But for the Grace of God

Definition of Grace

Easton’s Bible Dictionary Grace

God’s forgiving mercy

What is Mercy?

Derives from the medieval Latin merced or merces, which means "price paid.

A debt that was owed being marked as paid in full.

6,000 Plus Illustrations for Communicating Biblical Truths Doesn’t Deserve It

When a former mayor of New York befriended a poor, dejected outcast of society, he was reproved by the prosecuting attorney who said, “That tramp’s no good. He’s getting only what he deserves.” hearing this, the judge interrupted the harsh counselor by asking with a smile, “Did you ever hear of the mother who visited Napoleon on behalf of her condemned son? The emperor told her the young man had committed the same offense twice, and justice demanded the death penalty. ‘But Sire,’ she pleaded, ‘I don’t ask for justice—only for mercy.’ ‘He doesn’t deserve it,’ said Napoleon. ‘No, he doesn’t,’ she admitted, ‘but it would not be MERCY if he deserved it.’ ‘You’re right!’ said the ruler quickly, ‘I’ll grant your request and show him mercy!’ ”

Grace occurs when we receive the transference of righteousness from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

What do I need to pay to receive it?

Some believe it is through works. If I just become a good person and I make up for all my past wrongs by doing good I can receive grace. No this is incorrect

Romans 11:6 NIV

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

You cannot do enough good even if you were to never sin again it would not be enough to gain righteousness for yourself. It’s only by the Grace of God we obtain righteousness. How do we obtain it then? If not by works? I will tell you are you ready? Okay here is the key to unlocking this amazing what? amazing Grace. Here is the big secret. The big reveal. It’s a gift

Gift

Ephesians 2:8 NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—

Grace is a gift it is given freely all we have to do is ask. It is really that simple. We try to complicate grace. In our minds, I cannot receive anything without payment. I must pay to receive. The reason we get confused is because we are unable to comprehend the simplicity. That all we have to do is ask and it is given.

John 1:16 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

God has already given it we just need to ask and receive it.

Do we deserve it? No, but we receive it. But you don’t know what I’ve done. I deserve to be punished It doesn’t matter what you’ve done and yes we all deserve to be punished.

Undeserved

Romans 3:23 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

None are worthy we are all guilty and undeserving of Grace

Here is the beautiful part. God gives it to us anyway. Why because he loved us and sent his son to die for us who took our place in the greatest act of love for humanity that has ever or will ever occur. Again in our mind the enemy wants to guilt us into believing it’s not that easy or simple and because we deserve punishment yet God forgives us and holds back his judgement on us we feel we need to punish ourselves and that my friend is called bondage. Do you know what the difference is between Conviction and Guilt? Conviction drives us to Grace and Guilt drives us from it. Don’t fall for the enemies lies. Growing up I always had this fear of quicksand you would see it on old TV shows and movies someone would fall into quicksand and they would get stuck up to their neck and just when it looked like they weren’t going to make it either someone would save them or they would find a vine or something to grab onto to pull themselves out. The enemies lies of guilt and punishment are quicksand the more you think upon it the further you sink. To get out out of it we need to just look up the price has already been paid and the lifeline is within arms reach to pull us up and it is Grace.

Ephesians 2:5 NIV

made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

We receive new life with grace. We were all condemned but by the Grace of God we were saved. We become a new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Your old life and past is gone and a new one is created in the moment we accept his Grace we are elevated and made anew. No longer to suffer enteral damnation. Through Christ we become a new creation.

But by the Grace of God

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

In my life, God revealed the truth of this scripture to me. Paul says But by the Grace of God I am what I am. There were some things occurring at this point in my life in dealing with life and relationships and just wanting clearer understanding so while praying and mediating about all of this God spoke to me. He said i want to show you something. I said okay what is it. I’m going to show you possible alternate timelines. I was like okay this sounds pretty cool. I’m a big sci-fi fan and every sci-fi series at some point usually dips into alternate timelines. The next thing I heard him say sobered me up real quick. God said I’m going to show you what your life would be like without me in it. I paused for a minute and kind of just froze. Then the revelations started. I do not wish to go into detail because what was revealed is very personal. However i will reveal this I can tell you there would be two major possibilities I would be dead or in prison. The me without Christ would be a very cold uncaring selfish person. All I could do at this point was fall on my knees and weep because I now understood what i would be without the Grace of God.

Through this experience I understood the truth of Paul's statement But by the Grace of God I am what I am. His Grace made me who I am I became a new person a new creation. I became someone with who cares about others and loves animals. People tell me i have a very soft heart. I can tell you But for the grace of God this version of me would not exist.

So today if you are looking for something you say i want to be made a new. Maybe your struggling in that quicksand and the enemy overruns your thoughts with guilt and your trapped in the mire of condemnation. Today i want you to know you can be free you can be made a new creation. Just ask and receive his grace and be free.