The Workings Of Grace

 THE LOVE OF GOD. "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). Love is manifested because of Grace; “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh -" and "In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9),  And "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation [substitutionary sacrifice, ransom] for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Grace brings to light how and why we love God with the words “he first loved us”.

ETERNAL LIFE IN JESUS CHRIST. Grace tells us about God's gift of Eternal life, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23)  Eternal life is IN Christ and not in the knowledge about Christ; for "this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John. 5:11-12). Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish" (John 10:27-28). Jesus prayed "Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, [with the glory which I had with thee before the world was] - As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him; and this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ -" (John 17:2-3). John wrote, "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an under- standing, that we may know him that is true, and we are IN HIM that is true, even IN HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. This is the true God, and eternal life” (I John 5:20). 

GRACE IS ABOUT REDEMPTION from the condemnation of sin. "Forasmuch as ye know ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold -- But with the precious blood of Christ - Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for you" (1 Peter 1:18-20).  This redemption was not "By the blood of goats and calves (the law system), but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place (not the holy place made with hands, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us) – having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12, 24).  "Wherein he (God) hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph. 1:6-7). 

GRACE IS ABOUT RECONCILIATION AND PEACE from the enmity of sin. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10).  "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ -- To wit (for you to perceive) that God was in Christ, reconciling the world (of the elect) unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them -- For he (God) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, --- that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (II Cor 5:17-20).  "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell; and having made peace (past tense) through the blood of his cross -- you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled --" (Col 1:19-21).

GRACE IS ABOUT JUSTIFICATION from the eternal guilt and condemnation of sin. Grace says "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his (God's) sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God (which is Jesus Christ) without the law is manifested - even the righteousness of God which is by (the) faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: -- For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”    The word "Justified" means to be put in a position of "innocence”. It is not like a "Pardon" where there is still a record of wrong doing.  Justification is to be “Just as if there was no sin”.  As it says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus --" (Rom 8:1).   Justification means that the record is erased, we are cleansed, and made the righteousness of God in Christ, "Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" - blessed is "the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works -- Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered" (Rom. 4:6-8). God is both Just and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

GRACE IS ABOUT HOPE. As God's people live in this present world we live “in hope” of eternal life, which God, that can not lie, promised before the world began -" (Titus 1:2).  Peter said to the elect, "God -- who according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope  by the resurrection of Jesus Christ -- To an inheritance -- reserved in heaven for you -- Who are kept by the power of God" (1 Peter 1:2-5).  Hope speaks of glory for "Christ in you [is] the hope of Glory". "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope - but if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Rom 8:24-25). "For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared - teaching us that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:11-14).  Our hope is not of man but of "God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace” (II Thess. 2:16). "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast -" (Heb 6:17-20).  Hope is based on faith, which is the substance (or foundation) of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). And faith is the gift of God by grace, not of works less any man should boast” (Eph.  2:8-9).

In summary, GRACE is about God's love which he has bestowed upon us. If one loves God, he does so because God first loved him, and bestowed his grace upon him in the election of grace. Grace is about God's gift of eternal life that he has given to us IN His Son.  If one desires to spend eternity with God, it is because God has sent forth his Spirit into his heart crying “Abba, Father” bearing witness with him that he is a child of Grace (Rom.8:14-17).  Grace is about God's gift of faith that he has given to us, which is a fruit of the Spirit and not from the works of man. Grace is about God’s work of redemption, justification, reconciliation and sanctification. Grace is about hope of eternal glory “which he hath afore prepared" for all them that love him, "Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. GRACE, GRACE, MARVELOUS GRACE, and if it be of works, then it is no more Grace.