SALVATION, GRACE, FAITH & GOOD WORKS - 3 What is Grace and what effect does it have on good works

SALVATION, GRACE, FAITH & GOOD WORKS - 3 What is Grace and what effect does it have on good works

It is important that we look at the issue of grace if we are to make progress in this post. Grace is normally defined as the free and unmerited favour of God, as demonstrated in the salvation of sinners and the conferral of blessings. The Greek word χάρις or charis pronounced khä'-rēs from which the word grace is translated in the bible also means, among its many meanings, favour.

In turn, favour speaks of an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. It is a liking for someone or the approval and support that someone. Some confuse this word with the word favouritism. Favouritism speaks of partiality. Favouritism is an act of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person at the expense of another. The difference here is that favour arises from kindness whereas favouritism or partiality arises from unfairness. When we therefore make reference to God’s unmerited favour we are merely alluding to God’s kindness and love beyond what we deserve or merit which he has bestowed on us. It is his own act of benevolence which we never earned.

The good book, in Romans 5:8, says, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ At this stage we must realise that God is holy and holiness is the most exalted of all his characteristics. On the other hand, man is not holy. When man was created, he was perfect and holy because he was created in the image of a holy and perfect God. (Read Gen 1:27,28,31 & Ecc 7:29). However, the first human beings sinned against God and these unholy parents brought up offspring in their own image meaning that all subsequent human beings were sinners. Holiness and sin cannot live together hence because of sin man was separated from God because it is written, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” Rom 5:12;5:23

This thus means that there had to be reconciliation between God and man for them to live together otherwise they had become enemies. Man was the aggressor so it is man who was required to make amends so that the two could live together. One challenge, though was only one thing could atone for sin and that thing was blood because, “…. according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission” Hebrews 9:22. Man could not provide such a sacrifice because human blood was tainted with sin and animal blood was inferior to man so it could not atone superior blood. So God, because of his kindness, he provided the sacrifice. When God decided to provide the sacrifice for our redemption, he did not ask man to do anything first so that we could merit salvation. He provided the atonement whilst we were still sinners. This is what is called grace because the kindness that he bestowed us was never earned. On the contrary we deserved punishment for our sin because, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 6:23.

The salvation we enjoy is nothing to boast about because we did not earn it. it never was deserved but God in his own kindness and love delivered it to us freely. This is why the bible in Titus 2:11-14 says, “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” This is complimented by Ephesians 2:10 which reads, “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

When we perform good deeds it is not that we are buying atonement because we have no capacity to do so. Devils sinned against God and could not provide atonement for their sins and they are now doomed. Man also sinned and now deserves destruction because of that sin. Fortunately, the grace of God has brought us salvation. That same grace teaches us live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age and also to do good. Good deeds are therefore not a price for salvation but are obedience to the teachings of the grace of God.