A few weeks ago we saw that God’s grace is unconditionally demonstrated by His love toward us. He has demonstrated that love by giving us gracious gifts that are so amazing and undeserved. Today, we will look at how God’s grace is available and ready to be received.

G = God’s Gift
A = Available

The fact that God has made His grace available is grace. God is not obligated to give us His rich grace and mercy, but He does so because He is a good God. However, many fail to receive the grace of God either for Salvation or for Sanctification because of relying on their own efforts, works, and goodness.

Notice what Paul mentions to the Church in Galatia.

Galatians 3:1-3 “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Vs 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Vs 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?”

Receiving God’s grace will help us “Grow in Grace” How do we receive God’s grace?

1.    By Faith – Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 5:4-6

Receiving God’s grace is believing and resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. It is believing that God is gracious and that we do not deserve His grace, but we understand that He loves us, and so therefore we receive His grace with thanksgiving.

Galatians 5:4 “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. Vs 3 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Vs 6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”

2.    By Humility – Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6

Martin Luther once said “A man must completely despair of himself in order to become fit to obtain the grace of Christ.”

Have you ever asked God to humble you? God will do a better job in humbling us than we can, because when we think that we are humble enough for His grace we have then been lifted up in pride.

“God alone knows how to humble us without humiliating us, and how to lift us up without flattering us” — unknown

3.    By the Knowledge of God – 2 Peter 1:2

The grace of God is multiplied to us as we grow to know more and more about Jesus; more of His love divine. God’s love is unfailing, undying, and is the very thing that should keep us by His side.

a.     An unfailing and undying love – Jeremiah 31:3a

b.     Love draws me closer to God – Jeremiah 31:3b.

Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

God’s desire is that all His Children grow in His Grace. The Christian’s conversion is the start of God’s grace, but the Christian life is growing in God’s Grace.

David Livingstone once said “I’ll go anywhere provided it is forward”.

G = God’s Gift 

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: vs 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

God’s grace is His unconditional love toward us. He has demonstrated that love by giving us gracious gifts that are so amazing and undeserving. We have a God that is too good to us, and His love is better than anything this whole world can offer. The Psalmist said “…thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.”

AW Tozer said “Grace is the good pleasure of God that inclines Him to bestow benefits upon the undeserving. Its use to us sinful men is to save us and make us sit together in heavenly places to demonstrate to the ages the exceeding riches of God’s kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

1.    God’s Gift of Love – Romans 5:8

This amazing love is found in Jesus Christ. Through His love, He grants us forgiveness of sin and eternal priceless treasures that fade not away.

a.     Jesus – Romans 3:24, 2 Timothy 2:1

b.    The Gospel – Acts 20:24

c.     Salvation – Ephesians 1:7, Acts 15:11

d.    Eternal Life – Romans 6:23

e.    Divine Royalty – Romans 8:6-17

f.      Repentance – Titus 2:11-12

Note: For God to give all people everywhere the opportunity to turn back to Him is great grace.

2.    God’s Gift in Prayer – Hebrews 4:16

It is an absolute privilege to be able to talk to God through prayer and cast our care upon Him.

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

3.    God’s Gift in His Calling – Ephesians 3:7, Philippians 3:14

There is no greater calling in life than to have the Creator give us various abilities to use for His glory!

Ephesians 3:7 “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”

4.    God’s Gift in His Service – 1 Peter 4:8-10

1 Peter 4:10 “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

5.    God’s Gift of His Strength & Power

2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”