August 17, 2023: What Is Grace?

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8–9, ESV)

He is my working definition of grace: Grace is God's ability in me to do the things I cannot do in and of myself. Many people say grace is God's unmerited favor. That tells me it is a free and undeserved gift, but it doesn't yet define what grace is. When I understand that grace is God's ability, freely given to me to do the things I can't do myself—it now starts to make sense!

• I cannot save myself. That is God's ability.
• I cannot deliver myself. That is God's ability.
• I cannot heal myself. That is God's ability.

    
His ability at work in me, by faith, accomplishes more than I can think, ask or imagine! Because it is His ability at work in me, I can take no credit for it. I can only give Him all the praise and glory! He has conquered death, hell, and the grave; therefore, His ability/grace in me causes me to be more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus too! If death reigned through the first Adam, then grace reigns through the last Adam, Christ Jesus!
    
Grace is all His work! My work is to believe in him whom he has sent." (John 6:29, ESV) Grace, His ability in me, by faith!