Amazing Grace

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

What do you think of when you hear the word “Grace”? Do you think of something elegant, or someone with charm? Well grace can be those things but it can be something much greater. Biblically speaking grace is unmerited favor, and it is what God has chosen to bestow upon all who will believe in Jesus. I heard it once said; “Grace is more than I deserve,” and I have to agree with this completely, because it truly is amazing.

We are told in Ephesians 2:8-9 we are saved by “grace,” through “faith.” So, we are saved by God’s grace and not by our own efforts or works. Think of God’s grace like water, and the hose with which it flows to us is called “faith.” This “faith” is the conduit or method God chooses to use to apprehend our salvation, and it is necessary to every believer.

Q: So how do we get this faith? Do we earn it by believing real hard?

The answer to this question is “No.” Faith is not something a person can produce; Faith is simply a trustful response that is itself evoked by the Holy Spirit and given to us. And the reason we are given this gift, is because God didn’t want man boasting about how he had done something to earn his own salvation. The entire process is a free gift from God. All that is required is for man to exercise his “free will,” and simply receive the gift. So as believers, we owe our entire salvation entirely to the undeserved favor of God.

For those who find it hard to be given something of great worth, they might justify the gift based on their living a good life, or being a good person, but we can see from Scripture, “Nothing good dwells in our flesh!”

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. Romans 7:18 (NKJV)


I want to encourage you to meditate upon this today. Let’s rejoice knowing we will spend eternity with God, singing praises to Him forever and ever. And as the lyrics of the song “Amazing Grace,” so eloquently state; “When we've been here ten thousand years…bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise…then when we've first begun.”

STUDY QUESTION: What is Grace?

PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you accepted God’s grace upon your life?

APPLICATION: Let’s stop trying to earn God’s favor because He has already given it to us freely. Let’s simply accept it and respond by sharing the “Good News.”