Understanding what the grace of God is and what it is used for will totally transform the way we see life and how to approach all aspects of it. His grace manifests in two ways - through His election and through sanctification.
The election of grace is His choosing of His people from the foundation of the world.
Ephesians 1:4-5
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Romans 11:5-6
5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, since otherwise grace is no longer grace.
In this way, no one can boast that they worked their way into this election.
Ephesians 2:8-10
5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Now we come to the grace that is our sanctification. This life change is brought about by the Word of God, the blood of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace in these forms teach us how to deny ungodliness and worldly desires in exchange for living righteously.
Titus 2:11-14
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed (sin), and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.
It's through this purification unto obedience that our Father makes His election of us sure. We have been chosen for salvation through sanctification.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Romans 6:20-22
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in relation to righteousness. 21 Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death. 22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
This was His plan from the very beginning.
Ephesians 1:4-5
4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
Those who He has chosen, He sets apart and calls to manifest sainthood by this very same grace.
Galatians 1:15-16
15 But when He who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace was pleased 16 to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood,
Romans 1:7
7 to all that are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
No one can come to Jesus unless called upon by the grace of our Father first.
John 6:37; 44; 65
37 Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out... 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day... 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”
It is our Father who allows us to be born again and grants us the faith that brings us to Jesus.
Philippians 1:29
29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer on His behalf,
Romans 12:3
3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
For everyone who has been appointed to eternal life will believe by that faith our Father bestows according to His will.
Acts 13:48
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.
Those He had chosen before hand through the election of grace to sanctify unto Christ-likeness, He not only calls and bestows faith to, but He justifies, and glorifies by that same faith.
Romans 8:29-30
29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
He justifies through many means, one of which is the blood of Christ.
Romans 5:9
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
By his blood we are bought and born again so we could be justified through faith in Jesus unto sanctification.
Galatians 3:24
24 Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
Faith isn't a state of mind but a state of living. Our faith is proven by what we do. Without works of faith, the faith we proclaim to have is useless. A workless faith cannot justify and save because faith without works is dead being by itself. A workless faith cannot sanctify.
James 2:14-20
14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to acknowledge, you foolish person, that faith without works is useless?
These works of faith are also known as the "obedience of our faith."
Romans 1:5
5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles in behalf of His name,
After our born again moment, our Father makes our election sure by establishing us in this obedience through the mystery that is Christ in us, our sanctification.
Romans 16:25-27
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26 but now has been disclosed, and through the Scriptures of the prophets, in accordance with the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
Colossians 1:25-27
25 I was made a minister of this church according to the commission from God granted to me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, the mystery which had been hidden from the past ages and generations, but now has been revealed to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Therefore, the obedience of our faith justifies.
James 2:21-26
21 Was our father Abraham not justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was Rahab the prostitute not justified by works also when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
Romans 2:13
13 for it is not the hearers of the Law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the Law who will be justified.
There is no justification, nor sanctification, without obedience to our Father's Word. Christ is the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
Hebrews 5:9
9 And having been perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him,
John 3:36
36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Only through the obedience of our faith can our old carnal sin nature die and the nature of Christ manifest in us. These qualities are defined as our flesh verses fruits of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-24
19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
A faith that justifies is one that conquers our first born carnal nature.
1 John 5:2-5
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and follow His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whoever has been born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Without manifesting these character fruits of Jesus by walking in the obedience of our faith, we are nothing but dried up sticks meant for nothing else but burning.
John 15:1-11
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
In fact, this is exactly why we have been chosen and bought with the blood of Jesus - to manifest these fruits.
John 15:16
16 You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.
Romans 7:4
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you also were put to death in regard to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.
Only when we manifest these fruits through obedience can we be justified in the name (nature, character, authority) of Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor those habitually drunk, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.
As we manifest Christ-likeness, we are then considered to be "in Christ" since we are new creations.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
There is now no condemnation for those who are "in Christ" as we are now justified "in Christ."
Romans 8:1
1 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 2:17
16 nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Far from it! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a wrongdoer. 19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
Much of what we are justified by is found wrapped up in how we handle the Word of God. To summarize the grace of God, we need to remember that Jesus didn't just come by blood, but by blood, water, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 John 5:5-8
5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
The grace of God's Word is a part of what cleanses the soul. It is the culmination of God's commandments and promises. Specifically, believing in the many promises we are given allows us to carry out the obedience of our faith to those commandments and manifest the character of Jesus. In that way, we bear his name (nature, character, and authority) and are found in him.
2 Peter 1:2-5
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust.
2 Corinthians 7:1
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:25-27
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
Therefore, the culmination of the blood of Christ, the Word of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit is the grace by which we are renewed and justified.
Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy (AKA His election and blood of Jesus), by the washing (with the Word) of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (aka the manifestation of Christ likeness), 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
And this is the grace of our glorification - the last step in our Father's salvation plan for us. Our glory is found in the grace of our sanctification.
Romans 5:10
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Colossians 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
All this is what it means to be saved by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8-10
5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works (but of election), so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them (unto sanctification).
So let us mature, perfecting the obedience of our faith in the grace of our Father who will establish our ways to walk blamelessly before Him.
1 Peter 5:10-11
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:7-9
7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.
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