Should we stop using the word “grace?” Lately I’ve been in discussions with friends who are backing away from using the word “grace” because they say it’s overused or misunderstood. They say it’s become controversial in some circles, and people immediately put up a wall when they hear it. It’s become a “buzzword” for “I can do anything I want, and God will forgive me.”
So, instead of “grace,” how about we just use the word “love” or the phrase “finished work of Jesus” or “new covenant?” That should clear up the misunderstanding, right?
But wait a minute – “grace” is the word Paul used, and Peter and James and John and Jude and Luke! Paul didn’t call it, “the gospel of love” or “the gospel of the finished work of Jesus.” He called it the “GOSPEL OF GRACE.”
Taking “grace” out of our vocabulary seems like spiritual political correctness!
Love is the greatest thing there is – after all, God IS love! But we can’t experience the love of God until we understand His grace. “God demonstrates His own LOVE toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
For human beings, receiving God’s GRACE is everything! Before we had a thought for Him, He already extended His GRACE towards us! Why? Because He is love. Receive His grace, experience His love.
Jesus is full of GRACE (John 1:14)
He is the God of all GRACE. (1 Peter 5:10)
By His GRACE we have been accepted in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)
We rest our hope fully in the GRACE that is being brought to us in the unveiling of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
Like Paul, I can say, “By the GRACE of God I am what I am!” (1 Corinthians 15:10)
I’m under GRACE! Hallelujah! (Romans 6:14)
Now here’s a sampling of some more vital GRACE statements from scripture (don’t skip over the last one because it’s the last verse in the entire Bible!):
- And of His fullness we have all received, and GRACE heaped upon GRACE. (John 1:16)
- In Acts we see that the Lord bore witness to the word of His GRACE, granting signs and wonders. (Acts 14:3)
- The ministry that Paul received from the Lord Jesus was to testify to the gospel of the GRACE of God. (Acts 20:24)
- We are justified freely by His GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)
- Through Jesus we have access by faith into His GRACE in which we stand. (Romans 5:2)
- We receive the abundance of GRACE and of the gift of righteousness, and we reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
- Where sin abounds, GRACE abounds much more. (Romans 5:20)
- And if by GRACE, then it is no longer of works; otherwise GRACE is no longer GRACE. But if it is of works, it is no longer GRACE; otherwise work is no longer work. (Romans 11:6)
- Paul said he did everything for the sake of the people so that GRACE, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)
- For you know the GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
- God makes all GRACE abound toward us so that we will always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
- Jesus says, “My GRACE is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
- We’re called into the GRACE of Christ. (Galatians 1:6)
- God who separated us from our mother’s womb and called us through His GRACE for a purpose. (Galatians 1:15)
- I do not set aside the GRACE of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. (Galatians 2:21)
- Even when we were dead in trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ – by GRACE we have been saved. (Ephesians 2:5)
- For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)
- We are ministers according the gift of the GRACE of God given to us by the effective working of His power. (Ephesians 3:8)
- Paul said GRACE was given to him, the least of all the saints, that he should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:8)
- But to each one of us GRACE was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. (Ephesians 4:7)
- Our speech should always be with GRACE, seasoned with “salt” so we may know how we ought to answer each one. (Colossians 4:6)
- The name of Jesus is glorified in us and we in Him according to His GRACE. (2 Thessalonians 1:12)
- We have been called with a holy calling according to His own purpose and GRACE which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. (2 Timothy 1:9)
- We are strong in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)
- For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. (Titus 2:11)
- The GRACE of God is our instructor to teach us to deny ungodliness. (Titus 2:12)
- We have been made righteous by His GRACE that we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.(Titus 3:7)
- It’s by God’s GRACE that Jesus tasted death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)
- We come boldly to the throne of GRACE, that we may obtain mercy and find GRACE to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
- We have GRACE by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. (Hebrews 12:28)
- If our heart is not established by GRACE, we will be carried about with various and strange doctrines. (Hebrews 13:9)
- God gives GRACE to the humble. (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5)
- As each one of us has received a spiritual gift, we minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold GRACE of God. (1 Peter 4:10)
- We grow in the GRACE and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18)
I counted 10 times that Paul opened a letter saying, “GRACE and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the opening to 2 Peter he said, “GRACE and peace be MULTIPLIED to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord.” (2 Peter 1:2) GRACE multiplied!
The writers of 15 new testament epistles closed their letters with a similar statement: “The GRACE of our Lord Jesus be with you” or “GRACE be with you.”
They started with GRACE and ended with GRACE!
In fact, the very last verse of the entire Bible says,
“The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelation 22:21)
It didn’t say, “the LOVE of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” or “the PEACE of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” or “the JOY of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.” Why? Because we will know the love, the joy, and the peace of God if we receive His GRACE.
May GRACE, GRACE, and more hyper, superabundant, overflowing GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all the days of your life! Amen.
