Grace is a little word whose proper definition, more often than not, is misunderstood and even abused. In evangelical circles today, it is largely understood to be something that can be earned or at least something that is our right and our privilege as offspring of God. It seems that grace (or love) is God’s primary disposition toward human beings; it is something that he owes us by virtue of our simply being. God’s grace has been watered down to the point of being of little effect, little power, and therefore, of little consequence. This grace winks at sin. This grace demands little. This grace is cheap. 

Even in reformed circles, the understanding of grace is largely guided by the definition, “the unmerited favor of God to undeserving sinners.” While this is certainly a correct and appropriate understanding, as far as it goes, it does not do justice to a full-orbed and scriptural understanding of what grace truly and fully is. It stops with the idea that once having been blessed with favor from God—once having received this favor—the recipient is responsible to remain in this state of favor largely through his or her own efforts. Grace, in this limited view, is something totally outside of a child of God, and is lacking in power and meaningful influence in his or her sanctification. 

Some years past, Sound of Grace carried an article by John G. Reisinger entitled “Grace.” This article profoundly affected the way I viewed grace and indeed God’s work in the salvation and sanctification of sinners such as me. No longer restricted in my understanding by the definition above, I came to see that grace has more than one aspect; indeed, it has many facets. 

First, I came to appreciate much more fully and deeply just how free (no merit on the part of rebellious sinners) grace as given by the sovereign God truly is. I also realized just how much this grace truly cost God in the giving of his beloved Son. This was, and is, a truly rich, glorious, marvelous, amazing grace!

Perhaps the aspect of grace that had its most profound impact on my thinking was Pastor John’s explanation of grace as a spiritual power that flows from God into a sinner and effects genuine change in the heart of that sinner. For the first time, I came to rely on God’s grace (enabling power) in my daily walk, as I desired to grow in Christ and to be like him in thought, word, and deed. I could see the futility of striving to maintain a relationship with Christ through the outward influences of lists of dos and don’ts, even those that are good and right. I came to appreciate, love, and adore Jesus Christ, who is my righteousness and sanctification and redemption (cf. 1 Cor. 1:30). Further, I came to see the absolute necessity of the entire council of God as revealed in the entirety of Scripture, especially the words of Christ and the writings of his disciples as my rule of faith and conduct

Lastly, I gained the understanding that grace is the proper response, in terms of gratitude, worship, and service that flows from those who receive this unmerited favor from God, this enabling power from the Holy Spirit, this righteousness and sanctification in Christ. No longer was it a laborious, constricting duty, grudgingly carried out, to praise God in Christ, to hear his voice, to serve his people, and to praise him even in perplexing times. I could now serve him with joy, freedom, gratitude, and thankfulness. To borrow a phrase from a dear pastor, when asked, “How are you,” I can honestly respond with a heart renewed and enlivened by grace, “Much better than I deserve.”

Grace, a little word with huge implications.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ (Eph. 1:3-10, NIV).

Jacob Moseley
May 2008