7 Truths about God’s Grace
Over the past year I have been praying for revival, that God would use this crazy past year to bring people to revived faith and salvation in Christ. One thing I have heard often is that if you want revival, you have to be willing for God to revive you, too. Sometimes I think if I pray for personal revival, God is going to make me instantly more on fire for Him and more like Christ. Instead, lately God has been revealing areas in my life where I need to grow, opening my eyes to where I need to be more like Jesus. This can stink – I was praying for revival, not to see how much I fall short. And yet, revival requires returning to the Lord, coming back to our first love (see Rev. 2:4-5).
As God has been opening my eyes to ways I need to grow, I’ve been reminded of the DC Talk song, In the Light:
“What’s going on inside of me? / I despise my own behavior / This only serves to confirm my suspicions / That I’m still a man in need of a Savior / I wanna be in the Light / As You are in the Light / I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens / Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation / Cause all I want is to be in the Light / All I want is to be in the Light.”1
I love this song because it reminds me that I need Jesus just as much today as I did the day I accepted Him as my Lord and Savior. I still need His grace today as much as I did yesterday and as much as I will need it tomorrow.
Lately, I’ve been meditating on this connection between grace and revival. One thing I’m often reminded of is that grace is not a hug from Jesus that ignores or sin, but grace instead is God’s power in us to help us live the Christian life. Below are seven truths about God’s grace.
1: Grace is realized in Christ.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. John 1:14-16
Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God’s grace to us. God could have chosen to let us self-destruct in our sin, but instead He promised us a Savior who would defeat sin and death and restore our relationship with God, and that Savior was His Son, Jesus Christ.
2: Salvation is God’s grace.
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings. Hebrews 2:9-10
Like the last point said, grace is seen in the saving work of Christ. We could do nothing of ourselves to earn salvation; it was a gift that we can never repay. That is amazing grace.
3: God’s grace enables us to do good works.
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:7-10
God gives us the gift of salvation, but He doesn’t stop there. God created us to do good works, and it is His grace that enables us to do the good works He’s called us to. And through His work and kindness in our lives He demonstrates His grace.
4: God’s grace is our help.
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16
When we need God’s help, He gives us mercy and grace. If we view grace as a hug from God, this verse can feel kind of pointless. But when we see grace as God’s power working in our lives, this verse is an encouraging reminder that when we go to God for help, He will work mightily in and through us.
5: Grace is what enabled the apostles’ miracles and teaching.
And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. Acts 4:33
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8
For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
I was really excited to learn that often in the book of Acts the apostles are described as being filled with grace before teaching or performing miracles. This is so encouraging because it reminds me that it wasn’t that the apostles were superhumans that enabled them to do great things for God. Instead, the apostles were surrendered to God, and God worked through them to do amazing things. And the same God who worked in the apostles’ lives can work in our lives today.
6: God’s grace provides for us.
Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:7-9
God in His grace provides for our needs, specifically our needs while we are serving Him. Whether that need is financial, energy, courage, or joy, God can provide an abundance for our needs.
7: God’s grace uses our weaknesses to display His power.
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, 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 has 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. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
One of the most amazing things about God’s grace is that He chooses to use our weaknesses to display His strength. Sometimes we try to limit God to our strengths or believe that He ought to use someone else for His plan with more courage or skill than us. But God is not looking for the most courageous or skilled people to make a difference in the world. God is looking for people with surrendered hearts who will lean on His grace to make them strong.
I hope you are encouraged by this reminder of how amazing God’s grace is. Keep leaning on His grace, friends. How exciting to know that the riches of God’s grace are available to us every day!
With love,
Kelsey
1 DC Talk. “In the Light.” Jesus Freak, https://app.napster.com/artist/dc-talk/album/jesus-freak-capitol-christian-music-group/track/in-the-light-remastered.
