THURSDAY May 20, 2021

The Gift of the Grace of God

...by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Ephesians 3:4-7

During the Old Testament time period, God revealed Himself and His salvation to the Jews. Israel was to be God’s witness to the Gentiles. The Bible records only a few examples of Gentiles who experienced salvation. Now salvation is not only for Jews, but it has been extended to the Gentiles. The Gospel of grace has been revealed by the Spirit through His apostles and prophets. Jews and Gentiles are able to go to heaven because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

When Christ died on the Cross, the curtain in the Jewish temple ripped from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). This miracle signified Christ’s finished work. No longer were Jews and Gentiles to be separated. They have now become one in Christ Jesus. The grace of God has been made available to everyone in the world, not just for one race of people.

The Holy Spirit is the only One who can convict and convert a person. I cannot save you, but as I share the Gospel of grace with people, it is as if I have thrown out a rope to them that leads to Christ. Grace is the gift of God. We cannot work for it, but we can receive it by faith.

When we repent and accept Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit transforms our lives. The Spirit regenerates people. We serve God in any capacity by the grace of God given to us. What we have become today in Christ is all because of the grace of God. It is all of grace––nothing of us. We need to give credit where credit is due. It is all because of Jesus––all of Him.

Seriously, we are nothing, just dust––servants of the Lord.

Grace first inscribed my name in God’s eternal book: ‘Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb Who all my sorrows took.’
~Philip Doddridge~

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