8. The Grace Of God

My Heart's Desire
Maynard A. Force
Chapter 8

The Grace Of God

The grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men. Titus 2. 11.

''Grace'' is one of the richest words in the Bible. It includes in its meaning many other wonderful words such as love, mercy, patience, and salvation. It is one of the key words that introduce us to God. Without it we would be in total darkness.

''Grace'' is God's love poured out upon undeserving sinners. Such a statement should arouse the attention of any sinner. If any individual thinks he deserves God's love, he can not touch the grace of God, for grace is something that comes entirely from God, and is given as an outright gift to undeserving people. "For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, that no man should glory'' (Ephesians 2. 8-9).

God's grace comes to us through Jesus Christ. "The law was given through Moses: grace and truth came through Jesus Christ'' (John 1. 17). God's grace and Jesus Christ can not be separated, for they are one and the same thing. God's grace is all bound up in Christ. Therefore our text reads, "The grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all Men." Our text could also have read, "Jesus Christ hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men."

"For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in him (Christ) should all the fulness dwell'' (Colossians 1. 19). It was God's plan to reveal His grace in a very attractive way. No one who comes in touch with Jesus eve: needs to doubt God's love for him.
Even the vilest sinner felt drawn to Christ. Children as well as grown people felt welcome in His presence. Come then, "Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need'' (Hebrews 4. 16).

God's grace can not be exhausted. It is like an endless river that never runs dry. "For of his fullness we all received, and grace for grace'' (John 1. 16). "Grace for grace'' can also be translated "grace upon grace." It is as a river that has water upon water-grace upon grace. Drink as often and as much as you desire, but you can not drink this river dry. Some stricken sinners are tempted to believe they have exhausted God's grace. Nothing could be farther from the truth than that. God's own word should forever remove such doubt. "But where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly'' (Romans 5. 20). Where sin is great, grace is even greater. "God is able to make all grace abound unto you'' (2 Corinthians 9. 8). Never for one moment entertain the thought that there is not sufficient grace for you, for "He giveth more grace'' (James 4. 6). God's river of grace is still overflowing its banks. Stoop down, thirsty one, and drink of it, for "the river of God is full of water'' (Psalm 65. 9).

God's grace can not be exhausted, but it can be rejected. A sinner is never lost because God's grace is not sufficient, but rather because God's grace is rejected. Christ "came to his own, and they that were his own received him not, but as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God'' (John 1. 11-12). It is possible for a man to die of thirst on the barks of a river if he refuses to drink. There have been cases where people have gone on hunger strikes and actually died for lack of food, not because there was no food, but rather because they refused to partake of it. We can not find one case in the Bible where Christ rejected a sinner because His grace was exhausted. Rather, we find Him weeping over sinful Jerusalem, which was in dire need of His grace; because they rejected the grace He came to give. The great problem is not that there is not sufficient grace to forgive sinners, but rather that sinners reject or neglect the grace God offers them.

Grace is for "all Men." No amount of work can earn it. It is given to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. "Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; through whom we also have our access by faith unto his grace wherein we stand'' (Romans 5. 1).

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe;
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
JULIA H. JOHNSTON.