Growing in Grace

May 21 / Regina L. Lowe
Grace is foundational to the Christian faith. As believers we should take intentional steps to ensure we have a firm understanding of grace and know its importance in our lives. 

In this volume of The Guided Life newsletter, we're exploring grace, specifically God's grace, and how we should be experiencing it in our lives. Issue 1 covers grace from a spiritual formation perspective. Issue 2 will focus on grace and our personal growth as humans. And finally, Issue 3 will explore grace in our professional development. 

I invite you to jump in, explore grace with us, and join in community as we hear from various voices and perspectives about this work. 

Grace and Its Importance

Defining 

It's always good level set and make sure we really know what grace is. The most traditional definition of grace is: God's unmerited favor extended to us. 

We can break this down a bit more by unpacking the words 'unmerited' and 'favor'. First, unmerited means that we can't do anything to deserve or earn it. Grace is without merit. And favor means it's an act of kindness beyond what is due and the norm. Grace goes above and beyond. 

Based on that, we can restate the traditional definition of God's grace like this: 

Grace is god's acts of kindness that goes far above and beyond what we could ever deserve or earn. 

Let's add some examples: 

  • Providing money to pay our bills even though we continue with poor spending habits... grace. 
  • Protecting us from a close accident even though we were texting while driving... trace. 
  • Giving us success and promotions at work even though we don't always show up in a way God wants... grace. 
  • Fixing our mistakes even when we keep making the same ones over and over... grace. 
  • What else? 

 

Expanding the Definition 

It's important to take the traditional definition and build upon and expand it. To start building, we must realize that grace is free! There's no way to buy it, barter for it, or do any type of exchange. 

Paul expresses this in Romans 3:23-24: 

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (NIV) 

What a tangible expression of God's free grace! 

And not only is grace free, but grace is received through faith. As soon as we receive Jesus Christ as God's only begotten Son, and our Lord and Savior, we receive the free gift of grace. And our lives are forever changed. 

Paul again expresses this in Ephesians 2:4-9: 

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in merch, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. (NIV; emphasis added) 

Grace, through faith, provided the way for us to be saved. We are experiencing grace through Christ Jesus. And it seems that there is even more grace for us to experience that we haven’t yet (see verse 7). 

And this is how it goes far beyond what is due and the norm: 

God’s grace is a sustaining influence that empowers us to persevere in our faith! Grace not only initiates our security in eternal salvation, but it also maintains it throughout our entire lives. In other words, living life (esp. As a Christian) can be hard. But God gives us the grace to keep going in spite of any and all challenges. 

We know this because of Acts 20:32 which says: 

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (NIV; emphasis added) 

And because of Acts 11:23 which says: 

"When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." (NIV; emphasis added) 

Summary 

In summary, here’s why grace is so important for our lives: 

  • It’s how God initiates our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. 
  • We get acts of kindness from God that go far and above what we deserve or can ever earn. 
  • It’s free. 
  • We’re empowered and encouraged to keep living [the Christian] life. 

 

Challenges to Receiving God's Grace

Since God’s grace is free and pretty awesome, it would seem like we would be experiencing its affects in abundance. And we are experiencing its effects. But perhaps not in the abundance that God intends or is available to us (reference Eph 2:7).

Here are some primary challenges we face in receiving God’s abundance of grace:
  • Pride
  • Lack of faith
  • Idolatry
  • Satan
 
Pride
The more we lean into self-sufficiency versus humility and a dependence on God, we risk not receiving some of His grace. Recognizing our absolute dependence on God for everything - in spite of how gifted, talented, connected, or financially secure we are - opens us up to receive more grace.

Lack of Faith
Grace is initiated through our faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is a crucial component of grace. We must believe that God can and will do exceedingly, abundantly, above all - in us, for us, and through us. Faith helps us to act even in the midst of fear and doubts. And the more we act out of faith, the more of God’s grace we’ll receive.

Idolatry
Idolatry - or in other words, putting anything in God’s place. That includes people, things, addictions, and habits. Leaning on, and especially worshiping, anything other than God blocks us from grace.

Satan
We can’t forget that he is always at work to distract us, lie to us, and shift us away from God in any way he can. Here’s the proof and the promise:

1 Peter 5:8-10
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (NIV; emphasis added)
We can likely add many more challenges to receiving God’s grace. But the primary point is this: don’t take God’s grace for granted! And we can’t be blinded to the fact that we face many challenges and disruptions to keep us from receiving the abundance of His grace.
2 Cor 6:1
“Now, since we are God’s coworkers, we beg you not to take God’s marvelous grace for granted, allowing it to have no effect on your lives.” (TPT) 

How to Keep Growing in Grace

God’s grace is free. We face challenges to experiencing it in its abundance. So how can we keep growing in grace? 

There are many ways we can continue to grow in grace. It takes intentionality and effort, but it does help protect and strengthen us against the many challenges that want to keep us from experiencing God’s abundant grace. 

Here is a list from which you can choose to adopt, strengthen, recommit, or maintain: 

  1. Cultivate daily, intentional, focused time with God. Get rid of distractions, excuses, and busyness. 
  2. Read the Word and reflect on what it means for you and your life. 
  3. Pray to God and listen to His responses. 
  4. Look for things to be grateful for and express gratitude. 
  5. Be in community with other believers. Growth is exponential when we grow with others. 
  6. Repent for sins and ask for forgiveness. 
  7. Be humble. 

 

What else would you add? 

This month, we focused on growing in grace from a spiritual formation perspective. Next month, we’ll explore becoming gracious as a human being! 

Until then, and may your life be guided by grace. 

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