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What does the word “grace” mean to you? In our culture, someone with “grace” is often considered to be a person of particular eloquence in some action or attitude. Graceful people accomplish specific tasks with an ease by which others are prone to hurriedness or harshness. Yet, when we speak of “grace” in the context of God’s Word, an entirely different definition comes forth. It is certainly a term for which God’s people should have great familiarity. It is mentioned nearly 130 times in the New Testament alone. It is the subject matter for many of the great songs and hymns of our faith. According to the Scriptures, it is the only means by which anyone can be made right with God. “For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8). In fact, it is by God’s grace alone that we can live a life pleasing to Him (Romans 6:14), and it is by grace alone that we can serve Him faithfully with our lives (Romans 12:6).
However, our sin nature, our enemy, and this world system, so unfamiliar with the grace of God, combine to confuse our own understanding so that, perhaps, some of us struggle against receiving “God’s grace in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). Perhaps we have forgotten what grace really is. Consider the following description of God’s grace.
When a person works an hourly job, and receives a fair pay for the hours worked, this is a wage. When a person struggles against others in a competition, becomes victorious, and receives accolades for his performance, this is a prize. When a person is recognized by his peers for excellence in some activity or pursuit, this is an award. But when a person is incapable of earning a wage, unable to win a prize, and undeserving of any award—yet receives these as a gift—this is grace. It is a wonderful and accurate picture of the unmerited favor of God.
The Apostle Paul is credited with writing thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. Each of the books which he wrote are actually letters to specific churches or individuals with which he had developed close relations through his missionary journeys. These letters contain intimate words of concern for dear friends, painful words of correction to the disobedient, careful words of instruction for the churches, and hopeful words of promise to believers. However, these letters are literally God’s Word to all people throughout the ages, even to us in our own day! One aspect that I have found to be particularly encouraging about each of his letters is that they all begin with a similar form of greeting from Paul in his opening words—“Grace to you” (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; and so on…). As Paul transcribes the literal words of God to the churches and even to us, he is conveying the truth that God’s message to us is always one of grace. As we read the words of Scripture, we discover God’s desire to draw us closer into relationship with Him and we experience God’s power to walk in obedience before Him.
While the greeting of God’s grace found in His Word to us is remarkable, I find even more incredible the manner in which Paul closes each of his thirteen letters as well. Just as he begins each letter with the very same message, so he ends each letter with the same unique expression—“Grace with you” (Romans 16:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Galatians 6:18; and so on…)! Paul reminds us that just as God’s Word is His grace to us as we read it, so His grace continues to go with us throughout each day of our lives! What encouragement toward picking up God’s Word each day and ingesting it into our minds and hearts, because it is the expression of God’s grace to us! And what inspiration toward keeping our faith in Christ throughout each day as we remember that God’s grace continues to go with us, even after we have left that quiet moment of devotion with Christ and the busyness of the day has fallen upon us!
I am praying earnestly today that you will come to know more fully God’s grace to you each day. It is incredible to ponder that we, who are in Christ, were once the “objects of [God’s] wrath” (Romans 9:22), but now He has saved us so that He can pour upon us “the immeasurable riches of his grace” (Ephesians 2:7), both now and for eternity! But beware. Living in God’s grace costs you everything, even your very life. We are not to presume upon His grace by using it as a license to continue in sin. God’s grace is free (for that is all grace can possibly be), but it is not cheap. It cost the dear price of God’s own Son. We must lay down our very lives in order to take on His grace (Matthew 10:39). Yet, even this decision is prompted and empowered by His grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)! Then we will find that God’s grace is not simply a one-time offer; it is a daily need for which God bountifully supplies!
Grace to you, grace with you,
Jason