What do you Know about Grace?

Grace is not a “get out of sin free card”, it’s not simply "God's unmerited favor". The grace of God is not God turning a blind eye to our sin. People preach, teach and talk about Grace as if it justifies a life of sin, but it certainly does not. As a matter of fact Paul makes it clear that Grace is not an excuse for us to continue in sin.

"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid."

Romans 6:15-16

Paul actually says that we should be victorious; we should have victory over Sin because of the Grace of God. He says that we should not be subject to or ruled by sin, because of the Grace of God, nor should we continue living in sin.

The Greek word translated as grace in this text as well as much of the New Testament is best understood as God's influence on the heart that is reflected in one’s life, or divine intervention, God's ability for our inability. We can better understand the grace of God as we look at these verses:

2 Peter 1:3

According as his (grace) divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

2 Corinthians 12:9

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.

1 Corinthians 15:10 King James Version (KJV)

10 But by the grace (divine activity) of God I am what I am: and his grace (power) which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace (power) of God which was with me.

Romans 5:15 King James Version (KJV)

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace (divine intervention) of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Grace of Christ

John 1:16:17

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 8:9 King James Version (KJV)

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

"Grace is more than an idea of God's favor, its God acting. It is God's influence of the Heart that is reflected in life. Grace is not an excuse or us being excused, rather it is us being empowered (influenced) to overcome. Grace as the favor of God is merely an abstract understanding of God's grace. The concrete understand is God's divine intervention, His ability in place of our inability. God acting on our behalf even when we don’t deserves it, and despite of the fact we can never earn it. Far too many people live in the abstract idea of grace-favor and not living in the concrete reality of His power-Grace."