WEBVTT - Do You Understand Grace?

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<v Speaker 1>Good morning. This is Chris Whitsan. Welcome to Morning devotions.

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<v Speaker 1>Have you been guilty of using words that you don't

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<v Speaker 1>really understand? Well, here's one word that we often use,

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<v Speaker 1>particularly in church circles. It's the word grace, G R

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<v Speaker 1>A C E. It's an ambiguous word and perhaps without

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<v Speaker 1>ever us understanding what we're saying. And one of the

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<v Speaker 1>20 or so definitions of the word Macquarie Dictionary is

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<v Speaker 1>a short prayer before or after a meal in which

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<v Speaker 1>a blessing is asked and thanks are given. So we say,

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<v Speaker 1>would you say grace?

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<v Speaker 1>That's probably one of the most common uses of the word,

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<v Speaker 1>but there's more to it than just a prayer before

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<v Speaker 1>we eat a meal, if that in fact happens. I

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<v Speaker 1>even discovered that it's possible to buy grace over the internet,

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<v Speaker 1>having a look at the Google search engine. Well, surely

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<v Speaker 1>neither the prayer of thanks for food or the product

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<v Speaker 1>for sale on the internet is the same as the

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<v Speaker 1>true biblical concept of grace, and

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<v Speaker 1>What do we really mean when we talk about grace?

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<v Speaker 1>When Christians talk about grace, it refers to something that's

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<v Speaker 1>far more significant.

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<v Speaker 1>And I've mentioned on this programme before the great book

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<v Speaker 1>called What's So Amazing About Grace written by Philip Yancey,

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<v Speaker 1>and in that book Philip Yancey says that the concept

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<v Speaker 1>of grace contains the essence of the gospel as a

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<v Speaker 1>drop of water can contain the image of the sun.

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<v Speaker 1>That's really a nice description. So grace is not only

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<v Speaker 1>central to the Christian faith, it is its essence.

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<v Speaker 1>I once heard it said that if justice equals getting

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<v Speaker 1>what you deserve and mercy equals not getting what you deserve,

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<v Speaker 1>grace actually equals getting what you don't deserve, and there

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<v Speaker 1>it is, I think, a very good definition. Grace is

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<v Speaker 1>getting what you don't deserve, and that, of course, can

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<v Speaker 1>be applied to the biblical example of grace.

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<v Speaker 1>So at the centre of Christian belief is the death

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<v Speaker 1>and resurrection of Jesus, and through His death and resurrection

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<v Speaker 1>He's given us the gift of His life, even though

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<v Speaker 1>we hadn't earned it. We hadn't done anything really to earn, uh,

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<v Speaker 1>eternal life. Jesus died on the cross so that we

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<v Speaker 1>might be saved. Now again, that was, that occurred even

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<v Speaker 1>though we didn't deserve that, that we should be saved.

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<v Speaker 1>So at a time when so much depends on what

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<v Speaker 1>we do and

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<v Speaker 1>Where our actions can bring us either acceptance or rejection, it's,

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<v Speaker 1>it's little wonder the idea of grace is a foreign thing.

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<v Speaker 1>Grace is not based on what we do. Grace is

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<v Speaker 1>the free and unmerited favour of God shown towards us,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's a wonderful thing, I think.

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<v Speaker 1>I'll always remember, perhaps as you do, as the acrostic grace.

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<v Speaker 1>Take the first letter of that word grace. God's riches

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<v Speaker 1>at Christ's expense. Maybe you've heard that before, and that's

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<v Speaker 1>a good definition too. Might be a bit corny, but

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<v Speaker 1>it's one of those simple things that reminds us of

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<v Speaker 1>the source of the gift. It's God's riches at Christ's expense.

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<v Speaker 1>And in reality, isn't it true that all gifts cost something,

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<v Speaker 1>and God's grace continues today. So with this understanding, it's

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<v Speaker 1>plain to see that you can't buy grace. It's really

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<v Speaker 1>not on the internet to buy. It's not at your chemist,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's not even in the church. It's something that

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<v Speaker 1>needs simply to be acknowledged and accepted as an undeserved

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<v Speaker 1>gift from a loving God. Now, of course, sir, as

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<v Speaker 1>people we're capable of demonstrating grace as well.

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<v Speaker 1>And uh and it's a hope and a prayer I

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<v Speaker 1>guess that as we continue in our Christian life that

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<v Speaker 1>more of God's grace will be passed on to other

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<v Speaker 1>people so that we will show the grace of God,

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<v Speaker 1>but it's something that is divine, something that's given to us.

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<v Speaker 1>Let me say too that God's grace is for everyone,

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<v Speaker 1>not just for religious people.

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<v Speaker 1>And through God's grace, he works in us even perhaps

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<v Speaker 1>when we're not aware of it. He helps us to

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<v Speaker 1>improve ourselves, the Holy Spirit is at work in us,

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<v Speaker 1>and we can call that experience, if you like, Christian growth,

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<v Speaker 1>that's uh, there God is working in us 24 hours

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<v Speaker 1>a day.

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<v Speaker 1>And the good news from Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9 is,

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<v Speaker 1>it is by God's grace that you've been saved through faith,

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<v Speaker 1>not the result of your own efforts, but it's God's gift,

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<v Speaker 1>so that no one can boast about it. Well, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>we know when we receive an invitation it's quite an

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<v Speaker 1>exciting thing. We feel welcome. We feel accepted, and it

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<v Speaker 1>reminds us of the invitation that you've given to us

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<v Speaker 1>that Your grace is offered to us free.

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<v Speaker 1>So we thank You, Lord, and we offer praise and

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<v Speaker 1>thanks in the name of Jesus. Amen.