A Historic Document on the Power of God's Grace
One of the most revered documents in church history is the Westminster Confession of 1646. In it, the authors affirm the teachings that were universally held as God's truth. On the matter of grace, they write, "When God converts a sinner and translates him into the state of grace, He freeth him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good." (Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter IX, "Of free will")
Exploring the
Power of
God's Grace
In this booklet, 121 references to grace in the New Testament are examined, and found to fall into nine categories of power. Those who would deny that grace has power, turn it into a license to live sensual lives. This is rebuked in Jude 4.
The Power to Do Great Works
The Power of God's Grace
One of the most important words in the New Testament is grace. A common definition of grace is "God's unmerited favor," which is certainly correct. However, grace is far more than God's attitude towards us. It is also the power of God working in and through us to accomplish His great works.
Paul made this very clear when he wrote, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10).
The Power to Keep Christ's Commands
When God gave His laws to the nation of Israel, they did not have the power to keep them. When Jesus came into the world and taught His commands of love, He brought with Him the power of grace to keep them. Thus we read, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
God's grace is freely given to every person in the world; however, it can be resisted by those who refuse to receive the Lord and to walk in His ways. On the other hand, those who respond to God's grace are energized to learn the power of God and live by it. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world"
(Titus 2:11,12).
One of the most important aspects of grace is the power it gives to demonstrate loving generosity. When we exercise this power, God supernaturally provides so that we have more to give to others (not to keep for ourselves). Paul explains this by saying, "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work"
(II Corinthians 9:8).