We’ve introduced the concept of grace by sampling a few passages from Paul’s many letters.

Ephesians 2:8-10

God saved you all by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation [from the plight described in Eph 2:1-3] is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

1 Corinthians 15:8-10

Jesus finally presented himself alive to me. It was fitting that I bring up the rear [of the Lord’s apostles]. I don't deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God's church right out of existence. But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it.

Galatians 5:2-4

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision [as a means to augment and secure your position in the family of God], Christ will be of no advantage to you. I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole [Old Testament] law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.

From these texts (and there are many more like them), we noted a few characteristic marks of the grace God bestows.

1. Grace as Gift

Grace is all gift, given to us out of God’s generosity. Because it is unearned, there is no room for boasting. The only thing we need to qualify for grace is our need. And who doesn’t have lots of that?  I love this welcoming invitation: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). His grace meets our need. We’re funny, though. Sometimes we think that our needs, problems, struggles, failures, doubts, and hang-ups disqualify us from approaching the throne of grace. But that thinking is totally backwards. These needs are the very things that he wants us to bring to him. That’s what grace is all about.

2. Grace Transforms

Grace transforms us, makes us a new creation, God’s masterpiece, delivering us from spiritual death [see Eph 2:1-3] by infusing life into us [see Eph 2:4-7]. Once alive, we are equipped by grace to participate in the goodness that God is doing in the world, his grand project of setting everything right again. Though we work hard, we recognize that God not only gives us the work to do, but he energizes us to do it. Yes, grace is all gift, and grace is transforming. And couldn’t we benefit from more of that? 

3. Collaboration with Grace

Grace requires (and fortunately enables) collaboration. Without our glad participation, grace could be in vain and go to waste. Sternly, Paul warns the Galatian Christians that they could fall from grace if they refuse to go God’s way. This excludes any presumption of slam-dunk security on their part. In our day, it’s not the Old Testament rite of circumcision that trips us up. But we have other ways to close the door on grace. To keep our relationship with God healthy and thriving requires a lifetime of dependency, delight, and devotion. God often compares his relationship with his people to that of a marriage. And as all of us have seen, it takes two to tango.

4. Pray for Grace

God wants his grace, this kind of grace, to embrace us and to transform us. It will take us as we are, but not leave us there. It will help re-create us in Christ. No wonder Paul’s prayer for others so often began with these words: “Grace to you…” (see Rom 1:7, 1 Cor 1:3, 2 Cor 1:2, Gal 1:3, Eph 1:2, etc.).

Let’s begin to pray this for one another. “O Father, flood us, your beloved children, with your grace. Help us understand it, grasp it, experience it, and respond to it. Build us into a community who embrace each other in the same way you embrace us. Give our fellow Embracers grace upon grace. And maybe we can have the privilege of contributing to their walk with you. May it be so.”