Introduction
If you’ve been in church for a while, you’ve probably heard about grace. That’s good because grace is central to our faith. Grace comes from the Greek word charis, which means “goodwill,” “loving-kindness,” and “favor.” It’s about God’s blessings given to us freely out of pure love.

Grace in Christianity is different from other religions. In other religions, you have to work to earn God’s acceptance. But in Christianity, God brought us close to Him through Jesus. No effort on our part can earn this. Only through Jesus’ work on the cross can we be saved. This is what grace means in the Bible, and it’s key to the Christian message.

Today’s Scripture
Ephesians 2:4-9 (New Living Translation)

"But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.
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."

Explanation and Reflection
Yesterday we learned that we have many problems. Today we will see that through grace, God has all the answers.
1. Grace is an Expression of God’s Love.
Grace shows that God loves us in a real way. God’s love isn’t just a feeling. It cost Him something—His Son. This act of grace, Christ’s sacrifice, shows God’s true character. God is love, and He loves us deeply.

2. Grace Saves Us From Spiritual and Physical Death
Grace did not give us a boost because we were limping along. God didn’t throw us a flotation device because we were about to drown. Paul says, “we were dead because of our sins” in verse 5. In other words, we were dead in the water. We were blue and cold. Grace was CPR when we were not breathing and could in no way, shape, or form help ourselves. God breathed life back into us.

3. Grace is a Part of God’s Glory
Verse 7 says that God’s grace exemplifies His goodness for future generations. Grace is about worship and should always lead us to worship God.

4. Grace Unites Us With Christ
When someone shows us kindness, we feel close to them. Grace isn’t just a legal transaction; it’s a relationship that brings us closer to God. Grace is not a “grab-and-go” situation in which we take Jesus’ salvation but leave His lordship behind. Saving grace compels us to walk with Christ.

5. Grace is Given by Believing in Christ
In Acts 4:12, Peter says about Jesus, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” To receive God’s grace, we must believe in Jesus, confess Him as Lord and Savior, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. No other belief system, religion, or philosophy leads to salvation. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

6. Grace is a Gift
Sometimes after receiving grace, we try to pay God back. But Ephesians 2:8 says grace is a gift. When someone gives you a gift, you don’t try to pay them back. If you do, it’s no longer a gift. We just receive the gift.

7. Grace Leads to Humility
Paul reminds us that being saved by grace should make us humble, not proud. We shouldn’t brag. Instead, we should forgive and love others just as God has forgiven and loved us. In Ephesians 4:32, Paul says, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” A life forgiven forgives.

Grace is deep yet simple. It’s the foundation of the Gospel and should be the foundation of our lives. If you haven’t accepted God’s grace by acknowledging Christ as Lord and Savior and being baptized, please contact a pastor to discuss what you must do to be saved. If you are unsure about your salvation, please contact a pastor to clarify the status of your relationship with God.

Question of the Day
Here's a question for you to think about and apply:
Grace should lead to humility. In what ways are you still prideful? How can you become more humble as someone who has received grace?