What comes to mind when you think of the word grace? Some people may think of a blue-eyed blonde. A Christian may respond with a theological response of God’s unmerited favor. It’s important to have a proper understanding of grace, but if it doesn’t make a difference in my everyday life, then I really don’t understand grace. Here are two key questions to help you ascertain if you truly understand grace.

Do I accept God’s grace in my life?

Our initial response may be of course; however, a closer examination reveals that we have a tendency to rely upon our own righteousness. We’re conditioned by conditional love. All of us have experienced conditional acceptance, “I’ll accept you if you perform in a certain way.” We’re keenly aware of all of the junk in our lives and we don’t see how God could possibly accept us. So we try to get our act together and make ourselves presentable before God and others. This is why the Apostle Paul castigated the Galatian Christians,

You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:1-3)

The Galatians were guilty of working for their salvation rather than working out their salvation. They felt that they had to earn God’s favor rather than trusting in Christ’s finished work and experiencing God’s grace with gratitude. Do you think that you need to do something for your salvation? You must realize that God does it all – our part is to believe. If I struggle with accepting God’s grace in my life, then I usually struggle with the second question as well,

Do I accept other people?

Those who have experienced God’s grace in their lives often pass it on to others. As you go through life, you will encounter people who will hurt you and disappoint you – many times it seems that it is those who are closest to us. A person who does not understand grace will establish conditions, “You did not meet my expectations, so if I am to accept you then you must act, think, or feel in a certain way.”

This type of attitude is always self-destructive because you are yielding your emotional well-being to the acts, thoughts, or feelings of the other person. You are abdicating your personal responsibility and allowing the other person to affect your emotional well-being.

Jesus told a story about a servant who owed a great deal of money to his master. The master graciously forgave the debt. The point of the story is the person who has been shown great grace (such as us in our relationship to God) should show grace to others. The servant who was forgiven the great debt went out and found his fellow servant who owed him a small debt and rather than showing grace, he had his fellow servant thrown in prison. When the master learned of this incident he said to the servant to whom he had shown grace,

Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you? (Matthew 18:33)

Jesus is teaching us that we must show grace to others. He closes this story with a strong warning,

My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.  (Matthew 18:35)

The word “forgive” is a rich word that signifies “to send away, to set free, or to leave alone.” You have a choice. You can continue to be disappointed with the other person or you can choose to live a joyful, grace-filled life – it’s up to you. When you realize and appropriate your position in Christ, you can rest in His grace and show His grace to others,

For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

May you realize the grace that has been given to you and freely give it to others. Living in grace is your birthright as a Christian,

but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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