Here are some verses on the purpose of grace.
a. Show interest in others. Philippians 2:3
b. Show thanks. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
c. Be present with others when needed. Romans 12:15
d. Be kind and gentle with your words. Proverbs 15:1
e. Do acts of love to others. Romans 12:10
V EVIDENCE THROUGH THE BENEFITS (BLESSINGS) OF GOD'S GRACE:
Blessings are benefits through the grace of God. A blessing is something you get from
God by being righteous which is a gift from God's grace. A blessing is a merited favor
from God, while grace is a non-merited favor from God. Of course, God can bless
anyone according to his will, but the righteous as recipients of his grace are special
beneficiaries. I think the key verse concerning God's blessings is 2 Corinthiansns 12:9
which says in part," my grace is sufficient for you." Whatever you need, God's grace is
sufficient for it. This could be compared to a runner after climbing a hill and feeling all
the oxygen has been used up. The atmosphere could answer him, "Breathe in, my
oxygen is sufficient for you." All you need, God will supply. Other verses on God's
benefits.
a.Abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:8
b.Empowered to do right. Romans 8:12-14
c.Comfort and hope through grace. 2 Thessalonians 2:16
VI EVIDENCE THROUGH THE DURATION OF GOD's GRACE:
God's grace is for eternity. The gift of God's grace is eternal life.(Romans 6:23)
Napoleon Harris tells a story about his childhood. He enjoyed playing with his friends
after church. They would play at each other's homes. When his friends came to his
house they had to put on his clothes. When he went to their house he had to put on
their clothes. One day Jesus came to change clothes with us. We put on his
righteousness and he put on our humanity. (grace) When we go to his house, we will put
on his clothes of righteousness forever.!
THAT CONCLUDES T
