The Journey of Grace

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? - Galatians 3:3

"Saved by grace" is a common phrase within Christian circles. Not only is the phrase common, it is fundamental to our salvation theology. It is clear in Ephesians as Paul writes, "for by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." It is this gift of God, grace, that is so astounding. Foundational to God's saving grace in our lives is that we have done nothing to attain it. Not only have we done nothing, but we could never do enough in a million lifetimes to merit the grace of God. This gift comes to us freely from any action on our part and sadly that is where the journey of grace ends for many of today's believers.

Foundational to our salvation is God's free gift of grace, but i submit that God's grace toward us is also foundational to living the Christian life. Many people may agree with that statement right away, but few of us agree with it in lifestyle. Let me explain. The Bible teaches that we are saved by the grace of God, not of ourselves lest anyone should boast. That is the way that we enter a relationship with God and it is the way that we should continue in that same relationship. It is that last part that so many of us have a problem with. We have the same problem today that the Galatian people had when Paul wrote this passage. We are saved by grace, which we don't have a problem with, then we begin to throw our lives into a works based Christian life. It is as though after being saved by grace we choose to rebel against that once amazing gift.

It is to that thinking evidenced by lifestyle that Paul wrote the words of this verse. Paul is wondering why anyone who has been saved by the grace of God would be so foolish as to live the changed life based on works. Sadly, many of us have made this same decision. Are we so arrogant to think that we can improve on the saving grace of God by adding in our works? Are we so foolish to think that we need to work to pay off the free gift of God's grace? Are we unintentionally, or perhaps intentionally, rebelling against the grace of God through a live devoted to action instead of a life devoted to dependence?

In no way am I advocating a life characterized by merely sitting back and doing nothing all in the name of grace. A life that has truly come into contact with the powerful flood of God's grace would never sit back and do nothing. No, a life that has been affected by grace according to the unending riches of Almighty God will be a life motivated to action. Not action that develops out of a sense of duty; a desire to make payments; or a need to gain a holiness that we have already been given in Christ. Instead, this life of action will be one that leans on and is supported by the grace of God at every turn.

"We are brought into God's Kingdom by grace; we are sanctified by grace; we receive blessings by grace; we are motivated to obedience by grace; we are called to serve and enabled to serve by grace, we persevere through trials by grace; and we are glorified by grace. The entire Christian life is lived under the reign of God's grace." - Jerry Bridges