The Marvel of God’s Grace

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

Amazed at the endless measure of God’s grace, St. Augustine could not find words to quite explain its wonder: “What is grace? I know until you ask me; when you ask me, I do not know.” God’s grace is His undeserved love given to men for salvation, sanctification, and glorification. We can do nothing to earn or merit salvation. It is a gift of God’s unfailing love, expressed in its highest form in the Person and work of Jesus Christ.

C. Samuel Storms writes in his book The Grandeur of God: “The first and possible most fundamental characteristic of divine grace is that it presupposes sin and guilt. Grace has meaning only when men are seen as fallen, unworthy of salvation, and liable to eternal wrath....Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to bestow it in the presence of human merit....Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human demerit....[Grace] is treating a person without the slightest reference to desert whatsoever, but solely according to the infinite goodness and sovereign purpose of God.”

The grace of God is greater than any sin, any failure. It is the eternal benevolence of God who rescues fallen men with the hand of His saving love.

“The law detects, grace alone conquers sin.” -St. Augustine