God’s Grace Given to His People
God’s grace is a gift given to His chosen people (Eph 4:7). God’s grace is His work manifest in and through His Spirit-filled people (Acts 13:52; Eph 5:18). These have received the gift, who is the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 10:45).
The Holy Spirit baptizes the elect, causing him or her to be born again (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). The recipient of Christ Jesus, by the will of God (Jn 1:12–13), is made spiritually alive (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13). The Spirit of God makes His permanent abode in the hearts of those to whom He grants faith (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Jn 3:24; 1 Jn 4:13). His promise is to never leave nor forsake His own (Heb 13:5), for whom Christ died (Jn 10:11, 15; Eph 5:25).
The Spirit of Christ, who is the wisdom of God and the power of God (1 Cor 1:24), is the One who is willing and doing God’s good pleasure (Phil 2:13). It is God who is doing all His holy will (Eph 1:11), including His eternal purpose carried out in Christ Jesus (Eph 3:11). His purposes are explicitly revealed in Jesus’ name, which means Yahweh saves (Tit 2:13; 3:5) in only one way, Jesus Christ (Jn 14:6).
Salvation is by grace alone (Eph 2:8–9). This means it is entirely the will and work of God (Ps 3:8; Jon 2:9; Rev 19:1), who opens the ears of the spiritually deaf by the preaching of the Word of God (Rom 10:17), the Word of truth (Ps 119:160; Jn 17:17). Truth sets captives to sin, Satan, and His world system free to live in the kingdom of God in the Spirit (Jn 8:32; Rom 14:17). It was for freedom that Christ set us free (Gal 5:1).
The Word of truth is the Bible, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation for those who believe (Rom 1:16–17). The Word of life is preached promiscuously to all people (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15) that Christ Jesus suffered and died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and rose from the dead on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor 15:3–4).
The Gospel is preached in the power of the Spirit (Acts 1:18; 10:42), and it is believed by some with the same grace given by God. Without the grace to believe the Gospel of salvation, the unbeliever rejects the Good News, deeming it to be foolishness (1 Cor 1:18). Those who do not belong to Jesus Christ judge the preacher to be a fool for Christ (1 Cor 1:23; 4:10), and this is our happy boast (Gal 6:14). The preacher is not ashamed. His experience is actually “woe” when he does not preach (1 Cor 9:16).
True believers have zero interest in stealing glory from God. One who has understanding will deny himself and make his boast to be Christ alone (Gal 6:14). The Father gives grace in election (Rom 8:30; Eph 1:4–5). The Son gives grace in redemption (1 Cor 1:30). The Spirit gives grace in baptism, regeneration (Jn 3:1–8), and sanctification (2 Thess 2:13). Salvation is all of God, all of grace.
He who began this good work of grace in His elect, redeemed, will bring it to completion (Phil 1:6). This is the blessed assurance of eternal life that is confirmed through Scripture (1 Jn 5:11–13). To whom God’s Spirit has granted faith in Christ (Phil 1:29), the promise of God in the Bible is sufficient because God is faithful and true (Rev 3:14; 19:11). He will do what He says He will do, especially in matters that concern His own (Ps 57:2; 138:8).
Faith is evidence of grace given by God. Faith claimed by someone, without the good works of God in and through this person, is a dead boast (Jas 2:17, 26). The Spirit is willing and doing His good pleasure in the Christian (Phil 2:13). His works are manifest as those done in charity in the name of Jesus. Love gives and love never fails (1 Cor 13:8; 1 Jn 3:16–17). Grace gives what is needed with a perfect supply for every good work (2 Cor 9:8, 11). Yahweh is a very present help in time of need (Ps 46:1).
With the employment of spiritual gifts (Rom 12; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4), the works of God are producing spiritual fruit (Gal 5:22–23). This is further proof of grace flowing into and through the adopted child of God (Rom 8:15, 23), for whom these works were prepared beforehand by God (Eph 2:10). These are from God, through God and to God for the glory of God (Rom 11:36). God’s grace given to His people includes our praise, adoration, and thanksgiving to God. Let’s do this.
David Norczyk
Umatilla, Oregon
May 18, 2021
