God's Amazing Grace

Chuckle: "Duct tape is like 'The Force'. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together."

Ponder This: "Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found; Was blind, but now I see." --John Newton, 1725-1807

"But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions -- For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:4-5, 8-9 NIV).

Justice is receiving what we deserve. Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. Grace is receiving what we do not deserve. The Greek word translated "Grace" can also mean "favor." Grace is God's unmerited favor to us because of His great love and mercy. Like God's mercy, His grace is not something we can earn, but is bestowed by God according to His will. Being a recipient of God's grace brings peace, and joy to one's life. His amazing grace is the reason every believer can rejoice and be thankful to God for His love and compassion.

We become Christians through God's grace, not by our efforts, abilities, intelligent choices, or acts of service on our part. However, because of our gratitude for this free gift, our natural inclination is to serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, and not merely to bring credit to ourselves but to please God. When someone gives you a gift, you don't ask, "how much do I owe you?" No, the natural response is "Thank you." Yet, many Christians, even after they have been given the gift of salvation by God's grace, feel obligated to work (earn) their way into God's favor.

Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts from God's by His grace, He expects our response to include gratitude, praise, and joy. Then we will be motivated to do good things for others. "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Ephesians 2:10 NIV). Doing good deeds cannot save us, but good deeds that please God should follow our salvation by grace. Kay Arthur summarizes the ways God's grace impacts our lives as believers:

"It is grace, grace, grace. God does it all. Ours is only to believe. Even the faith to believe is of grace. It is all of grace.

It is by grace that we are saved. It is by grace that we can know Him intimately. It is by grace that we live day by day. It is by grace that we deal with the traumas of life. It is by grace that we serve God. It is by grace that we please God. By grace we deal with our sins when we do not walk by the Spirit but yield to the flesh. By grace, and grace alone, we approach God and receive the things we need -- whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. Through faith, we lay hold of the grace of God, believing and walking in obedience to Him, no matter what."

Love, Jerry & Dotse