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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Jesus Christ is the Grace of God in Action!
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