The Grace of God

GOLDEN TEXT: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” —I John 4:10

EPHESIANS 2:4-9; TITUS 2:11-14

GRACE, as the word is used in our Golden Text, is the unmerited favor of God. We were all born in sin, and misshapen in iniquity. Death, the penalty for sin, was justly upon us, and upon the whole world. There was no obligation on God’s part that he do anything for the condemned race. But he did. His love prompted him to send his Son to be the “propitiation [satisfaction] for our sins.” Because the demands of divine justice have thus been satisfied by Jesus, we can now enjoy fellowship with the Father, and have a hope of eternal life.

Certainly, as Paul wrote, God “is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, … and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:4-6) In this text the word “quickened” has the thought of being re-animated. It is not a physical re-animation, but a quickening of hope. Formerly we were without God and having no hope, but his love and grace through Christ gave us a hope of life.

And we are also made to sit together with Christ in the “heavenlies.” The word “places” in the text is in italics, indicating that it has been supplied by the translators. We are not seated with Christ in a place, but in a condition—a condition described by the word heavenlies, which simply means high, or exalted.

As followers of Christ we have been made partakers of “the heavenly calling.” (Heb. 3:1) We are promised the “divine nature” with him. (II Pet. 1:4) We have been invited to sit with Jesus in his throne. (Rev. 3:21) Jesus already occupies the high position described by these expressions, and by faith we are seated together with him.

Verse 7 speaks of the ages to come in which the Lord will “show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” The grace of God which has provided an opportunity for all mankind to return to his favor and to life, is rich—very rich—but the expression “exceeding riches of his grace” only partially describes his kindness to those of the church in taking them out of degradation and sin, and exalting them to the highest position in the universe next to himself.

“Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (vs. 9) Our works, in the sense of our best endeavors to know and to do God’s will, demonstrate our faith, for, as James writes, “Faith without works is dead.” But we cannot earn salvation by our good works, for at best our own righteousness is as “filthy rags.”

Paul wrote to Titus that “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” (ch. 2:11) This does not mean that all who lived in Paul’s day actually had this marvelous grace of God revealed to them, nor has this been true of the human race since. Before Christ came, God said to the nation of Israel, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) But beginning soon after Pentecost, a change took place. The disciples were commanded to go into all the world. Peter went to Cornelius and afterward said, “I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34,35) It is in this sense that the grace of God “appeared” to all men.

Those who believe and accept are given a “blessed hope,” even the “appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” This is a reference to the second advent of Christ, when he sets up his kingdom, through the agencies of which all mankind will be enlightened. The church class will be associated with Jesus in the work of that age.

It is during the present age that these are being called from the world and purified, or set apart as a “peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (ch. 2:14) They are purified through the blood of Christ, and their fidelity to the Lord is proved by their faithfulness in the various experiences through which divine providence permits them to pass.

The word “peculiar” in this text does not mean odd. It is translated from a Greek word meaning “beyond the ordinary.” The world in general will be restored to life as human beings on the earth, but the footstep followers of Jesus will be a people beyond the ordinary, for they will be exalted to the divine nature.

QUESTIONS

Define the meaning of the word “grace” as applied to God.

Explain what it means to sit together with Christ in the “heavenlies.”

What is the “exceeding riches” of God’s grace which will be revealed in the ages to come?

What part do “works” play in connection with the gift of salvation?

In what sense did the grace of God appear “to all men” at the beginning of the Gospel age?

What is the “blessed hope” for which Christians are looking?

How are the followers of Jesus “purified,” and in what sense are they a “peculiar people”?

What are the “good works” for which they are called?

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