The grace of God and the Person of Jesus Christ are one and the same. When we were born again it was not a reward for good behavior. It was a free gift bestowed upon us through the Lord Jesus Christ. This sweet message of grace is not for one second to be interpreted as being cheap. No! The price paid to make available the grace of God was the cross of Calvary.
Having predetermined this plan of salvation, God chooses to forgive completely all those who believe the gospel. Saints, having begun by grace we should continue in grace. This life-changing gospel is so wonderful that we, like our brother Paul, should not even count our earthly life dear when compared with the gospel of His grace. In the apostolic epistles we always find that grace opens the door for every other virtue or attribute.
Face it, there is just something in our human nature that wants to earn salvation, which is one reason why legalism and cults are so abounding. But human works can never and will never be the basis of our salvation, though they certainly will be some of the fruit of our salvation.
You see, grace is actually the position in which the believer in Jesus Christ stands. This grace, of course, comes by only one Man, Jesus Christ. Grace is not a license to sin, but rather a release from its dominion in our lives. The sum of all that we are can only be attributed to the grace of God. The sum of all that we will ever need to face life’s storms is the grace of God. I, too, marvel that so many people would rather try (in vain) to work their way to heaven than trust God’s one Way and one gospel. Works, human effort, frustrate God’s grace and can never produce true peace and rest.
What is the definition of God’s grace? It’s that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness. It’s God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. It’s the merciful kindness extended by God to the fallen family of man through faith in Jesus Christ. This is a faithful saying. Do you believe it?
