The Grace Of God

By Pastor Joe Laughlin, Victory Church - Omaha

2 Timothy 2:1 says, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. When the word of God says we are to be strong in something, I believe we should be strong in that thing. Am I strong in the grace of God? Am I strong in the message of the grace of God? Do I have a good understanding of what God’s grace is? My prayer is that today’s message will encourage us in the grace of God.

What is Grace? Many would respond that grace is God’s unmerited favor towards us. I would agree with this statement, but how do we apply the grace of God in our everyday life? The bible says in Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no not one”. Everyone of us needs the grace of God. Everyone needs forgiveness. Everyone needs God’s unmerited favor. God’s grace is necessary for us to be saved. Ephesians 2:9 says “For by grace you have been saved through faith, it is a gift of God”. God’s grace offered to me forgiveness of all of my sins and a relationship with God, if I would believe the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ. So grace is necessary for us to be saved, but it is also necessary for us to live the Christian life.

2 Corinthians 8:9 describes how God’s grace was working in Christ Jesus our Lord. It reads, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes, He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich”. Jesus demonstrated the grace of God by making available to me, by His sacrifice on the cross, a rich relationship with Father God, and through that relationship, everything I need to accomplish God’s plan for my life.

There is another key to walking in the grace of God found in James 4:6. It says, “God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble”. If you or I are going to walk in the grace of God, we need to humble ourselves before His mighty hand. Anyone who thinks they can earn a place in heaven with God by good works is saying “I don’t need the grace of God, I’ll earn my way” . That is pride. Grace says, “God, I come to you as a sinner in need of your grace, your unmerited favor. I know my good works would never be enough to earn a place in heaven” . Your word says in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life”. Lord, I believe your word. I humble myself and receive your grace. I believe that Jesus had an abundant life, starting with an abundant relationship with His Father. He took my sin on His own body, He took my lack, my want, and my need, that by grace, I can have forgiveness of sin, and abundant life with God. That is the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s grace, working through Christ Jesus, to make available to me what I could not earn by good works. Be strong in the grace of God.