God's Grace Lesson

God's Grace God's Grace
by Rev. Dr. Alteeno Michael Sain
Presented by
Saint Luke Evangelical School Of Biblical Studies
Used by Permission
In order to understand God's grace, we need to understand man's relationship with God. Romans 5:12-21 discusses how the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden (sin) brought death (separation from God) to all mankind. Adam's fall brought judgment and condemnation to all. The judgment met the requirement of justice and retribution for man's sin. While man is in sin, he is in total rebellion and total disobedience toward God. Condemnation is a reflection of man's current standing with God. This is the sentence placed on man as a result of God's judgment. A sinner has no freedom. He or she is judged by God and found guilty. His/her sentence is a life of slavery to sin and despair and an eternity in hell if he remains in that state.
Ephesians 2:8-9 explains how we are saved by God's grace.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (KJV)
God's grace provides our salvation. It was God's grace alone that initiated and made possible salvation. It was God's divine grace that sent His son, Jesus Christ, as a final sacrifice, to die on the cross for our sins. Our salvation is a gift from God. We can not earn our salvation and do not deserve it, but because of God's amazing love for us, His grace offers the gift of salvation to all who will accept it through repentance and confession of Christ Jesus as their Savior.
Prior to accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior, we as sinners were encompassed by evil, rebellion, and death. No human effort or goodness could deliver us from our sin. That deliverance comes only as a result of grace from God. Grace is defined as “God's unmerited favor and love toward human kind,” (David Horton), or “the undeserved love and salvation God gives” (The New Student Bible, New International Version). It is God's grace alone that makes salvation possible. Grace translated from the Greek is the word 'charis'. Charis is an act that comes from the benevolence of the giver. It implies in the New Testament that God's grace is based on the goodness of God. In other words, His grace is extended to us merely because it pleases Him to offer His grace to us. It is also through God's grace that His truths are reveled to us, first to the lost, so that they might be willing to believe and therefore accept His grace. Then, to believers, that our faith, love, and belief will grow.
God's grace also allows growth in the Christian life. Grace serves as an instructor in righteousness to all believers. Understanding and celebrating the work of God's grace will motivate believers to a greater faith in God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Deliverance from sin and salvation are at the very heart of the Christian Gospel. We as Christians have the assurance of forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven some day.
We need to always remember that our salvation is not something we have earned or that we deserve. God's grace is a precious gift that is freely given to us. We have to depend on God's grace through faith. Receiving salvation requires us to depend on God's grace, His mercy, and goodness. Our own efforts are not adequate to save us. Our salvation comes only by the grace of God, that He loved us enough to send His Son as the final sacrifice, for all that are willing to believe and repent.
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