Grace is about much more than just how we come to Christ. We can do nothing in him or for him that doesn’t ultimately come from His grace. Let us simply reflect on how amazing God’s grace is toward us. Paul wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” In fact, grace brings 10 great benefits to our lives:
• We’re saved by grace. The only way to heaven is through the doorway of grace. You can’t earn it. You can’t work for it. You can’t buy it (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• We’re forgiven by grace. Though we don’t deserve it, God wipes our slate clean by God’s grace (Isaiah 43:25).
• We’re sustained by grace. God will never ask you to do anything God doesn’t give you the ability and the power to do. That power and ability is called grace (Philippians 2:13).
• We’re healed by grace. God heals our broken hearts and binds up our wounds even though we don’t deserve it (Psalm 147:3).
• We’re liberated by grace. Our relationship with Jesus isn’t a bunch of chores to do. Instead it’s about resting in what the Lord has already done. If your Christian life is not a life of resting in Christ, you’re moving into legalism (Matthew 11:28-30).
• We’re given talents by grace. God has given each of us the ability to do something well, and we’re to use those abilities for God (Romans 12:6).
• We’re used by grace. God uses us to fulfill God’s purposes in this world, not because of anything we’ve done but simply through God’s grace (Ephesians 3:7).
• We’re kept saved by grace. We cannot lose our salvation because it’s a gift of God. If you could earn it, then you could lose it the moment you stopped earning it (Jude 1:24).
• We’re transformed by grace. Through God’s grace, God makes us new through the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2).
• We’re matured by grace. God’s work of making us more like Jesus happens not because we’ve earned it or by our own effort but by the grace of God (2 Peter 3:18).
God’s grace is real and powerful in our lives. All we have to do is open our hearts and receive it!
Through Christ,
Pastor Sherman
Co-Pastor, The Warehouse