—— Three New Testament Graces —— One reason the church is not as familiar with the doctrine of grace as it should be is because the very simplistic definition, “God’s unmerited favor,” has been attached to it for a very long time. Although this definition can bring some light to the nature and purpose of grace, it does not do justice to the incredible, manifold grace of God. And in some ways, this definition has obscured a proper understanding of New Testament grace. Another reason that the church is not as familiar with the doctrine of grace as it should be is because most believers and ministers are unaware that there are three primary, distinct New Testament graces. Let’s briefly consider the three primary graces of the New Testament. —Saving Grace— Most believers are familiar with Saving Grace. One of the most well known scriptures about saving grace comes from Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. He wrote, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8 In the most doctrinal epistle of the New Testament, Paul wrote this about saving grace, “But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” Romans 5:15 Another clear scripture about saving grace is found in Paul’s letter to Titus. He wrote, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” Titus 2:11 Saving grace is the life transforming power of God which, because of His mercy and, “the great love wherewith He loved us,” He made available to all sinners through faith in Jesus Christ. Although saving grace is available because of the mercy of God, saving grace is not synonymous with mercy and is far more than unmerited favor. If God only felt gracious toward sinners, nothing life-changing would happen to them. If God only bestowed unmerited favor, sinners would only experience temporary, natural blessings. But because of the great love wherewith God loved the human race, He made a plan and sent a Man so that sinners could be “saved by grace through faith.” When sinners hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and respond in faith, calling upon the name of the Lord, the quickening power of God is released in them and they are saved by the life impacting grace of God. In that moment, one’s spiritual condition is instantly and radically affected. The moment sinners believe, they are delivered from Satan, from sin, and from death. They are circumcised in heart and made new creatures in Christ. They become children of God and inheritors of an eternal inheritance. In that moment of faith when the grace of God is released, sinners are cleansed from sin. They are justified from all their unrighteousness and exonerated from the “handwriting of ordinances” that was against them. Their heart of stone is extricated and replaced with a heart of flesh. They are washed, cleansed, delivered, sanctified, justified, raised, born-again, adopted, and translated from darkness into God’s marvelous light because of the grace of God. All the wonderful realities of salvation, including the forgiveness of sins, the crucifixion of the old man, the imparting of righteousness, the new birth, the giving of the Spirit, the promise of eternal life, and many other wonderful things are summed up in the familiar words, “For by grace are ye saved through faith” [Eph. 2:8]. Saving grace, made available to all sinners because of the great love of God and the completed work of Christ, is completely efficacious to transform sinners into saints, lost into found, enemies into family, and dead men into living sons. —Strengthening Grace— A New Testament grace the church is somewhat familiar with is Strengthening Grace. This grace is the power of God and of the Lord Jesus available to all believers by which they can be fortified in their inner man, helped in times of need, and basically, inwardly enabled to, “do all things.” Strengthening grace is one aspect of the, “exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe” [Eph. 1:20]. The apostle Paul received a life changing personal revelation of strengthening grace. In the midst of great hardship, Jesus revealed to him this mighty available power that was sufficient for every temptation, circumstance, demonic buffeting, and heavenly assignment. “My grace is sufficient,” Jesus told Paul, “for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Jesus referred to His grace as sufficient strength [dunamis] in times of weakness. Paul referred to this grace as, “the power [dunamis] of Christ resting upon [him]” [II Cor. 12:9]. Paul’s revelation of strengthening grace produced such a revolution in his life that he began to rejoice in tests and trials! He said, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” [II Cor. 12:10]. Writing to the Philippians, he declared, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” [Phil. 4:13]. In another place, he testified that in the midst of great trouble, crushing pressure, and beyond-strength difficulties, he lived by grace [II Cor. 1:8-12]. Paul informed Timothy that at his first trial, the Lord stood with him and strengthened him [II Tim. 4:17]. Strengthening grace is not God’s power that