"Kingdom Entrance: Grace Let Us In" - Part One

GRACE — favor or kindness extended without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. "The Lord God is "merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth" (Ex. 34:6). Grace is always associated with love, mercy, compassion, and patience.

"It is because of God's love that grace was (and is) extended toward us."

In the Old Testament, a supreme example of the grace of God was the redemption of the Hebrew people (Israel) from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land (Canaan). This did not happen because of any merit or righteousness on Israel’s part, but in spite of their unrighteousness.

(Deut. 7:7-8) - The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

(Deut. 9:5–6) - Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

Now in the New Testament, the grace of God was fully revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was the very embodiment of God's grace (John 1:14), bringing it to mankind for salvation (Titus 2:11). By His death and resurrection, Jesus made possible the restoration of the broken relationship (sonship) between God and His offspring (mankind). This is salvation. So the only way for any person to have a 'restored relationship' with God is "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:11). It was therefore Jesus which brought the "gospel of grace" fully into the world (John 1:17). Thank you Jesus!

"God is love, and in this dispensation He has extended His grace to all mankind in the person of Jesus Christ."

The theme of grace is especially prominent in the letters of the apostle Paul. He sets grace radically over against the law and the works of the law (Rom. 3:24, 28). Paul makes it abundantly clear that salvation is not something that can be earned; it can only be received by grace (Rom. 4:4, Eph 2:8-9).

{Reference: Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary}

To be continued.....in the meantime, if you haven't already - check out the scriptures mentioned above and take a look at the story of Nicodemus in John 3:1-8.

DSW