WHAT IS GRACE?

The Apostle Paul tells us that we are saved, justified, called, sanctified, preserved, and glorified by the grace of God without our works. The Word of God lays such heavy emphasis upon the fact that salvation is by grace that it is very difficult for anyone to claim to believe the Bible and yet openly deny that salvation is by grace. But what is grace? Most people think and speak about grace in such a way that they frustrate the grace of God.

That is the reason Paul declared, "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain!" The grace that most people talk about is not grace at all. It is so mixed with human merit and human works that it is "no more grace" (Rom. 11:6). Grace that looks to the worth of man, waits upon the will of man, or depends upon the work of man is frustrated grace; and frustrated grace is not the grace of God!

Grace is free, unmerited, and unconditional! Any- thing earned, merited, or deserved by you is not grace. The man who thinks he deserves grace does not believe in grace. The person who imagines that his acceptance with God depends upon his will, his works, or his worth, does not believe in grace as the Bible speaks of grace. He has fallen from grace (Gal. 5:2, 4).

Paul took no credit for his salvation. He knew he did not make himself to differ from others. A great change had taken place in his heart, and he attributed the change to the grace of God alone (I Cor. 15:10).

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH OF DANVILLE

2734 Old Stanford Road

Danville, Kentucky 40422

236-8235