Transformational Grace

I never cease to be amazed at the grace of God. God’s grace has not only saved me from sin and made me a new creature in Christ Jesus, but His grace has enabled me to travel all over the world and do things that I could never do myself. It is by His grace and only His grace that I stand today.

When we truly come into revelation knowledge of God’s grace, it liberates us from our carnal nature, whether rooted in pride and self-righteousness, or feelings of inadequacy and failure. Grace is the equalizing factor in every one of our lives because grace is not of us but rooted and grounded in the very character and nature of God. Grace is not a license to sin or be slack as a Christian but enables us to live Christ-like. Grace is all about God and what He can do in and through us.

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, “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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them.” Grace does not excuse us from good works but actually enables us for good works, and not any good works, but “good works which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them.” 

Grace moves us from our good works to works that are initiated by the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit. Grace takes our eyes off of ourselves and fixes our eyes upon Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. The brilliant Apostle Paul, who authored most of the New Testament, never ceased to be amazed at the grace of God that enabled him to be an apostle. In Romans chapter 26, when Paul was brought as a prisoner brought before King Agrippa and Bernice with the commanders and the prominent men of the city, he does not give an eloquent sermon but testifies to the grace of God that saved, called, and enabled him to be an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Somehow, we have to move from ourselves, our failures, shortcomings, strengths, and accomplishments and be consumed by the grace of God in our lives. By the Spirit we need to allow God’s grace to permeate every part of our nature and all that we do. When we do, God’s grace will enable us to praise and worship Him in the midst of our greatest trails and afflictions as well as our times of success and victory.

Romans 5:2 says, “We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand.”  In these changing times God is calling us to put our trust totally in Him, so that in time of need we will have access to the abundance of His grace.  This grace that He offers not only sustains us in time of need, but also enables us to be triumphant. May you rise up every day awed by God’s grace that can transform your life and the lives of those around you.

Andy Clark