• What is Grace of God? – Grace is unmerited favor. By examining these two verses, Rom 4:4 and Rom 11:6, we should realize that “grace” and “works” with respect to salvation are incompatible. “Work” is labor, or effort, that usually earns some kind of compensation. You have a job, so you do your work and get paid for it. “Grace”, on the other hand, is not work. Can a person’s works, or efforts, make some type of contribution to his eternal salvation? Absolutely not! The answer is very clear from the Scriptures in Tit 3:5–7: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us … being justified [or saved] by his grace …”. Grace is a gift, so you get something for doing nothing. 1 Cor 1:4 states, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ …”. Rom 5:19–20 chronicles both man’s fall into sin and the redemption man so desperately needs – which can only be provided by the Lord Jesus Christ: “For as by one man’s [Adam] disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Lord Jesus] shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound”.  John 1:17 declares, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ”. There are no conditions, or requirements, that an individual must meet to be chosen by God for salvation. The entire salvation process depends entirely on the sovereign grace of God completely separate from any human effort or collaboration as Rom 11:6 so clearly explains: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace …”. And Eph 2:9 realistically tells us why: “Not of works, lest any man should boast”. Salvation of man is for God’s glory alone.

Rom 4:4 “Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.”

Rom 11:6 “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”

Eph 2:8–9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Tit 3:5–7 “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified [or saved] by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

• The Grace of God brings Salvation – Tit 2:11 informs us of the Divine purpose of the grace of God: “the grace of God that bringeth salvation”. God’s grace first and foremost accomplishes salvation – to save sinners from eternal punishment in Hell, for God’s honor and glory as Eph 1:6 declares: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace …”. God speaks about His salvation by His grace in terms of His Divine acceptance of us – and not the other way around, as is commonly and erroneously taught. We must never forget that these individuals were spiritually dead, under the wrath of God, and deserving of everlasting punishment in Hell until God saved them by the miracle of the New Birth, as we see from Eph 2:5 and 7. Cor 8:9 reveals the extent of God’s love for the unworthy recipients of His grace: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”. On the surface the concept of Christ’s being “rich” and “poor” in 2 Cor 8:9 seems like a contradiction. Yet the Bible asserts that the infinite, all-wise Creator and Sustainer of this universe voluntarily humbled Himself to become a man and, as such, to become spiritually “poor” on behalf of those He came to save. Someone put it this way: GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Php 2:6–8 also affirms, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross”. On the other hand, man is easily deluded because of the poverty of his sinful nature, that he is rich (spiritually), or right with God. Perhaps one can better understand why Jesus said that salvation was an impossibility for those who were deceived into thinking that they were spiritually rich (or righteous), and why His disciples were dumbfounded by His response in Mat 19:24–26, “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [deluded to be spiritually rich toward God] to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed …”. The Lord Jesus Christ became “poor” because He was made sin for His people and suffered the curse of the equivalent of eternity under the wrath of God for them. This Grace of God has brought us redemption by making His son to be sin for us, who knew no sin. His Grace is from even before the world began, from everlasting to everlasting. That is why the Bible declares in Acts 20:24 that Paul (representing all believers) are commanded to be the ambassadors of Christ and to proclaim “the Gospel of the Grace of God”. Nothing in this universe is more important for your spiritual welfare and mine than the Gospel of the Grace of God; and your eternal destiny and mine is based on our relationship to the Gospel of the Grace of God.

2 Tim 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

Eph 2:4–9 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved😉 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Acts 20-24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

• All the Believers are Saved by Grace Alone – Those to whom God has graciously given the gift of salvation do not, in any way, merit such eternal kindness and blessing nor can they claim any credit for it. Since God’s grace is an undeserved and unearned gift that is bestowed on whomever God so chooses, it is available to all kinds of people regardless of location, age, gender, race, social status, religion, or any other human classification. Whether Old Testament believer or New Testament believer, one is always saved by God’s Grace and God’s Mercy. A true believer, understands that he is indeed “estranged” from the kingdom of God and an unworthy recipient of God’s undeserved grace, or favor. Although written by the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, each Christian can truly rejoice in the words of Eph 3:8, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ …”. Paul explains in 1 Cor 15:9 why he felt that way: “For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet [worthy] to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God”. Because of their own rebellious natures, these verses apply to all true believers who were “dead in trespasses and sins” before God saved them by His grace. Noah was “perfect” and “walked” with God because he was saved by grace. God looks upon a person whom He has saved as “walking uprightly” because his sins have been paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ at the cross as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”; and God’s Spirit works in the person and causes the person to walk uprightly as a result of his salvation. The patriarch Jacob, speaking for all who have become saved, acknowledges that same attitude of humility with this statement in Gen 32:10: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant …”. Eph 2:8 emphasizes that the whole salvation process is rooted exclusively in the grace of God.

Exo 33:17 “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”

2 Tim 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

Gen 6:8–9 “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. 9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God”

• Come Boldly unto the Throne of Grace – Heb 4:16, states: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. What “mercy” do we obtain (or receive) from the “throne of grace”? God’s “grace” and “mercy” can be viewed as two sides of the same coin. As we have seen above, grace on one side gives us [eternal life] what we do not deserve. Mercy on the other does not give us what we do deserve [eternal death]. Bible declares mans utter sinfulness as “dead in trespasses and sins”. But, lest we despair, it also depicts stupendous illustration of God’s magnificent salvation by grace alone, which He sends forth by means of His Word, the Bible, to save His people. We need to keep in mind that the gift of salvation, which comes “down” from God Himself, is entirely undeserved and is only by God’s grace. Nothing short of new-birth “from above” will suffice for someone to “see” (that is, with eyes of faith) the Kingdom of God (John 3:3–8). It is God’s Grace that draws and convicts a sinner, gives him new birth, chastises him, molds him and conforms him to the image of His dear Son and carries him into eternal life.  We glean from Rom 5:2, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”. The “faith” that God is speaking about is the saving faith of Christ that is a gift by God’s grace. What is the “faith of Christ”? Let’s turn to Gal 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”. Which is why Christ is the “author of faith” because He bestows His faith – which is the only faith related to salvation – upon an individual. Listen to what Eph 2:8–9 claims, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God …”. As a believer matures in grace, he is increasingly mindful of his own unworthiness and sinfulness. At the same time, he is increasingly aware of God’s unfathomable grace, as Rom 5:20b so powerfully insists, “… But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:”.

Rom 5:20 “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Rom 6:1–3 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?