Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 19
November 16, 1967
NUMBER 28, PAGE 11b-12a

The Grace Of God

Billy Moore

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast," (Ephesians 2:8,9) That man is saved by the grace of God can hardly be disputed, in view of the plain statement made by the apostle. Yet, there seems to be a great deal of misunderstanding about God's grace, and how man is saved by grace.

Grace is commonly defined as being unmerited favor, that is favor which is not deserved. Thayer says the word grace "contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved." Then he goes on to say that the New Testament writers use the word "pre-eminently of that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offences, and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ." (Thayer's Lexicon, page 666.)

Man, a free will agent, for thus was he created by God, was made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), and of course was in the grace of favor of God (Gen. 1:31.) But, by his own choice man rebelled against the will of God, and was thus driven from the garden of Eden (Gen. 3:24), separated from God (Isa. 59:2), thus dying spiritually, and doomed to die physically since he was separated from the source of life.

However, in spite of the rebellion and disobedience of man, God had mercy on the prize of his creation and by his grace provided a means whereby man could be saved from the penalty of his sins. This was the result of God's great love for man. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:10) The Son of God gave his life, shed his blood, "for the remission of sins.' (Matt. 26:28) When man was lost, being unable offer any kind of a sacrifice unto God which could takes away his sins (Heb. 10:1-4; 9:22), God sent his Son "who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree" (I Peter 2:24). Through Jesus man, who was lost, can now be saved. This is man's faith that accepts the salvation which is offered unto him by God's grace. Thus, "by grace are ye saved through faith." (Eph. 2:28) The salvation does not come at the point of ones faith, but when his faith leads him to accept the salvation offered, by obeying the conditions upon which it is offered. The Lord said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16) Also, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) When one's faith is strong enough to cause him to "repent and be baptized.... in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins," (Acts 2:38) then is he saved by the grace of God, and by Christ the gift of God's grace.

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