The Grace Challenge: 7 Truths You Need to Know About God’s Grace

I’m kicking off this series with the foundation of God’s grace and what we need to know about it so we can receive it and apply it to our lives. This will help us to be wise women who are building our relationships on the rock rather than the sand.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”  Matt. 7:24-27

But before we can be women who extend God’s grace to others, we need to learn how it relates to our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Let’s turn to the scriptures for the answers.

7 Truths You Need to Know About God’s Grace

1.  We Can’t Earn God’s Grace

God’s grace is a free gift to us and we can’t do a thing to earn it.  This truth is quite comforting to me because I often think we can get caught up in the mentality of, we must ‘do more’ or ‘be more’ for the Lord.

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  Ephesians 2:8-9

2.  A Perfect Christian Doesn’t Exist (except for Jesus Christ)

You and I will always fall short because it’s impossible for a sinner to be perfect.  Again, another comforting verse for someone who has perfection issues.  Learn to let go of your mistakes.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 3:23

3.  Christ Died So We Could Live

Sometimes it’s easy for me to lose sight of why Christ died on the Cross for my sins.   Of course, I get to spend eternity in heaven with Him, but I also get to have God’s grace here on earth.  His grace is absolutely precious and we certainly don’t deserve it, yet, He loved us so much that he died for us so we could live, and do so more abundantly.   Now, I don’t know about you, but there are times when I listen to the lies of the Enemy telling me otherwise, yet, Christ poured out His blood for us so we could receive His grace.  Simply put.

I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die.  Galatians 2:21

4.  We’re Not to Take Advantage of God’s Grace

You and I were bought with a price- Christ’s blood.  Jesus hung on the Cross for my sins and yours.  Don’t take advantage of His grace by remaining in a lifestyle of unrepentant sin.  (Or don’t discount the high price He paid to be nailed on the Cross for your sins.  He died once and for all, so take Him at His word when He said your debt has been paid.)

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!  Romans 6:15

5.  God Will Give Us His Grace

Imagine for a moment if you never experienced God’s grace.  Wouldn’t it just break your heart if you served a God who condemns you for your sins? If I served a God like that, I’d never want to spend time with Him!  But our God is the epitome of grace.  All we need to do is ask for more of His grace in our lives.  We serve a God who wants to pour out His blessings upon our lives and one of those blessings is His grace.  Because of His nature, I want to know Him more, follow Him, serve Him, and emulate Him.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  Psalm 84:11

6.  God’s Grace is Sufficient

The thought of me being weak is not appealing to me.  I’d prefer to be strong and in control, however, many times the Lord will breathe a trial my way so I’m forced to rely on Him, rather than myself.  It’s in these moments that I learn to rest in Him and the plans He has for my life.  I can be still in Christ knowing that He’s working on behalf and changing me into the woman He desires me to be.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Cor. 12:9

7.  Our Source of Grace Comes from Jesus Christ

I love this verse and how approachable Jesus Christ is to us.  All you and I need to do is spend time with Him, and when we do, we encounter His grace and truth.  I have spent many years of my life learning about God’s truth by soaking up the scriptures and now my Savior is beckoning me to learn more about His grace, more specifically, how to extend it to others- which I’ll be covering in the rest of this series.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14

Challenge:

When you look at the above list, what point sticks out to you the most?  Which Scripture do you need to embrace, meditate on, and truly apply in your relationship with Jesus Christ?

Join me every Wednesday as I go through the Grace Challenge series!

Next up is Week #2:  Grace in Your Marriage

Week #3:  Grace in Your Marriage Bed (because this needs to be discussed!)

Week #4:  Grace in Your Mothering

Week #5:  Grace in Managing Your Home

Week #6:  Grace in Your Ministry (or in the workplace)

Week #7:  Grace in Your Friendships (or with co-workers)

Week #8:  Grace in Social Media

Note:  If you’ve never heard about this man named Jesus Christ and you want to receive His grace for yourself, read this post!

Live a poured out life for Christ,

Jolene Engle