Only By Grace

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 
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. 
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
[Ephesians 2:4-10 NKJV]

What do we mean by God’s grace; or more importantly, what does God expect us to understand by His grace? The standard definition is "unmerited favour." And that is what it is, undoubtedly. But I want to get closer. I do not want a definition, I want the actuality.

And what is that? What is the reality?

I believe that the reality lies in Him; in who He is. Grace is an intrinsic part of the love of God. Without His love there can be no divine grace. Can we say otherwise? And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. [1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV]

The ordinary definition of grace is "smoothness and elegance of movement" or "courteousness and goodwill." By comparison with our Lord's expression of grace these are but pale comparisons. But then everything in the natural is a poor thing beside the glory of all things from God.

Only this morning on the radio I heard two different reports of people expressing their gratitude to God for a working in their circumstances. I mention this simply because it is such an unusual occurence. Very few speak of faith nowadays, let alone Christian faith; but it seems that in these troubled times, people may be turning from their former conceits to some sort of appreciation of Heavenly matters. I pray that this is so, but whatever is or is not happening, the grace of Almighty God is at work. Hallelujah!

And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage.
[Ezra 9:8 NKJV]

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Only By Grace Can We Enter Graham Kendrick

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Don’t put prayer and obedience in the place of the Cross of Christ—“Because I have obeyed, Christ will do this, or that”; He won’t. The only way we are saved and sanctified is by the free grace of God.

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