changes circumstances. It is not God’s power that heals bodies. It is not God’s power that fixes relationships. It is not God’s power that calms the storm. It is not God’s power that protects from external danger. Yes, all these things are manifestations of God’s power, but they are not described by the word grace. Strengthening grace is the power of God which He delivers to believers’ inner man which makes them, “Ready for anything and equal to anything that comes through Him who infuses me with inner strength” [Phil. 4:13 Amp]. It is the In-fusion of God’s might which makes believers mighty and, therefore, able to do mighty things. A divine saline solution from a divine source, once infused, strengthening grace becomes the internal strength of believers. This heavenly adrenaline enables them to overcome, to resist, to continue, to self-govern, to run, to walk, to work, and to never fall. An awareness of this available help of God may have inspired Jude to write, “Now unto Him who is able to keep us from falling” [Jude 24]. By strengthening grace, believers are internally reinforced with God’s might so that they can prevail in tests, trials, and temptations [Js. 4:4-7]. They are enabled to be longsuffering with difficult people [Col. 1:11] and empowered to deal with demonic afflictions [I Pet. 5:6-10]. They are fortified internally; made strong in the Lord and in the power of His might [Eph. 6:10; II Tim. 2:1]. They are strengthened with might by God’s Spirit in their inner man [Eph. 3:16; II Cor. 4:16]. Grace is supernatural internal help in a time of need [Heb. 4:16]. Hearts can be established by this grace [Heb. 13:9]. And by this grace, believers stand [Rom. 5:2]. Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers would know, “the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe [Eph. 1:19]. He prayed that they would “be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” [Eph. 3:16]. He prayed for the Colossians to be, “filled with the knowledge of His will,” so they would be, “strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power” [Col. 1:11]. Paul exhorted Timothy, “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” [II Tim. 2:1]. He exhorted the Ephesian believers, “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” [Eph. 6:10]. It is not God’s will for believers to be weak, but to be strong. One of the most significant ways He assists believers in being strong is by the available provision of strengthening grace. Both Peter and James, writing to believers, revealed that, “God gives grace to the humble” [I Pet. 5:5; Js. 4:6]. Jesus said to Paul, “My grace is...for you.” Strengthening grace is not automatic; it is available. It is like a stored commodity; stored in God and in Christ, but available to believers. In order to receive strengthening grace, believers must, “submit yourselves, therefore, unto God. ” They must wait upon the Lord, come boldly to the throne of grace, humble themselves under God’s mighty hand, submit themselves to God, and partake at the altar of grace [Is. 40:29-31; Heb. 4:16; I Pet. 5:6; Js. 4:6-7; Heb. 13:9-10]. —Ministry Grace— The New Testament grace the church is least familiar with is Ministry Grace. This grace is “manifold” — extremely diverse. Ministry graces are the unique endowments of ministry ability God stewards to individual believers which enable them to serve effectively in the unique ministries they are called to and placed in the body of Christ to do. When believers discover, cultivate, and use the unique ministry graces stewarded to them, they render effectual ministry as unique members of the body of Christ. Paul often testified about his special endowment of ministry grace. He said, “According to the grace of God given unto me, I am a wise master-builder” [I Cor. 3:10]. He spoke of, “the dispensation of the grace of God given to me” [Eph. 3:1]. He testified, “I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” [I Cor. 15:10]. Paul was very conscious of the ministry grace entrusted to him which enabled him to be a unique minister and to do unique ministry work. Ministry grace is mentioned all throughout the New Testament. Paul taught the believers in Rome that they had, “gifts that differ according to the grace given” to them [Rom. 12:6]. He informed the believers in Ephesus that every man had received a grace for service [Eph. 4:7-8]. The apostle Peter exhorted believers to minister to each other with the gifts they had received as, “good stewards of the manifold grace of God” [I Pet. 4:10]. The unique endowment of ministry grace God stewards to each believer is based upon His calling and His placing of each believer in the body of Christ. Just as believers do not choose their callings or their places in the body, they also do not choose the varieties or measures of the ministry graces stewarded to them. Believers are responsible, however, to discover their callings, find their places in the body, locate their grace endowments, and become effective in their ministries.
Posted on: Thu, 23 Jan 2014 16:00:01 +0000
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