Titus 2:1-15; 3:1-15; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 4:1-6, 17-18.
( A Summary Of My Book On The Topic)
Grace, over the years, has been defined in various ways—either to suit the audience to whom the definition is given or to portray it in the light of what it truly is according to God’s Word. Some of these definitions, which fall short of scriptural standards, have led to a gross abuse of God’s grace. This is because they present grace as an insurance against the penalty or consequences of sins wilfully committed by the sinner.
This, however, is wrong. Grace actually empowers us to do the very opposite, as the scripture below clearly explains:
Titus 2:11
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
Titus 2:12
“It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,” Titus 2:13
“while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” (NIV)
Definition of Grace
What, then, is grace?
From a balanced view of the Holy Scriptures, we can define grace as the spiritual impartation of God upon man to enable him to live as God expects, despite all the challenges he faces (see 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; 1 Corinthians 15:9–10; 2 Corinthians 8:1–6).
Simply put, the language of grace is declared in Philippians 4:13:
“I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me…” (AMP)
From the foregoing, we can see that grace gives the ability to live a positive and impactful Christian life—not the opposite, as erroneously defined and taught by some.
Sometimes such errors arise because of the inability to distinguish between the operations of grace and mercy. It is often mistakenly believed that grace takes care of our sins. No—mercy does that. It is God’s mercy that moves Him to forgive the sinner upon repentance; but it is grace that enables the sinner to take that step toward repentance.
Without grace, God’s mercy—though inherent in His nature—would be exercised in vain, because no sinner would embrace it unless influenced by grace.
Ephesians 2:8–9
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (NIV)
The Operation of Grace
God has made His grace available to all mankind. However, this grace does not operate in isolation; it is accessed by those who humble themselves before God, whether saints or sinners (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5–7; Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 57:15).
Although grace is available to all who humble themselves, its operation differs according to individual spiritual needs, as determined by God. The sinner needs grace for salvation, while the believer needs grace to live the new life in Christ.
The Operation of Grace in the Humble Sinner
1Tim.1.13
“Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief “
1Tim.1.14
“The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus”. (NIV)
The primary aim of preaching the gospel is to expose the sinner to God’s grace, which brings salvation. However, grace benefits only those who respond with humility.
When God’s Word is faithfully preached, His grace is released, appealing to the sinner to yield to Christ. If the sinner humbly responds, the Spirit of God begins the work of salvation. If pride resists, the opportunity may pass.
The Operation of Grace in the Life of the Humble Christian
1Cor.15.10
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” (NIV)
Grace continues to work in the life of the believer, enabling them to live according to God’s will. Just as humility is required for salvation, it is also required for sustained spiritual growth and effectiveness.
Grace enables the Christian to:
*live righteously
*serve acceptably
*maintain fellowship with God
*grow in spiritual strength.
The more humble the Christian, the more evident the operation of grace in their life.
Examples of the Operation of Grace
Grace for Obedience
Grace empowers believers to live in obedience to God.
Grace for Christ-likeness
What once seemed impossible becomes natural through grace.
Grace for Service
True service to God is joyful and unforced when sustained by grace.
Grace for Fellowship
Grace creates a deep desire for fellowship with God and His people.
Grace for Ministry
Effective ministry is evidence of grace at work.
Grace for Endurance
Grace provides strength to endure trials without murmuring.
Grace for Sacrifice
Grace enables believers to live not for themselves, but for God.
The Danger of Abusing Grace
Grace can be abused either deliberately or through ignorance. In both cases, its operation is hindered.
Common Ways Sinners Abuse Grace:
*Through Pride
*By Seeking Comfort in Sin
*By Rejecting the Truth
*By Choosing Vanity over Eternal Life.
Erroneous Abuse of Grace by Christians
Among believers, abuse of grace often stems from wrong doctrine or ignorance of Scripture. This can lead to:
loss of spiritual conviction
false confidence
distorted interpretation of Scripture
spiritual blindness
The Call to Humility
1Pet.5.6
” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ” (NKJV)
Grace flows through humility. Whether sinner or believer, the key requirement for accessing grace is a humble heart.
God’s “mighty hand” represents His dealings with man—moments where grace is made available in abundance. At such times, one must respond with humility to benefit from it.
Manifestations of God’s Grace:
Conviction of sin
Anointing for service
Manifestation of power
Unction of the Holy Spirit
Conclusion
Grace is God’s divine provision for both salvation and daily Christian living. It is not a license to sin but a power to live righteously.
It is accessed through humility, sustained through obedience, and expressed through a transformed life.