Grace

"For by grace you are saved through faith and not of works (not of yourself), it is a work of God (from beginning to end) so that no one can boast." -Eph. 2

Grace is popular these days. I hear about it from every part of the Christian world.  Evangelicals have been talking about it for as long as I can remember, but now charismatics are beginning to discuss grace.  It's great to hear so many begin to discuss this important truth, but it's sad to realize so few still understand it.

Grace is a work of God on our behalf.  It describes God's work in salvation and in living the Christian life.  There is nothing you can do go get it (other than believe) and there is nothing you can do to lose it, and....even more important...there is nothing the devil can do to take it away from you.  Some are talking about grace, but still can't resist linking it to works, to what we must do to keep it.  

Might I emphasize this again? There is nothing we can do to get it and there is nothing anyone can do to lose it.  That's the message of Romans 8, that's the message and meaning of grace.  It begins with no condemnation and ends with no separation   Grace is a work of God and nothing I do now or could do in the future can merit it or lose it.

That's the great thing about grace!  Finally, one thing that is a work of God that we can't mess up, break, lose or destroy!  That's why grace is such a big deal.  That's why it's so hard for us to believe...it's too good to be true!

Even as I write that I know some are saying, "yeah, but...." and they proceed to condemn what they call "free grace" or "cheap grace".  They fret about we might do if we were completely forgiven and couldn't lose it...no matter what we do.  We are uncomfortable with anything that doesn't involve our works, our performance or our response.  Grace is grace entirely because nothing I can do will affect it in any way!  

Isn't that wonderful?