The Gift of Grace
Giving and gifts dominate the thinking of celebrators of Christmas every year. Again, we find ourselves in this mode of thinking for it is the Christmas season. It is fair to say that material and tangible gifts, with a few exceptions, seem to have shelf life. Some Christmas gifts are more enduring and become keepsakes. All the material Christmas gifts, regardless of their value, provide enjoyment only for our brief earthly life. All our material Christmas gifts have value for time but not for eternity. The gift of grace is eternally beneficial for it will be enjoyed forever! Paul spoke of this precious gift. “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.” – Ephesians 3:7
I. A Redeeming Gift – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” – Ephesians 2:8
Salvation is through grace. The greatest Christmas “Gift” was wrapped in swaddling clothes. He was incarnated in human flesh to provide salvation through His cross-work. No earthly gift is redemptive but God’s great gift of grace is! You might say that it is the gift that keeps on giving for salvation is eternal.
II. A Respective Gift – “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6
God gives more grace in respect to the needs and circumstances in the lives of His people. We face nothing and deal with nothing but what the power of God’s grace cannot encounter and overcome. The overcoming is experienced in the God given ability to deal with the issues in life which Christian’s experience. Salvation is not an immunity from problems but, through Christ, we are made victorious. “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” – Romans 8:37
III. A Represented Gift – “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” – II Corinthians 8:9
Grace is represented and personified in The Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of God was demonstrated in the incarnation of Christ. He left the ivory palaces of Glory and assumed poverty for the sake of lost sinners but His salvation wraps the redeemed sinner in the royal garment of the righteousness of Christ and makes them rich. There is no better representation of grace than the condescending grace that brought the Redeemer down from Heaven to die in sinner’s stead on Calvary. That grace is gifted to the vilest sinner who will accept it by faith for it is by grace one is saved.
Chuck Peters – 12/1/2023
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