God’s Grace is Sufficient

It’s testimony time today and we want to focus on the grace of God.

Indeed, because of His grace, you and I are still here today. It is because of His mercies why were have not been consumed.

Each of us, we have sinned and come short of God’s glory. But God did not punish us as we deserved. We are still here because of grace.

So grace is the favour of God that we receive, freely, favour that we do not deserve but God gives to us anyway, because He loves us and is merciful towards us.

It is a gift that try as we might we cannot earn. No money can buy it. 

I asked yesterday what we can discuss as we call in today to testify of God’s goodness and Sister Monica promptly suggested God's Grace is Sufficient. What Has God’s Grace Done for Us? And so here we are.

We know Family that grace is pivotal in understanding salvation, forgiveness, and the Christian life. 

1. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us, and I’m reading from the NLT

“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”

For us to be saved we have to accept the grace of God through faith. It is nothing that we can do or say in and of ourselves. This scripture underscores the idea that salvation is an act of God's grace, which should lead to humility rather than pride.

2. Romans 3:23-24

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.”

Here, the Apostle Paul reminds us that everyone of us have sinned and as such we need the grace of God. When we win, we have to go through a process called justification—being declared righteous in God's sight—and that only comes from God Himself. And the beautiful thing about it is that it comes freely, not through any goodness of ours or anybody else. This grace is made available through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. So Paul highlights here that grace is the means by which God justifies sinners. Where would we be without grace?

3. Titus 2:11-12

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,”

We also learn that grace is not only about salvation but also about transformation. So, God's grace teaches us how to live in a way that is pleasing to God. What are we living for, if not to please God? We know some people, and we ourselves, are guilty or have been guilty of going the extra mile to please someone, and sometimes that led to disappointment and heartbreak. In this scripture, we are empowered to reject sin and to live in a manner that reflects God's holiness. Grace here is shown as both the means of salvation and the force that enables a godly life.

4. 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Ahhh, the sufficiency of God's grace. God’s grace is enough! Hallelujah. We don’t need validation from anyone or even ourselves. When we feel weak, when we are suffering persecution for righteouessness sake, we can look to God to sustain us. Glory to Jesus. When we are weak, He is strength. God's grace is the enabling power that is sufficient to meet every need.

5. Romans 6:14

“Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”

Now when we realise and accept our sin and feel the need t repent and be forgiven, it doesn’t stop there. We have to make a move to receive the help we need to turn from our wicked ways. This is called transformation. So this verse explains the change that we go through when we believe in Jesus Christ to save us from sin…what happens when we believe that God’s grace is sufficient. Under the law, sin had dominion because the law could not empower people to overcome sin. However, because of grace, sin loses its power because grace not only forgives sin but also enables the believer to live in victory over sin. Glory to God. So grace changes the believer's status from being a slave to sin to being a recipient of grace - God's empowering favor.

So just to recap, grace in the Bible is multifaceted. It is the means of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), the basis of justification (Romans 3:23-24), the teacher of godly living (Titus 2:11-12), the sustaining power in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and the power that frees believers from the dominion of sin (Romans 6:14). 

Grace is God's unearned favor, His transformative power, and the foundation of the Christian faith.

aub - 30 August 2024

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