What is Grace?
Grace: is unconditional love toward a person who does not deserve it.
Unconditional means: Without condition
Grace is something that can’t be earned. It is something that is given. The best analogy that I have for this is my own experiences with our countries judicial system. People, its about to get real! This pastor has stood before the judge on more than one occasion. In high school, The last day of my Freshman year I decided that I wanted to celebrate a little. Because I was in year around school the 4th of July had come and gone and I had some left over treasures, so I made the choice to take some to school for the walk home. Let’s face it, most young men love to play with fireworks and I am no exception. What I didn’t count on was the kids in my class seeing them and taking them when I got up to use the restroom. Let’s just say art class was extremely expressive that day! Though I had not let off any fireworks, I was tagged as the “supplier” by my fellow students which lead to an escort to the principles office, a police officer, and the most terrifying of all… my mom.
My Charge? Bringing explosives to school (snap pops 🙄). The punishment? Possible expulsion or suspension for the following school year, possible Juvenal detention, enrollment in a scared strait program, and a one way ticket to stand before the DA, aka the judge. I was scared, in trouble, and perceived as a delinquent.
I was eventually shown mercy and given grace after the DA saw and heard how very sorry and broken I was about everything… I received so much grace that I had to do none of the suggested punishments.
The problem with our world is that it shapes our perception when it comes to grace, justice, right and wrong. What’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable.
Many of us think about how “good” do you have to be in order to receive God’s grace? Now I am certain that most of you said in your head that there is nothing I can do in order to be good enough for God. Yet, some of us continue to funnel justice through the lens of the world and our own perception.
Galatians 2:16 “…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
- There is no amount of good deeds you can do that will make you just before God.
Galatians 2:21 “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
- There is also nothing you can do that disqualifies you from receiving the Grace of God.
As the church in Galatia began believing in the deity of Christ, some of the Jewish converts began to conform back to the jewish teachings and laws for purification. So Paul had to bring some correction to their perception of justification through Christ.
One of those things was circumcision…
- Old law – set apart for the Lord
- New – Surrender to Christ, marked by grace.
Galatians 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”
Keys to walking in God’s Grace:
- Through Forgiveness
The Apostle Paul reminds us, “He who began a good work in you, will bring it to completion on the day of Jesus Christ.” Trust God’s Grace by receiving forgiveness. Forgive yourself. See yourself as God’s dear child who He’s remodeling daily. Let Grace overpower your past and create in you a clean conscience.
2. Love Others
The Graciousness of God empowers us to love boldly and live robustly. Start loving others and start grasping the heart of God
3. Give Grace Away
Because God has forgiven us, we can forgive others. Because He has a forgiving heart we can have a forgiving heart. Extend the gift of grace to others and remember that God’s powerful grace is made perfect in our weakness. Some people require extra grace…
Remember It’s God’s Idea
Max Lucado says, “To discover grace is to discover God’s utter devotion to you, His stubborn resolve to give you a cleansing, healing, purging love that lifts the wounded back to their feet.”
Dustin & Heather 