What Grace Teaches

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."

Titus 2:11-14

Grace is a gift of God Christians ought to receive with joy and walk in.  A quick search revealed 17 books in the New Testament begin with a salutation which mentions grace and peace together.  It is only by the grace of God we can have peace with God.  Paul wrote in  Romans 5:1-2, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."  We are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-10), and we also stand and rejoice in God's grace continually.

Though grace is a common theme throughout the entire Bible, it is commonly misunderstood.  It can be frustrated and abused.  God's grace can erroneously become a "cloak" for sin, and antinomianism is strongly spoken against in the New Testament.  The Titus passage quoted above plainly says the grace of God ought to teach us many things:  we ought to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts; we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this world; and we should live knowing we will be required to settle accounts with a holy God on the day of judgment.  God's grace should bring to remembrance the massive price Jesus paid in shedding His own blood for the atonement of sinners, purchasing for Himself a church He desires to be pure as He is pure.  We are not saved by works, but by God's grace we have been saved unto good works for God's glory.

Since we have been born again by the grace of God and indwelt by the Holy Spirit, our conduct, thoughts, and words ought to reflect this transformation.  By the grace of God we can experience the peace of God which passes all understanding.  By God's grace we have access to the joy of the LORD which is our strength (Neh. 8:10).  The grace of God had a profound impact on Barnabas, as we read in Acts 11:23:  "When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord."  The grace of God isn't something we talk about.  It is not a theological doctrine but produces tangible fruit in the life of Christ's disciples.  When Barnabas saw this grace of God, he was glad.  This also prompted him to encourage all that "with purpose of heart they should continue with the LORD."  With the certainly afforded Christians with the resurrection by God's grace, Paul echoed this sentiment in 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Let we who follow Jesus ensure we are learning the lessons God's grace is intended to teach us.  The Law is compared to a tutor who led us by the hand to Jesus in Galatians 3, and it could be said grace is a loving embrace by God which inspires us to personal holiness.  As we continue in this earthly pilgrimage, let us cling to our God of all grace as we walk in the way which pleases Him.  1 Peter 5:8-11 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. ¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."