1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
The Apostle Paul, reflecting on his life, declares, “By the grace of God, I am what I am!” He acknowledges that his accomplishments were solely due to God’s grace. His life and ministry were effective only because of that grace. Paul directs our focus to the crucial element: God’s grace.
Understanding God’s Grace
Before we proceed, let’s define the grace of God. Grace is an essential aspect of God’s character. It can be defined as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s kindness to the undeserving.”
In His grace:
– God forgives.
– God blesses us abundantly
This happens despite our unworthiness. David acknowledges this truth:
2 Samuel 7:18–19 (NIV)
“Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and he said: ‘Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in Your sight, Sovereign Lord, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!’”
David recognizes that God has blessed him far beyond what he deserves. This is the essence of grace—it is not based on our merit but on God’s kindness and love.
We don’t deserve God’s favor, yet He gives it generously.
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Our ability to gather and worship is a testament to His grace.
Misunderstanding Grace
However, some misuse the grace of God as an excuse to live as they please. They justify sin under the banner of grace. But in reality, God’s grace doesn’t give us a license to live recklessly—it gives us another chance. His grace draws us closer to Him and sustains us in our journey of faith.
That’s why we sang in worship today:
• I’m still standing—by the grace of God.
Just yesterday, at the gym, I had a near accident. A weight fell dangerously close to my toe. It was a moment of carelessness on my part, yet God protected me. If not for His grace, I might not be standing here—literally!
This is true for all of us. We often make foolish choices, stray from God’s ways, and do things deserving of His wrath. Yet, His grace protects and directs us.
Five Ways God’s Grace Strengthens and Sustains Us
1. Grace Toward the Sinner
God’s grace isn’t just for Christians; it extends even to those who don’t believe.
Matthew 5:45 (NIV)
“He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
Unlike us—who often show favoritism—God loves all people. His grace invites everyone to come to Him. One of my favorite passages is found in Isaiah:
Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Context: Israel had forgotten God. As a result, their offerings and gatherings became meaningless to Him.
Isaiah 1:13–15 (NIV)
“Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies… When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide My eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!”
Despite their rebellion, God still offers forgiveness. This is grace toward the sinner. Without it, we would all be doomed. His grace led Him to send Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins.
2. Grace in Salvation
The greatest experience of God’s grace is in salvation.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Salvation is the ultimate expression of grace. Through Jesus, we received the greatest gift—eternal life.
Titus 3:5 (NIV)
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
I often wonder: What if it wasn’t for the grace of God? Would I have joy, peace, or a purposeful life? The truth is, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today without His grace. It transformed a wretched sinner like me.
3. Grace in Our Weakness
We all face trials, and the reality is, we will never experience a life free from struggles, pain, or sickness. Jesus never promised a trouble-free life. Instead, He offers something greater:
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Context:
2 Corinthians 12:7–8 NIV
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
Paul pleaded with God to remove a physical affliction, but God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
We pray for healing, but sometimes, God chooses not to heal. Instead, He provides the grace to endure. His power is made perfect in our weakness.
4. Grace Provides Empathy and Help
Because of God’s grace, we can confidently approach Him.
Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV)
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Unlike earthly priests who were often detached from people’s struggles, Jesus understands our pain. He welcomes us, forgives us, and restores us—no matter how many times we fail.
5. Grace Shapes Us into Who God Wants Us to Be
Let’s return to our opening verse:
1 Corinthians 15:10 (NIV)
“But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.”
Paul recognized that he didn’t deserve to be an apostle—he had persecuted the church!
1 Corinthians 15:7–9 (NIV)
“Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
Yet, by God’s grace, he became the person God called him to be.
Sometimes, we know who God wants us to be, but we rely too much on our own efforts instead of His grace. This often leads to exhaustion and hopelessness.
Conclusion
A reminder for today: We must learn to rely on God’s grace for everything. His grace will carry us through both the highs and lows. It draws us closer to Him and empowers us to become the person He desires us to be.
