Growing in Grace - Part 2

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?”