Grace is not an avenue to commit sin nor a certificate or warrant for sin, but rather undeserved favour. Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us as our sins deserve. It is His benevolence to the undeserving sinners.
Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves.” The only way any of us can enter into a relationship with God is because of His grace toward us. Grace began in the Garden of Eden when God killed an animal to cover the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). He could have killed the first humans right there for their disobedience. But rather than destroy them, He chose to make a way for them to be right with Him. It was not the physical blood of those sacrifices that cleansed sinners; it was the grace of God that forgave those who trusted in Him (Hebrews 10:4; Genesis 15:6). Sinful men showed their faith by offering the sacrifices that God required.
The apostle Paul began many of his letters with the phrase, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7; Ephesians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:3). God is the instigator of grace, and it is from Him that all other grace flows.
God shows both mercy and grace, but they are not the same. Mercy withholds the punishment we deserve; grace gives a blessing we don’t deserve. In mercy, God chose to cancel our sin debt by sacrificing His perfect son in our place (Titus 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). But He goes even further than mercy and extends grace to His enemies (Romans 5:10). Grace is God giving the greatest treasure to the least deserving – which is everyone of us.
Finally, the GRACE of God that you abuse or dishonour can disgrace you, and for you to grow in GRACE you must honour GRACE.
Oluwafemi Bamiduro
Assembly Pastor
MFM Int’l HQ Youth Church