Grace is so powerful! By definition it is the unmerited unearned favor of God towards mankind.

Strong’s Definitions: 

The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues;
a gift of grace

Notice two things. First, God is doing the work. Second, it is His gift to us. 

If a gift is not free to the one receiving it, then it is not a gift. 

Someone did have to purchase the gift and pay the price for it, but that is the work of the Giver, not the receiver. 

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon says this about the Greek word for grace:

For sinful men, Christ left His state of blessedness with God in heaven, and voluntarily underwent the hardships and miseries of human life, and by his sufferings and death procured eternal salvation for mankind.

It goes on to state – grace contains the idea of kindness bestowed upon one that has not deserved it. 

I struggle to reconcile any thought that implies we do anything to pay for this gift. As the receiver there is no “cheap grace” nor “expensive grace,” there is only the gift from God given freely to us. 

Here’s the amazing thing about receiving the free gift of grace…it draws you in, it lifts you up, it transforms you. 

Yes, there will be evidence that you have received the gift of God’s grace, but it has nothing to do with you earning it. In fact, attempting to earn it simply reveals you do not yet fully understand it. 

The cost has been “paid in full” by the Giver, it is finished!

So, I hold tight to the verse that drives my sharing with you…

But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. ~ Acts 20:24

Any ads below are from WordPress, not me.