Gifts of Grace

THE BIBLE AFFIRMS “THE wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:23) God’s grace and love made provision whereby the sinful race would not have to remain dead eternally, because Jesus came to redeem ungodly humans and to die for them. We recall these well-known words: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”—John 3:16,17

Paul provides this serious counsel concerning proper self-evaluation for consecrated followers of Christ. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom. 12:3) Thus, the apostle asserts that we cannot make progress along the narrow way until we first recognize our own lack of worthiness.

Our Key Verses remind us that each saint receives individual gifts from God and that each does not occupy the same position in the body. However, it is Jesus, who as our Head, controls the body, thinks for it, plans for it, and uses all the various members to assist each other.

We are also told that “by grace” we are saved, “through faith.” (Eph. 2:8) If our sober self-appraisal is based upon what we are through faith, it means our recognition of the fact that apart from the grace of God we are nothing. Thus, whatever of favor God bestows upon us is not because we merit it. He accepts our service to him as evidence of our appreciation, through faith, of his love and grace, but we cannot obtain that grace by our own works.

In Romans 12:6 the apostle explains that the many members of the body of Christ have “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us.” Examples of such gifts include: prophesying; ministering; teaching; exhorting; ruling; giving; and showing mercy. These are all manifestations of God’s grace in us.—vss. 7,8

As we “grow in grace” and in the fruits of the Spirit we should be more faithful in seizing the privileges that come before us. There are very few saints who do not have an occasional opportunity to speak a word of exhortation, comfort, or encouragement to others along the narrow way. Our life should be one of giving our time, our strength, our talents, our means, our all. This should begin in response to the Lord’s invitation, “My son, give me thine heart.” (Prov. 23:26) Having done this fully and in sincerity, progress in character development is inevitable if we are focused upon pleasing our Heavenly Father. If our hearts are in the right attitude before God, there is sure to be a large overflow of his grace to us which will also bless others.

Only our lack of faith could hinder the inflow of divine grace. God is most willing to provide all things needful for our spiritual progress. If we are conscientious and loyal to him, we can echo with certainty that this passage is applicable to us. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”—Phil. 4:13