The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news…
and Grace is the thread that weaves through the story.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found. Was blind, but now I see.”
The familiar words of this hymn echo the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. All humanity needs good news because we share a common experience with the writer of these lyrics; We are lost, blind, and sin-stained. The good news of the amazing grace of Jesus deals with all three and sets us on a path of freedom, wholeness, and restoration.
The Bible, God’s Word, tells the story of grace for all humankind. Its stories, wisdom, knowledge, revelation, and truth show us how Jesus came to overcome sin’s penalty and power that left us helpless and hopeless; facing eternal death apart from God. The Apostle John said it this way, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29b)
The working of God’s grace does more than bestow favor. Grace replaces the influences of sin, darkness and shame, with God’s divine influences of light and holiness. Grace, then, is not only beneficial to those that receive it, but flows through us to reach out to others.
Three Workings of Grace
Prevenient Grace
God’s grace is eternally at work because God is eternal. Before we ever knew of God or His love for us, His grace works to draw us to Himself. How? Creation speaks of its Creator. God’s earth displays His glory, and those who believe in Him reflect His holiness in the world. Prior to being awakened to God’s reality, we are drawn by His grace and goodness.
Saving Grace
Like an “a-ha” moment, we become awakened to the reality of God’s love and holiness in light of our sin and darkness. Like the author of Amazing Grace, we begin to see where we once were blind. We offer our lives to Jesus, asking Him to forgive us and cleanse us from our sin. We enter His salvation through His grace.
Sanctifying Grace
God is holy, in Him, there is no darkness at all. He calls us to follow Him in His holiness and light. As we walk in His ways and live in obedience to Him, empowered by His Holy Spirit, we discover the freedom that exists in His ways. Day by day, step by step, we work out our salvation and grow in His likeness and holiness.
Three Ways We Respond
Awakened
Responding to the grace of God begins with an awakening… a seeing. But what do we “see?” We see our sin in light of His glory. We sense His love that wants to erase the shame we know too well. We experience the beginnings of His divine influence on our hearts. We’ve been moved from ignorance to a divine knowledge that opens a door we never knew.
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood
Died He for me, who caused His pain
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Saved
This awakening creates a need to embrace what God is offering us… life and light in Him through the death of Jesus on the cross. We see how He took our death upon Himself to give us life. We find ourselves asking, “what must I do to be saved?” There are two simple and profound things we must do: confess and repent. Confession “fesses up,” admitting all we’ve done before God. We speak it out and get it out. Repentance is turning away. Seeing our sinful ways for what they are, we renounce them and turn away from them. Through faith, the act by which we believe, confess and repent, we are saved!
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love
And bled for Adam’s helpless race
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free
For O my God, it found out me!
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shoudlst die for me?
Sanctified
As we move on in our lives with Jesus, having been set free from the penalty of sin, we still sense the power of the nature of sin. Where once we enjoyed sinful ways, we now desire for that power to be deflated and entirely overcome. We die to ourselves as Jesus commanded. We lose our life to find it and carry our cross with Jesus daily. We walk in holiness, even though we are still given to mistakes, ignorance, temptation and a number of other troubles. We can know the freedom of being in the world, but not of the world.
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light
My chains fell off, my heart was free
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
No condemnation now I dread
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine
Alive in Him, my living Head
And clothed in righteousness divine
Bold I approach the eternal throne
And claim the crown, through Christ my own
Amazing love! How can it be
That Thou my God, shouldst die for me?
The Means of Grace
Living in the grace of God is a daily walk. Through the worship of God, reading His Word, prayer, and participating in the sacraments like communion or the Lord’s supper, we remain in Him. Each of these practices is a means by which we remain or abide in the grace of God. Life in Christ is not to be lived alone but in the company of others. The church, or the Body of Christ, shares in the mission of Jesus in this world.
The Free Methodist Church is one part of the greater Body of Christ that is ready to welcome you and join you in your faith journey. Click here to learn even more.