by Darren Brown
Grace is one of the most
common themes in the Bible, and yet it is one of
the most misunderstood. It is often defined, and
rightly so, as ‘unmerited favor’. Paul told the
brethren on multiple occasions that it is this
favor, not anything we do of ourselves, that
saves us.
“For by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:
it is the gift of God” Eph. 2:8.
“…be thou partaker of the afflictions of
the gospel according to the power of God; Who
hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but
according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began” 2 Tim. 1:8-9.
God’s grace truly is an
amazing gift, one that could never be earned.
However, it is critical we understand that it’s
not unconditional. Despite what many in the
religious world say, it does require a response
from us. Paul addressed the false notion that
one can continue to live as he wills and still
benefit from the grace of God.
“What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin,
live any longer therein” Rom. 6:1-2.
God, through the inspired pen
of Paul, made it clear His grace requires a
certain response, that we forsake sin and become
“servants of righteousness” (Rom.
6:18). Do you recall in the passage mentioned
earlier, Eph. 2:8, that Paul said we are saved
by grace “through faith”? Without the
response of faith, grace does us no good.
Furthermore, God’s grace has
always required a response. He’s never given it
without expecting obedience from man. Let me
illustrate this point with a couple of examples
from God’s word in the Old Testament. First,
notice what Paul said about the grace of God to
Titus.
“For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world”
Titus 2:11-12.
One of the unique qualities
of God’s grace is that it “teaches” us to be
obedient. The grace of God appeared to Noah in
Gen. 6 as the text says he “found grace in
the eyes of the Lord” Gen. 6:8. It was due
to grace that Noah was “warned of God of
things not seen as yet” Heb. 11:7. Notice
the fact that Noah recognized God’s grace
required a response. He “moved with fear,
prepared an ark to the saving of his house…according
to all that God commanded him, so did he”
Heb. 11:7, Gen. 6:22. If Noah had ignored God’s
warning of the flood to come and not prepared
his house and the ark, would God’s grace have
saved he and his household? Of course not. To
think it would have is absurd.
In the book of Joshua prior
to the nation of Israel making their first
military assault on the city of Jericho, God
told Joshua,
“See, I have given into
thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and
the mighty men of valour” Josh. 6:2.
Israel had not done a thing
to earn this gift. Nevertheless, God, by His
grace, gave them the city. However, if you
continue reading the chapter, God goes on to
give them no fewer than fifteen commands with
which they had to comply in order to physically
take hold of the city. You know the rest. The
nation of Israel responded in obedience to God’s
requirements, and they took over the city.
So what response does God’s
grace require of you and I today? Revisiting
Titus 2:11-12, we find an answer.
“For the grace of God
that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness
and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world”
(emphasis mine).
If we expect to enjoy the
benefits of God’s grace, we must not be of the
world. The world deceives us into thinking there
is much to gain by partaking of its lusts, but
James enlightens us as to what happens to our
relationship with God if we do so.
“know ye not that the
friendship of the world is enmity with God?
whosoever therefore will be a friend of the
world is the enemy of God” Js. 4:4.
John admonishes us about the
world this way:
“Love not the world,
neither the things that are in the world. If any
man love the world, the love of the Father is
not in him. For all that is in the world, the
lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and
the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is
of the world. And the world passeth away, and
the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of
God abideth for ever” 1Jn. 2:15-17.
Today and every day, may we
see the beauty of God’s grace in that He offers
it freely and it will ultimately save our soul
so long as we respond to His will in humble
obedience.