Abundant Grace

Dear Brethren,

Is the subject of “grace” a Protestant concept, or is it one that we in God’s Church should have a good understanding about?  Does the New Testament concept of “grace” allow that Christians shouldn’t worry so much about sin in their lives, because all sin has been forgiven and covered?  Is “grace” really amazing?  What should a Christian know about the Biblical concept of “grace?”  The little understood word, “grace,” is translated from the Greek word charis.

Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8) accepted the doctrine of “grace” for the forgiveness of sin (which the pagan religions of the world never had), but he turned the grace into license to sin with impunity - to disobey God.  "There are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, [license to sin] and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."  (Jude :4)  This "license to sin," which is literally the ecclesiastical permission to sin, is the broadly accepted approach toward sin in the world's churches today.

The apostle Paul uses the phrase, “abundant grace.”  Paul says that in comparison to our reward that we will receive in the Kingdom of God, today’s trials are insignificant.  Paul can say that because we will be the Children of God in the Kingdom of God – possessing Godly character and eternal life at that time.

“All things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  (Corinthians 4:15-18)

When Paul says, “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day,” we can see the active working of grace in our daily lives.  But what is this grace?  Grace, is much more than unmerited pardon – that definition is not sufficient to explain God’s grace.  Grace is, however, the free undeserved favor of God that not everyone has received.  Grace is God’s generous forgiveness of past sin in our lives and the taking away of the penalty – but it is also the opening of our minds to recognize what sin is, and the ability to repent of sin.  No one decides to repent of his sins on his own – that only takes place by the grace of God.  When we repent (turn and stop breaking God’s laws) and receive God’s grace, which was made possible through the sacrifice of Christ, we are pardoned.  At that time, we are no longer under the penalty of death (under the law) for breaking God’s commandments.

God’s grace is the free and undeserved gift of forgiveness and acceptance of God the Father through Jesus Christ.  Being under grace means to be continually receiving God's goodness, undeserved favor, blessings, sustenance, intervention and interaction – in short, God’s divine love].  A Christian believer comes under the grace of God through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins.  Through grace, the true believer's sins are forgiven and the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to him, making him righteous in God the Father’s sight.

How important is grace?  Without God’s grace there would be no salvation, no Children of God, no Christians, and no eternal life in the Kingdom of God for us.

“Favor” is a very good translation of the Greek word charis, and “favor” retains the fundamental meaning of the word “grace.”  Charis is correctly translated “favor” a number of times in the King James Version.  Charis means:  That which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, and kindness granted.  Charis is the  "Divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life," the absolute expression of the loving kindness of God to mankind.  Charis also means:  God’s divine, gracious, favor and blessing; gracious care, help, goodwill, benefit, gift, goodness, benefaction and endowment.

Grace, is a multifaceted word, showing many aspects of God the Father’s gracious love as mercifully manifested through Jesus Christ.  Grace, is much more than unmerited pardon – that definition is not sufficient to explain God’s grace.  Grace is however, the free undeserved favor of God that not everyone has received.  Grace is thanks… Grace is acceptance – as in being accepted, of finding acceptance,  or being made acceptable.

It is important to have a good grasp of this concept of Grace because it occurs over 130 times in the New Testament.  Grace is God’s generous forgiveness of past sin in our lives and the taking away of the penalty – but it is also the opening of our minds to recognize what sin is, and the ability to repent of sin.  A good way to define grace is to think of it as God's unearned and undeserved favor toward us.  Grace is His love and concern for those of us who accept His invitation to enter into a relationship with Him.

A Christian believer comes under the grace of God through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins.  Through grace, the true believer's sins are forgiven and the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to him, making him righteous in God the Father’s sight.  Through, Jesus Christ, God’s gift of grace is granted to us so that we may spiritually grow up unto Him - Christ in us, the hope of glory!!!

We can grow in God’s good graces – and we can also fall out of favor with God.  Paul gives this example:  "Christ is become of no effect unto you [Paul is speaking to those who believe that they earn their own salvation apart form Christ’s sacrifice], whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."  (Galatians 5:4)

"None of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."  (Acts 20:24) 

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace."  (Ephesians 1:7)  "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)."  (Ephesians 2:5)

Through His grace, God grants spiritual gifts to His people for His purposes and the benefit of the brethren.  "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."  (Ephesians 4:7)  "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."  (1Peter 4:10)

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."  (Romans 3:24)  Through grace God allows us to have a relationship with Him – we are reconciled to Him.  "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God...  For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one - Jesus Christ."  (Romans 5:2, 5:17)

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Sermon:  "Abundant Grace"      


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