Grace Through Faith

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One of the keys to understanding the truths of the New Covenant is having a revelation of the gift of grace. The apostle Paul gives us clear insight in this matter in Romans chapter 5-6. Romans 4:13, "For the promise that he would be heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith". Verse 16, "Therefore, it is by faith, that it might be by grace, to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the Law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all". Here Paul indicates the way we enter into grace is through faith.

We need a revelation of the grace of God to understand the New Covenant. We have all heard that grace is unmerited favor. Well, that is true, but it is much more than that. Grace is God's willingness to use His power and His ability on your behalf, even though you don't deserve it. This definition of grace, will challenge you to study the scriptures concerning grace. Paul tells us that it is through faith that you can enter into grace.

Romans 5:1: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand. In other words, the only way that we have access into God's grace (His willingness) is through faith in His Word and the blood of Jesus His Son.

We cannot merit favor with God through good works as they did under the Old Covenant. They were under the law and they had to keep the whole law or the curses came on them and no one could keep the law to the letter. But under the New Covenant it is no more the works of the law, but it is of faith that we might enter into the promises through grace. Under the law they either measured up to the law or the curses of the law came upon them and it was bad news all over again. However, under the New Covenant (the days of grace) God through His mercy and grace causes us to be justified by faith. We are not justified by what we have done, or what we haven't done but we are justified by faith in the blood of Jesus. It is through this faith that we access the grace of God for the remission of sins.

"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law". (Romans 3:19-22,28)

You will notice in every letter that the apostle Paul wrote he says, "Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus". You find that is usually in the first two or three verses but no further than the seventh verse. Grace is God's willingness. Paul wanted us to receive God's willingness toward us. That is where many people miss it today. They have trouble receiving God's willingness; oh they believe God is able, but they are not sure He is willing. They need a revelation of the gift of grace.

Peter refers to grace in the beginning of each of his epistles and gives us more insight in this matter. He says, "Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord". Grace being God's willingness, is multiplied through the knowledge of God. The more you know about what God will do, the more willing God is to do it because it produces faith. It is not that God is not already willing but God's willingness is multiplied when you know what God will do on your behalf.

In Ephesians 2:8 we find a very interesting statement, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God". What gift is Paul referring to here? Many believe it is the gift of faith that Paul mentioned in I Cor. 12:9, but I am convinced that he is referring to the gift of grace. In the third chapter of Ephesians we find strong evidence that it is grace. "If you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to youward". Then in verse seven, "whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of grace of God which was given unto me by the effectual working of His power". It seems rather obvious that the gift he has referred to is the gift of grace. (Eph. 3:2)

Then in Ephesians 4:7 Paul says, "But to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ". I believe we make a mistake when we say that the scripture in Ephesians 2:8 is referring to the gift of faith. The gift of faith is a special gift and is listed as one of the nine Gifts of the Spirit in I Cor. 12:9.

More Evidence

The death of Jesus ushered in the dispensation of grace. In John 1:14 we see that "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth". Jesus was full of grace. He was filled with God's willingness. Verse 16 says, "And of His fullness have all we received, grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ". (v.17)

Acts 14:3 speaks of the Word of God as the word of grace. Acts 14:2-3, "But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil effected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands". Here it speaks of the Word of God as being the word of grace.
Now let's put it together. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us - full of grace and truth. For the Law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. The Word of God is spoken of as being the word of grace. In other words, the Bible is the Word of God's willingness toward us, for the Word of God is God's will for us.

II Cor. 8:9 says, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (or you know the willingness of the Lord Jesus Christ) that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich". It was through God's willingness that Jesus became poor that we might be made rich. That includes financially, spiritually, physically and every way.

Now lets look at II Tim. 2:1 where Paul admonishes Timothy to be strong in grace. That is why so many Christians are in trouble, they are not strong in grace. They are strong in knowing God is able to do certain things but not strong in God's willingness to do it for them at the present.

II Peter 3:18 tells us to "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". We must grow in grace. Don't stay where you are, as far as God's willingness for you is concerned. As you grow in the grace of God, you realize that God wants you to have the things that He has given you. Peter said: "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord. According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". (II Pet. 1:2-4)

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him". (Heb.11:6) The reason it is impossible to please God without faith is because God is not pleased when you don't have enough faith to enter into the grace that He has already given through the exceeding great and precious promises.
I believe Hebrews 4:16 brings the whole thing into focus by saying: "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, (don't come begging, hoping to God that something will happen, but come BOLDLY) that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need". We shouldn't try to come on our merits. We certainly don't want to come saying, "we want what we deserve", because we don't want what we deserve. It is through faith that we can come boldly to the throne of grace, and obtain.

Under the Old Law they were under a law of works. In Galatians 3:10 Paul said: "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident; for the just shall live by faith". Under the New Covenant, we are not justified by works (we receive reward because of works) but we are justified by faith. Justified means just as if I had not sinned. Therefore, you can come boldly to God's throne of grace and obtain mercy and find grace (God's willingness) to help in time of need.

In Galatians 3:21 Paul asks a question and answers it: "Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise".

The conclusion of the matter can be found in Romans 5:20-21. "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord". So where sin did abound, grace does much more abound. In other words, (grace) swallowed all our sins. Where sin once did reign now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ". (Rom. 5:17)

You can allow sin to reign or you can allow grace (God's willingness) to reign in life through righteousness unto eternal life that is in Christ Jesus. The choice is yours and time is short. Enter into His grace through faith and trust Him and His Promises today