Grace Defined - Part One

Note: This is the 2nd post in a series on Grace that should be read in the following order:

1 Purpose of this Blog
2 Grace Defined - Part One
3 Grace Defined - Part Two
4 Grace operates through Faith - Faith Defined
5 Faith comes by hearing
6 Faith comes by hearing - Time alone with God
7 ...and hearing by the Word of God - Part One
8 ...and hearing by the Word of God - Part Two

"For by grace are ye saved..."
Eph 2:8a

Throughout the scriptures we are told that we are saved by Grace, we are to grow in Grace, to serve God acceptably by Grace, to stand by Grace, to have our hearts established in Grace, and much more. As we start this journey to understand the work of Grace in our lives as Christians, perhaps it would be best to start at the "new" beginning. That is, when we were saved by grace.

This may be one of the most common phrases of encouragement or excuse, to say that we are saved by grace. In a later post we will explore what grace is not and discuss this very thing. But for now, we will concentrate on what grace is and what exactly happened when we were saved by "it".

We understand from the Word of God that Adam gave dominion of the earth over to Satan and that because of his willful sin we all are born with a sin nature. The Bible goes on to tell us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and that none are righteous, no not one. That all we like sheep have gone astray. God became flesh and walked this earth as the man Jesus Christ. He lived a sinless life, preached repentance from sin and faith towards God and gave his life on the Cross to pay for our sins. After being dead three days, he rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father. This is the Gospel in a nutshell.

We are told that we are dead in our sins and trespasses and we must be born again from above. That we are to repent from dead works unto a living faith in God. That we are to believe the Gospel, recieve salvation and confess Jesus as both Lord and Saviour of our life. But what happens then, right at that moment when I understand and accept my sinful state and recognize what Jesus has done for me and then choose to yield to His Spirit and surrender my will to His. What exactly happens at the point of salvation? Please consider the follow scriptures:

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"
Jn 1:12 Emphisis mine

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again [margin - from above], he cannot see the kingdom of God.

"...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
Jn 3:3, 5 partial / Emphisis mine

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth..."
Rom 1:16 Emphisis mine

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."
1 Cor. 1:18 Emphisis mine

"... that ye may know ... what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead ... God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;)
Ephesians 1:18-2:5 Partial ~ Emphisis mine

"But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Tit 3:4-7 ~ Emphisis mine

"...the spirit of grace..."
Zechariah 12:10 partial

"...the Spirit of grace..."
Hebrews 10:29 partial

So we see that at, after hearing and believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we surrender to God and receive the gift of God which is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 6:23), at that moment the Spirit of Grace comes upon us with Power with the "washing of regeneration , and renewing of the Holy Ghost." We are literally born from above and born of the Spirit with the same mighty power that rose Christ from the dead.

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. "
(2 Corinthians 5:17)

After a number of years of being prepared through dreams, conversations and (unknown to me at the time) the effectual fervent prayers of my grandmother for me, I found myself in a small First Full Gospel Church of Christ in Garden Grove, California. The pastor preached the straight Gospel of Christ crucified and raised again and it was the first time in my life that I had heard the whole Gospel laid out so clearly and it made sense. The Spirit was working and Faith was born in my heart and I believed what I heard.

At the end of the service I found myself (by myself) at the front of this small congregation with the pastor who, going through each and every point of the gospel, asked me if I believed each one. I did and I said so. "Do you believe Jesus Christ was God come in the flesh?" "Yes." and so on until everything was covered.

He then asked me if I wanted to meet Jesus (which I was now anxious to do) and led me in a prayer of repentance from dead works and of faith towards God.

At that point, right then, the most wonderful feeling of joy and peace and power started to flow into me from the top of my head and down into my body and my legs. The Spirit of God was flowing into me in waves, cleansing me from all unrighteousness and sin and making me a new creature in Chirst Jesus.

When I left that church that morning, I was so amazed, overwhelmed and in awe of what had just happened. I was not sure exactly what had just happened, but I knew my life would never be the same again.

So then, regarding being saved by Grace:

Grace is the Power of God, worked in us by the Spirit of God, unto Salvation, a New Birth and a New Creature.

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: "
Colossians 2:6 Emphisis mine

To be continued....