3 ways to understand grace

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV)

1) God Is Able
Many of you Hillsong fans would easily be able to recognize that title! What it means is that there is nothing God cannot do. It’s a simple and profound truth but it’s amazing how so many people forget that! They resort to complaining, but that didn’t work out for the Israelites. In fact, it worked heavily against them! See how in this verse: Numbers 14:2 & v29. I also touched on that in my earlier post, 4 things that test your faith. We need to understand that “With God all things are possible” (Matt 19:23). As long as we have an awareness when He says, ” For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD,” (Isaiah 55:8) it becomes easier to acknowledge that He’ll make a way where there seems to be no way. Another thing is this: Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (Eph 3:20), that helps us know that we play a part in being used by God. This is true because it was by grace that we were saved (Eph 2:8).

2) God is sufficient
The sad thing is when we don’t grasp the importance of how God operates, we minimize Him. We limit the extent of His provision when we think we need just enough to get by. We limit our potential for greatness when we settle for good enough. When we allow Him to direct us, we can then receive more than enough! He is not a God of just enough or good enough. The power is behind the abundance. Of what? Grace. In Genesis 17:1 God appears to Abram as “Almighty God” or “Jehovah El Shaddai”. That means that His power, strength and might is enough for us. This is clearly seen in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, “ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” Meaning that His sufficiency is in the new covenant (His promise) to bring relationships together, believe God for our well being, our resources and doing all that He’s created us to do!

3) God is everything
We can always call on Him for help. Essentially He should be the first person we go to whenever we need help. That’s why it’s vital to grow in the Word. It get’s easier to recognize His leading everyday in our lives. According to Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need,” it’s at the throne of grace that we find grace for the help and in order to help in time of need. This is why “His grace is sufficient!” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Understanding grace better
The easiest way to remember what grace is, is by looking at it in light of what justice and mercy are:

Justice: getting what you deserve
Mercy: not getting what you deserve
Grace: getting what you don’t deserve