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The following blog is a summary of a message preached by Pastor Eddie Lawrence.

Watch the Sermon HERE!

Grace is one of the most transformative concepts in Christianity, yet it's often misunderstood. When we truly grasp what grace means and how it operates in our lives, everything changes. We move from striving in our own strength to resting in what Christ has accomplished for us.

What Is Grace?

Grace is God's undeserved, unmerited, freely given favor and blessing. It's His power and enablement given to you through His Holy Spirit to do what you could never do before you met Him - to live a life you could have never lived without Him.

This grace cost you nothing, but it cost Jesus everything. As Romans 3:24 tells us, we are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

The Different Types of Grace

Saving Grace

"For by grace are you 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). You cannot earn salvation through intelligence, wealth, good deeds, or religious connections. It is freely given by God's amazing grace.

Standing Grace

Romans 5:2 reminds us that "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand." When you're struggling, remember you're standing in grace - not in your own efforts or abilities, but surrounded by the abundance of God's goodness.

John described Jesus as "full of grace and truth," and "of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" - wave after wave of grace crashing into our lives as believers.

Strengthening Grace

Sometimes God removes obstacles from our path, but other times He gives us grace to walk through difficulties. Paul experienced this when he prayed three times for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed. God's response was: "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).

There are seasons when God downloads His grace into you so you can move through challenges, and people will see His strength manifesting in your weakness.

Sanctifying Grace

Titus 2:11-12 teaches us that "the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

Grace is a teacher that empowers you to live a godly life. When you got saved, you got a new address - you moved from darkness to light, from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God's dear Son.

Serving Grace

First Peter 4:10 instructs us: "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." The spiritual gifts we operate in are actually "grace gifts" - supernatural enablements from the Holy Spirit to serve others effectively.

Common Misconceptions About Grace

Grace Is Only Pardon

While grace certainly includes forgiveness, it's not only pardon - it's also power. Paul said, "By the grace of God I am what I am... yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace empowers you to accomplish God's will with supernatural enablement.

Grace Makes Holiness Optional

Some believe that since we're saved by grace, it doesn't matter how we live. This is dangerous thinking. We should never make light of that which cost Christ His life. Paul addressed this directly: "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid" (Romans 6:1-2).

Grace doesn't make holiness optional - grace makes holiness possible. It's the grace given to us that allows us to produce a holy life and have dominion over sin.

Grace Cancels Effort

Grace doesn't make you passive. While you don't have to do anything regarding your salvation (Jesus did everything), you've been "created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

Grace empowers you to do good works out of gratitude, not to earn salvation.

Grace and Truth Are Opposites

John 1:14 tells us Jesus was "full of grace and truth." They work together, not against each other. We need to understand the truth about grace, and God gives us grace to live out the truth in life-giving ways.

Your New Identity in Christ

When you became a believer, you received a new identity. You are now a "holy one" in Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:1). This isn't based on your performance but on Christ's righteousness credited to your account.

The enemy will try to send "mail" to your old address - thoughts and accusations about who you used to be. But you must learn to reject these lies and embrace your new identity in Christ.

Accessing God's Grace

Hebrews 4:16 gives us this incredible promise: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

You can come with confidence into God's throne room, expecting Him to give you grace for whatever you're dealing with. God doesn't get tired of you coming to Him - He invites you to access His unlimited supply of grace.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to live from your new identity in Christ rather than striving in your own strength. When you face difficulties, remember that you're standing in an ocean of God's grace with unlimited access to His power and enablement.

Ask yourself these questions:

  • Am I trying to earn God's favor through my performance, or am I resting in what Christ has already accomplished?
  • When negative thoughts come, am I recognizing them as "mail sent to my old address" and rejecting them?
  • Am I accessing God's throne of grace boldly when I need help, or am I trying to handle things in my own strength?
  • How can I better represent God's grace to others through my words and actions this week?

 

Remember, you will never meet anyone more kind, merciful, forgiving, or gracious than Jesus. When grace comes into your life, all His kindness, love, favor, and blessings come crashing in - not based on anything you've done, but simply because of how good He is.