3 Benefits Of Grace

3 Benefits of Grace

Pastor Russell Henderson

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

[Titus 2:11-12 NIV]

The grace of God is a powerful attribute of God that has often been misunderstood.  Grace is often defined as “unmerited favor” or an “undeserved gift”.  There is absolutely nothing that we can do to earn the grace of God.  He gives it freely to any who would ask and accept it.  In Titus 2:11-12 we see three things that the grace of God does.  Without these three things we would be lost and have no hope of salvation.  The three things that grace does are:  (1) it offers salvation to all people, (2) it teaches us to say “no” to sin, and (3) it teaches us to live for God.

Grace offers salvation to all people

This is probably the most important aspect of grace.  Ephesians 2:8 tells us that “it is by grace we have been saved, through faith…”  In other words, when a person prays to the Father in faith (believing that He hears and has the power to forgive) it is His grace that saves the individual.  Titus 3:4-5 tells us that we are not saved because of any righteous thing that we have done, but we are saved because Christ offers us his loving kindness (grace) and His mercy. 

What a blessing to know that God does not take our life history into account when we come to Him for salvation.  He is more than willing to save us and wash us clean because it is His will that none should perish, but all would have eternal life.

Grace teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions

Just because we are saved doesn’t mean life is going to be a cakewalk from here on out.  But another wonderful thing that grace does is that it opens our eyes to the freedom that we have now gained in salvation and it teaches us to turn from the ways of the world.  The person that truly encounters the grace of God should have a desire within him to turn from that old lifestyle—we call that repentance.  Repentance is something that should happen immediately following salvation.  As one begins to understand that he has been set free from sin, grace helps the new believer to turn from those old ways.

Romans 6:14 says,  “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”  When a person makes a move from sin to salvation he also takes on a new master.  Sin should longer control him, and with the help and teaching of God’s grace, the believer can walk and live in the third aspect of grace.

Grace teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives

Just as the grace of God teaches us to repent and say “no” to sin, it also teaches us how to live Godly lives.  One of the key fruits of a Godly life is self-control.  Self-control is part of the fruit of a Spirit-led life.  It is essential that every believer should make a daily habit of turning from sin and make every effort to live a self-controlled life.

The term “self-control” can be a bit misleading, however, because the believer was never intended to be good on his own.  As a matter of fact, he can’t be good on his own.  The only way to live this life of self-control is through the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  However, it is up to the individual to decide for himself to say “no” to sin and “yes” to righteousness.  I’ve heard it said that grace is like a waterfall.  The more you live under the waterfall of God’s grace, the more you will have a desire to live the life that God has called you to live.

Today, will you ask yourself these questions:  Have you encountered the saving grace of Jesus Christ?  If you can say “yes” to that question then the next question is this:  What is the master of your life – sin or righteousness?  Make the choice today to daily turn from sin and draw nearer to the face of God.