Why is Grace so great?

Grace chooses the least worthy of honor 

and bestows upon them so many benefits

that the One who chose and blessed them

is seen as gloriously lovely and praiseworthy.

(Psalm 103:1-5; Ephesians 1:3-7; 2:5-9; 1 Corinthians 1:26)

Grace reveals the face of the most Lovely

in the midst of trials to the most unlovely,

then makes them into that same lovely image.

(2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:18; 1 John 3:1-2)

But what is greatest about grace

is the joy of knowing and being known 

by the glorious One who gave it.

(John 1:18; 1 Peter 3:18; Ephesians 2:7)

What is Grace? The Bible's Perspective on Painful Grace

When we talk about grace, what do we mean?

It often depends on the context of our conversation. If we are talking about music, grace means one thing, but when talking about how people interact in relationships, grace means something else.

What do we mean when we talk about God's grace?

Often, we guess at this, because our understanding of grace has been shaped, for the most part, by the culture we are brought up in.

At the church I participate in, we often talk about the grace of God in salvation. We speak of Ephesians chapter two, and how we are brought from spiritual death to spiritual life, and made heirs of the Kingdom of Christ by the Sovereign work of God's grace, given to us through the death and life of His dear Son.

But now, I want to take a look at a passage of Scripture that teaches me to think of grace in a way most of us are not familiar enough with. Which is that the worst pains in our lives, according to the Bible, are actually the grace of the our Lord Jesus Christ being worked out in our lives. Christians who experience hardship, are experiencing it for completely different reasons than unbelievers most of the time. What happens to you or to me is never an accident, but is part of the Sovereign grace of God.

Take a look at 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations [Paul had seen visions and received revelation in heaven from the Lord], for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself!

Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (NASB)

That is not an unfamiliar passage to me. I've heard that last line quoted all my life, "for when I am weak, then am I strong." However the concept is what is radically contrary to our natural way of thinking, even if we've been familiar with it for a long time. The concept that grace gives us pain so that we may not glory in ourselves, but in the power of Christ.

For this reason, let us exalt in our lowly positions that we find ourselves in. Whether it is pain, persecution, distress, difficulties, insults, weakness, heartache or whatever situation you find yourself in by the Sovereign Providence of God.

What I say to you, I say to myself here: Be well content with it my friend. The power of Christ will dwell in you for the glory of God and for your joy in Him.

The Gospel is About Love

Romans 5:8
"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

This is God's love: The Son of God died on a tree in place of me (1 John 4:9-10). The Son of God gave his life in exchange for mine. The Son of God experienced His Father's judgment and wrath instead of me. Love... Love that is out of this world. Love from God while I was still a sinner (ungodly, under God's wrath, an enemy of God - Romans 5:6,8,9,10), Christ died for me. That is love, and that is the good news.

It had nothing to do with my decision either, because God decided to love me in this way without consulting me. If the LORD had said to me, "What do you think if I send my Son, and have Him die instead of you?" I probably would have said, "No! I'll pay for my own sin. Thank you." But God didn't ask me, instead, He sent Christ into the world as a baby, and the Lord Jesus arrested my heart with His love (Galatians 2:20; Revelation 1:5-6).

"For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life." (Romans 5:10 ESV).

This is good news of great joy (Luke 2:10) and it is worth preaching (proclaiming) to the world!

Grace, peace and love to all who treasure Jesus with lasting joy.

Rich Language Describes Riches of Grace

Zhubert.com is an excellent resource for anyone who loves to study Scripture. It interprets each word of the Greek New Testament. Whenever I venture into the foreign language of the NT Greek, I cannot resist seeking out the section of Ephesians chapter 1. My appreciation for the richness of the language that the apostle Paul used in writing this chapter has grown to amazement. I have been meditating deeply on this passage as I have been trying to translate it in my own words. Just take a look at how rich the language is used to describe the bounty of grace given to us in Christ Jesus. Here is what I came up with so far:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints that are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessing us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. Just as He chose us in Him before laying the foundation of the world, so we are set apart as holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us in Him to the adoption of sonship through Jesus Christ. This was according to His own good pleasure and will, to the glory of His grace, who has graciously blessed us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our transgressions according to the wealth of His grace, which He is lavishly bestowing on us in all wisdom and insight, as He is making known to us the mystery of His will according to His good purpose, which He set forth in Him to the management of the fulness of the times. He is concluding all in Christ that is in heaven and on earth in Him. In whom also He appointed beforehand according to the purpose that works everything according to His own decisive will.
- Ephesians 1:1-11 PTV (Penn Tomassetti Version)

What is Grace? (Part 2)

In writing my last post, I learned that the word "grace" can have a bunch of different meanings. One of those meanings was the divine favor of God toward undeserving people through Christ. That definition can be found by reading some references about God's grace toward His people. Take Ephesians 2:8-9 for example, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (ESV). And Romans 5:2, "Through him [Christ] we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (ESV).

I also said that Jesus Christ is the fullest manifestation of the grace of God, and He is the One from whom all grace flows to us. He is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14), and "of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace" (John 1:16 NKJV). So grace is really all about the Lord Jesus.

I have been starting to notice how God uses different illustrations and examples in the Scriptures to show the power of His grace. Such as Ephesians 2:5, which says, "even when we were dead in trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (NKJV). Grace is defined by the powerful work of God in giving life to the spiritually dead through the resurrection of His Son. That is an awesome illustration! God raises dead and undeserving sinners to spiritual (and on the last day, physical) life. It really shows the strength and might of God, and moves my heart to worship Him "in humble adoration" when I consider it.

Grace is more than we can imagine or comprehend now. In fact, God will be showing for all eternity "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7 ESV).

There is so much more to say, but I will end with this question: should we ever stop meditating on this wonderful grace of God?

Grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What is Grace? (Part 1)

The English word "grace" has a number of meanings. Some include, favor, good-will, beauty, a pleasing or attractive quality, kindness, esteem, etc. The Hebrew word used in the Bible for grace, can be pronounced something like "Khen." It is often used to describe the favor of God. "But Noah found favor [grace] in the eyes of the LORD." (Genesis 6:8). The Greek word used in the Bible for grace, can be pronounced, "Kharis." It is mentioned in the New Testament over 150 times, often meaning God's divine favor, freely given with unlimited kindness and mercy to undeserving people. It also refers to a blessing for those in Christ, favor with God, salvation, thanksgiving and thankfulness, joy and pleasure.

The concept of grace in the Bible can be seen in a number of verses connected with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ:

Luke 2:40 describes Jesus, "And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor [grace] of God was upon him." (ESV).

John 1:14 says of Jesus, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:16-17, "And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."

So we see that the grace [or favor] of God was upon Christ, He was full of grace and truth, we receive grace from His fullness, and grace comes through Jesus Christ and not the law of Moses. Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God's grace. Romans 5:2 says it like this, "Through him we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice [or lit. boast] in hope of the glory of God."

When you think of grace, do you think of Jesus Christ?

Grace and peace to all of you who are resting in Him.