KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:8-9 ” For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

In contrast to the mercy of God being revealed to all creation the grace of God is a perfection of divine character which is not shown to the whole of creation but by God’s sovereign will he manifests His grace to those He so desires. (Please get this understanding, the grace of God comes upon a person or a group of people, to do or achieve a particular task)

Grace is a goodwill, love, and salvation unto His people. It is also the supernatural work of the Spirit of God in the life of a man. The Lord reminded the Israelites that He did not set His love upon them, because they were more in number than any other people……” He said it was because of the oath He made to their forefathers: The question is, did Abraham deserve to be chosen? God called him and was gracious to him purely on His own sovereign will.

Abraham did not merit that favour anyway. God’s grace has been shown throughout the scripture that it is never based on the merit of the benefactors but purely on God’s sovereign will to be gracious to such people or individuals.

The grace of God cannot be bought or earned. In Acts 8:20 Peter said to Simon “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God (grace) may be purchased with money”. Grace is only grace when the recipient has no claim upon it. Many of us children of God and especially ministers of the gospel who boast about our gifts, don’t have the proper understanding of the grace of God. Nothing you did brought it to you. It is not your holiness, prayer, or any effort of yours that qualified you for the grace of God. The apostle Paul wrote by the inspiration of the spirit.

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God:” The abilities we have are of God and must be acknowledged in that light. God must continually receive the praise. He says also in 1st Corinthians 15:10b. “……but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

Beloved the grace of God remains God’s sole prerogative to give to whomsoever He chooses, yet note, IT MUST BE RECEIVED BY FAITH to be effectual in our lives. (Ephesians 2:8).

  PRAYER

Thank you, heavenly Father, for your grace upon my life. I did not merit it in any way, yet in your wisdom and sovereignty, you gave it to me. Thank you, Lord, in the name of Jesus I have prayed.

THOUGHT: GRACE IS SOVEREIGNLY GOD’S CHOICE, YET MAN PARTAKES OF IT BY FAITH.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Corinthians 15:10 ” But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

James 1:17-18” Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of…

 Consider the following questions

1. Can you give the contrast between God showing mercy as compared to showing g His grace?

2. What is the grace of God?

3. On what terms did God show Abraham His grace?

4. Explain the statement the grace of God cannot be bought or earned.

5. What makes it wrong to boast about any gift you have from God.?