When hearing the word grace, one would commonly define it to be “God’s unmerited favor.” This definition interprets grace to be divine favor, signifying God’s beneficent disposition toward us. Yet this single definition does not capture all that grace is and all that grace does.
Grace in and of itself is a precious gift from God that serves many purposes in our life.
In Ephesians 2:4–5, the Apostle Paul tells us that it is by grace that we are delivered (saved). These verses state, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;).”
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord conveys to the Apostle Paul that it is through grace we are developed (sanctified). This verse state, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Select verses in Ephesians chapter 4 convey that it is with grace we are deployed (serve).
Ephesians 4:7–8
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:11–12
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
This grace is that which is operable as we carry out the assignment God has entrusted to us. When the Apostle Paul uttered the words “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10), he is essentially saying that it is the grace of God to him that is at work in him, and it is that grace to him by which he is able to do what God would have him do.
The Apostle Paul saw for himself and sequentially conveyed to the saints that Grace is more than divine favor. Grace, he saw, was and is that by which we do what God has given us to do. The Apostle Paul references of this are captured in his acknowledgment that:
Grace made him a minister (Ephesians 3:1–8)
The grace that made him a minister is the very grace that was given to him so that he can preach. In other words, grace was given to him for a purpose. (Ephesians 3:1–8)
Ephesians 3:1–8
1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
He is sent out to minister because of the grace that the apostles saw was given him
Galatians 2:9
9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
He writes and speaks to the saints in the boldness of God out of the grace given to him
Romans 12:3
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Romans 15:15
15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
He does the work assigned to him as an apostle according to the grace given him
1 Corinthians 3:10
10According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
As we set out to do what God has assigned and purposed us to do, let God’s grace upon us be operable in us and that which is at work through us to the fulfilling of His divine will.
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