Week 65: Grace - It's Really Amazing!

“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.” (St. Paul)

“There is one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.” (Gordon McDonald)

Grace is everything for nothing. Grace is God’s special favor freely given to undeserving people. Grace is getting something from God that doesn’t belong to us. Grace is like doing a big favor for someone without expecting anything in return. The word ‘Grace’ mean that “God is generous giver toward us even though we do not deserve it”. It's really Amazing!

Change by Grace

Amazing Grace, movie poster (2006)

John Newton, author of the beloved hymn ‘Amazing Grace’ (1779) beautifully expressed grace like this;

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind but now I see

Oh, how I love to sing this song. If only we could identify with John Newton’s expressive words, how he sees himself was set free from the punishment of sins only by the Grace of God, and then we can appreciate this hymn and sing it like we meant it.

Paul, the first century apostle, appreciated grace more than everyone else. In the past he was a very proud Pharisee, super cruel man and greatly brutal person. He then changed from a zealous persecutor of the church to a humble and lowly servant of Christ. How? It is because of the grace of God. Paul testified,

“For I am the least of all the apostles, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted the church of God. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me – and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10NLT) It's really Amazing!

Salvation by Grace through Faith

I love this story very much and I think that it is one of the best illustration about God’s grace;

"A minister once sat next to an unbeliever on a train and begins talking about spiritual things. He had difficulty convincing the unbeliever that character and good works could not save a man, but only faith in Jesus Christ. Soon the conductor came along requesting,

“Tickets, please!”

As the man presented his, the conductor looked at it, checked the date, punched it, and passed on to the next seat. This was the minister’s opportunity. He said,

“All the conductor looked at was your ticket. He did not inquire about your character. He didn’t care who you were – whether you were a good or moral man or a criminal. So it is with salvation. You need only God’s ‘ticket to heaven’ stamped by the blood of Jesus Christ.”*

Becoming part of God’s people has nothing to do with our race (Chinese, Indian, Iban, Bidayuh etc.), circumstances (rich, poor, handicap, well-build, stupid, smart etc.) or efforts (go to certain places, obey religious rules, pray multiple times per day, etc.), but everything to do with God’s grace received by faith.

“But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight – not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in the same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” (Romans 3:21-22NLT) It's really amazing!

From Graceless to Christian

One of my all-time favorite books is The Pilgrim’s Progress written by John Bunyan. It is the fascinating story of a man called Christian who pilgrimage from earth to heaven, from sin to salvation, is full of all the struggles and pitfalls life could throw at him. Have you read this book? Do you remember his original name? The pilgrim told his original name in one of the conversation with the porter, “My name is now Christian, but my name at the first was Graceless.” Charles R. Swindoll comments, “Our name is now Christian, but it has not always been so. That title was given to us the moment we believed, the day we took God at His word and accepted the gift of eternal life He offered us.” We were Graceless, but by the grace of God, now we are Christian. It's really Amazing!

My summaries

So much I want to write about the subject of grace. The subject is too rich to simplified, but I also find that it is so clear and quite simple that it is a crime for me to elaborate too much on it.

Grace is free, unearned and unmerited favor of God toward the sinner like you and I. This God’s saving grace is only possible because of the cross, and it is made real to us by the Holy Spirit. Salvation cannot be earned; it is a free gift to be received by faith. Yet, it's not a 'cheap grace' because the price costing God everything. It's not cheap, it's bloody! God has given his Son to the world so that the gift of eternal life might be freely available – to those who respond. Oh, what an amazing grace!

THINK BIG God’s love has no limit, His grace has no measure and His power has no boundary.

START SMALL Respond to God’s Grace, for that’s all men can do.

GO DEEP Accept God’s Grace and it will give you great comfort, security and hope.

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References;

1)    Illustration for Salvation by Grace through Faith is taken from Roy B. Zuck, The Speaker’s Quote Book (Kregel Publications, 1997, 2009)

2)    Charles R. Swindoll, The Grace Awakening (Word Publishing, 1990, 1996)

3)    John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress (New York: The Heritage Press, 1942)

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The Grace Awakening: Believing in Grace is one thing. Living it is another

By Charles R. Swindoll

‘You’re known about grace for years. You’ve sung about it till you know the words by heart. You heard it preached and read about it in books. Now… are you ready for grace to transform your life?’

If you’re ready, my friend, I would like to offer you a free copy of this very special book. Sponsored by a generous Unknown. I pray that the grace of Almighty God be with you. Amen. 

There are only 5 books available for you to request. Do you want to have a copy of this book? Do these 2 things:

1)    Comment below “I want to know about this Amazing Grace (space) (Your name)”

2)    E-mail me at Motivates4life@hotmail.com or send message to my Facebook your real name, phone no. and your postal address.