SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1385

“Embracing Grace”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. – Galatians 1:3, 6:18

Notice how Paul’s epistles are bracketed with Grace to you at the beginning and Grace be with you in closing. Our Christian life walk with Jesus starts with grace from God and continues through this life and for eternity in the next with the grace of Jesus.

Grace is the Gospel in a Five Letter Word.

Grace is God’s free unmerited favor to those who are unworthy of it. In a nutshell, God loved us when we were unlovable. He loved us enough to die in our place, bearing the punishment we deserved for our sin, so that we may have eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ, our resurrected Lord and Savior.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. –  John 3:16

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us… For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. – Romans 5:8-10

Embracing Grace – The Hebrew word for embrace is chabaq, meaning to clasp and hold. To embrace God’s grace means to go beyond the intellectual understanding that it is God’s unmerited favor to that of actively receiving, holding, trusting, and living in it. God’s grace to us is abundant and sufficient and through it we have a path to overcome the penalty of sin and reign in life through Jesus.

For from his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace. – John 1:16

Embracing Grace as a Gift – We cannot earn it. We do not deserve it. The enemy of your soul seeks to keep you from embracing God’s grace by telling you that you are too much of a sinner and unworthy of a relationship with God. He intends to hold you back, discourage you, and keep you steeped and in bondage to a life of sin. Jesus tells us to come as we are. Embrace His grace and be set free from the penalty and bondage of sin.

I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. – Luke 5:32, 19:10

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28

Embrace the Grace of Forgiveness – Embracing grace requires repentance and accepting the free gift of salvation through faith in Jesus. We embrace God’s grace when we realize that our worth is defined by God’s love rather than our performance and attempts to be righteous.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9

God has forgiven you by His grace – can you forgive yourself? Can you embrace His grace with the realization and understanding that you are no longer condemned by your past?

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. – Romans 8:1

Embrace the Grace of Circumstances – We embrace God’s grace by a daily reliance on His power working in and through us to handle all of life’s challenges. Nothing is too trivial for the Lord, and nothing is too hard for Him.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose; Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. – Romans 8:28; Hebrews 4:16

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…”– 2 Corinthians 12:9

Embrace the Grace of Freedom – The grace of God in Christ Jesus sets us free from the bondage of sin. Embrace His grace and hold on to His freedom and peace.

Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me; So, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – Psalm 119:133; – John 8:36

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age; For sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law but under grace. – Titus 2:11-12; Romans 6:14

Benediction – May the grace of God flow to you. May you do life empowered by His grace and may His grace flow through you to bless others in His Name.

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.   The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. –  Acts 20:32; Revelation 22:21