THE GRACE OF GOD
IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
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The gospel of Jesus
Christ declares the grace of God as the answer to all the
struggles of life. Unfortunately, fear, hurt, and pain do
seem to grip our lives far too often. Since we do seem to
struggle in life, the grace of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ
is the most crucial issue of Christianity.
Paul stated to the Corinthians, "But by the grace of
God I am what I am . . . I laboured more abundantly than they all:
yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1
Cor. 15:10). It is a simple statement by Paul to indicate
that the labor seen in his life was not of himself, but the grace
of God which was with him. Labor does occur, but the gospel of
Jesus Christ declares it is a product of the grace of God.
The same principle is also proclaimed to the Colossians. It
is stated, however, in a different way which adds insight to the
meaning of the grace of God. Paul wrote, "Whereunto
I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in
me mightily" (Col. 1:29). As indicated, labor is
being performed, but it is not Paul's labor. Again, the gospel of
Jesus Christ proclaims that the labor Paul was experiencing was "according
to [God's] working," the grace of God.
Finally, Paul helps our understanding of the grace of God to come
together by making a similar statement to the Philippians.
He wrote, "For it is God which worketh in you both to
will and to do of his good pleasure" (2:13). It can be
safely stated that "his good pleasure" can be understood
as the doing of the will of God. Something that would be
pleasurable to God would be His will. His will is actually
accomplished by the grace of God.
Thus, the verse could be interpreted to read "For it is God
which worketh in you both to will and to do His will.
Amazingly, the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaims that the grace of
God is both the willing and the doing of God's will. The
grace of God in the gospel of Jesus Christ is for overcoming all
struggles of life.
Successfully experiencing life is only by the grace of God.
The gospel of Jesus Christ reveals that the grace of God is the
desire and the power of God at work in this world. The grace
of God is the want-to and the accomplishment of the will of God
for your life. The grace of God is for all of
your fears, your hurts, and your pains.
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