For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Eph 2:8 ESV)
Grace saves us!
Grace, simply defined, is God’s generosity, goodwill, favor, loving kindness, etc. Because God is so loving and generous it pleases Him to give us the gift of eternal life.
Continue reading →Grace is perhaps the most fundamental message of the bible and is one of the most frequently referenced concepts in Christian circles. Ironically, it is not well understood by many Christians. This lack of understanding can lead to all sorts of problems such as the extremes of legalism (strong emphasis on a system of rules to obtain salvation) and license (do as you please and God will look the other way). A poor understanding of grace has resulted in many Christians living in misery constantly doubting that God has really forgiven them of their sins.
Ask most Christians to define grace and they’ll respond, “unmerited favor”. This is a correct answer and a good one, but many people are unable to elaborate in a meaningful way beyond this memorized answer.
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It is an unfortunate truth that as long as we live, we will continue to do things which are not pleasing to God. One of the biggest differences between a disciple of Jesus and those who are not is that disciples do not want to sin! Furthermore, when a Christian sins, he or she will feel remorse and sorrow at their spiritual failing and endeavor not to repeat it. What should a Christian do when he or she gives in to temptation?
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