God's Grace, God's Strength

One way Grace is defined is as: "Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him." (from Webster's 1828 Dictionary) 

In Ephesians 2:8 it says that "God saved you by His grace when you believed." By God's free unmerited love and favor, our Awesome God saved us from the darkness of sin, from the fire of Hell, from eternal separation from Him when we believed.

But it goes on to say in verse 9 "And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it." We have no credit in acquiring the gift of grace, the life of freedom. By nothing can we obtain salvation except through the gift which God gives freely. Not by things we do have we been saved, but by God's gift of grace. "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago" (verse 10). In Christ we are a new creation, a masterpiece of God, and He has marvelous plans for our lives.

So the question for believers is do we really believe these statements? Do we believe that God has given each one the gift of salvation through His grace? The answer is found in our hearts rather than our heads, for we may know the answer should be, but our actions come from within. 

Each believer is given the gift of salvation by believing, and then from that point on allowing God to work in our lives as He establishes his plan for us, for we are His masterpiece. How then do we have the right to withhold that gift, or even doubt that it has been given to others? Christians are often bashed for how they treat others in judgment rather than love. As we look at the life of Christ, as pointed out in yesterday's blog, Jesus never condemned those who were living a "sinful" life, but invited them to the True Life. The ones He rebuked were the religious leaders, the ones who were "sin-free." 

Today as I examine my own life, I see a sinner who by God's grace has received Salvation through Christ. But I also see a self-righteous person who subconsciously, and even freely, condemns others who do not display a "sin-free" life. Christ died for everyone, and He works in everyone differently. Next time when I find myself judging someone, I pray God will remind me that we are both sinners in need of a Savior. Putting all assumptions behind, I pray I will have the strength to meet them where they are at: either bringing the message of Salvation to them, or encouraging them in their walk with Jesus. May I be Jesus to those around me, firmly saying I believe God's Word and I do not want to with hold His gift from others.  Will you join me in striving to be known as ones who loves rather than ones who judges - a follower of Jesus? Only by His strength, His sufficient grace, can it happen. 

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

(Hebrews 10:18-25)