• Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About
Sunny Slope Church of Christ
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About

By The Grace Of God

2/18/2018

 
by: Gary L. Hutchens
​   There may be no more important Bible topic than that of God’s grace.  These days a great deal of emphasis is being given to teaching on the grace of God.  Unfortunately, most of the emphasis seems to be very narrowly focused.  As a result, much of what is being taught on the subject is short-sighted, some of it is outright wrong!
​   What does the word “grace” mean?  In a nutshell, it speaks of “favor.”  To be in God’s grace is to be in His favor.  In bestowing His grace, God bestows His favor upon us.  What makes God’s grace so special is the fact that we do not deserve it.  Thus, it is often referred to as God’s “unmerited favor,” indicating that it is unearned and undeserved.
   If justice prevailed, God would condemn mankind eternally because of sin.  But God created man in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27).  He loves man in a special way, enough to give him a second chance, a chance to be forgiven of his sin and to be reconciled to God.  A chance for eternal life.
   God did this by sacrificing His Son, Jesus Christ on the cross to pay the debt for the guilt of man’s sin (Jn. 3:16).  Man did not deserve such “loving kindness,” another expression that defines God’s grace.  Man did not deserve it, did not have it coming, could not rightfully expect it.  But God did it anyway, and that is God’s grace!
   Most discussions on the subject of grace seem to almost exclusively emphasize that it is only by God’s grace that we can be saved.  That statement is essentially correct (Eph. 2:8-9).  The follow up statement usually further emphasizes that we cannot earn salvation by working for it.  That statement is also correct (Rom. 4:4).
   But, without question, God requires a proper response on our part to His offer of grace.  He requires faith: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is…” (Heb. 5:8-9).  He requires repentance: “…unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Lk. 13:3).  He requires obedience: “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,” (Heb. 5:8-9).  It is through the pivotal act of obedience in being baptized that our sins are forgiven (Acts 22:16), we are saved (Mk. 16:15-16) and we come into Christ (Rom. 6:3).  
   Without our required response, we should expect God’s offer of grace to be taken off the table.  The fact that God requires a response to His offer of salvation does not change the fact that it is a gift by grace.  It is God who saves us.
   Many people do not realize that every aspect of God’s plan for man’s redemption involves God’s grace.  The church is not separate from, or in addition to, God’s plan for our salvation (Eph. 3:8-11).  The doctrinal teachings of the Bible are not separate; they instruct us in the fullness of God’s plan (2 Tim. 3:15-17).  The list could go on and on.  Every blessing from God is a product of His grace.
   We must never cheapen, or treat with disrespect, the grace of God (Rom. 6:1).  The only way to fully understand God’s grace is to study carefully what the Bible teaches on the subject.  Let’s be about that task…

Comments are closed.

    Author

    Gary L. Hutchens

    Categories

    All
    Dennis Stackhouse
    Gary Hutchens

    Archive

    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    January 2007

Member Login
SUBMIT PRAYER REQUEST
© 2019 Sunny Slope Church of Christ | All Rights Reserved
3606 N. 108th St., Omaha, NE 68164 | (402) 498-8397 | Contact Us
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Study
  • Articles
  • Links
  • About