Access to Grace

Tip! God gives this free gift of grace to those who are truly repentent of their sins. Not everyone will take it.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all . . . And God is able to make all grace abound toward you. (2 Corinthians 8:9, 2 Corinthians 9:8, and Revelations 22:21)

We know that abundant grace is available from our Lord, not only for justification, but also for sanctification. Yet, how does a person access the sanctifying grace of God? How does one actually live day by day by grace?

We will consider the two relational realities that God wants to develop in our lives that we might live daily by His grace. First, a reminder of where that grace is, and secondly the ability upon which it all depends.

The grace we need is always found in a person, not a procedure. "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." Consequently, in order to access this grace, we must be seeking after the person in whom the grace resides. No wonder that many of the letters of the New Testament end with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all" (Revelations 22:21).

Our God is not one who wastes words. He does not speak unsuccessfully. Nor does He stand on human rules and regulations. These repetitious conclusions are an emphasis from the heart of God. When all is stated on any subject to any people, the ongoing need will ever be that they learn to live by the grace that is found in Jesus Christ.

Second, upon whose ability does the grace of God depend? We so easily become preoccupied with our own ability. "Will I be able to please and serve God?" "Will I be able to be an effective witness?"

The focus of the word of God is on His ability, not ours. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:17). "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him" (Hebrews 7:25). "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling" (Jude 1:24). "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).

Tip! Here again we see by the scripture, that first of all God gives us grace when we humble ourselves and are submitted. Another way of saying this is that He gives us grace when we are submitting ourselves to His will.

Concerning grace we may even be thinking, "Will I be able to live by God's grace?" Again, God's ability is the issue, not ours. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you." If we are willing to rely upon the One who is able, God, we will experience His sanctifying grace abundantly in our lives.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, Teach me these great matters of access to Your grace. Remind me often that grace is found in Jesus. I confess my tendency to explain the Christian life by a formula, instead of by a person. Help me to remember that living by grace depends upon Your matchless ability. I admit my inclination to hope in my inept ability. So, Lord, I now look to You to abundantly pour out Your grace upon my life, through Christ Jesus, my Lord, in Jesus' name Amen.