SAVED BY GRACE II

Paul, an apostle, wrote: “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is a gift.

Grace means ‘graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace (- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy)’ (Strong’s Dictionary). Most of us have had this pounded into us as a salvation message most of our lives. It is a wonderful and right message. But there is more to the grace message.

Grace is not a ‘one and done-home run’ and that’s it. Grace is the gift and action of a loving Father to give us new life as we are ‘born from above’ or ‘born again.’ As new people with a ‘divine nature’ (2 Peter 1:4-9) we are now encouraged to be disciples and have Kingdom orientation as those that are under the rule and reign of this loving Father. The context of grace is the joy of participating in the community of other Kingdom people to form the Body of Christ on earth. It is grace-filled people inviting others to come as you are and join the party.

“The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.” Jesus