Summary
Donnie Bell explores the biblical doctrine of grace as God's undeserved, unmerited favor—the foundation of salvation through faith in Christ alone (Romans 3:24, 11:6). He emphasizes that grace is entirely sovereign and unconditional, depending wholly on God's will rather than human merit or works, and that it represents God's eternal, electing love manifested in Christ's redemptive work (2 Timothy 1:9, Romans 5:8). Bell argues that true understanding of grace—recognizing man's corruption, God's justice, and the wonder of redemption despite human unworthiness—is essential to comprehending Scripture and salvation itself.
Questions Answered in This Article
What does the Bible say about grace?
The Bible defines grace as God's undeserved favor, offering unmerited love to sinners.
Moreover, grace is sovereign and unconditional, as shown in Romans 9:16, which reveals that it cannot be claimed as a right. Instead, it is a spontaneous act of God towards sinners, demonstrating His love and mercy. The biblical definition of grace emphasizes that it is entirely dependent on God's will, showcasing His authority and the depth of His love for those whom He chooses to save.
What does the Bible say about grace?
The Bible describes grace as God's undeserved favor and unmerited love, essential for understanding salvation.
Romans 3:24, Romans 11:6, Romans 9:16, 2 Timothy 1:9, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 9:15
How do we know God's grace is true?
God's grace is true, as evidenced by Scripture and the historical reality of Christ's sacrificial death for sinners.
Additionally, grace is portrayed as a free gift throughout the Bible, independent of human merit. Romans 11:6 reinforces this view, confirming that if grace were contingent upon our actions, it could no longer be termed grace. Thus, the consistency of biblical teaching and its central theme of grace culminates in the assurance of its truth.
How do we know grace is true?
We know grace is true through the consistent biblical testimony of God's unmerited love and favor towards sinners.
Romans 3:24, Romans 5:8, Romans 9:16, 2 Timothy 1:9
Why is understanding grace important for Christians?
Understanding grace is essential for Christians as it reveals God's character and underpins their salvation.
Furthermore, comprehending grace fosters humility and gratitude in believers. Recognizing that they have received what they did not deserve leads to a life marked by worship and dependence on God's mercy. The knowledge of grace transforms one’s relationship with God and encourages a response of faith and love, as it is only through grace that Christians can approach Him: knowing they are accepted, forgiven, and loved as His children.
Why is grace important for Christians?
Grace is crucial for Christians as it defines their relationship with God and underscores the basis of their salvation.
Romans 5:8, Ephesians 2:8-9
In the matter of salvation we must go to the Word of God. There is no other source to tell us of God, man, sin, Christ, and salvation. The word "Grace is of the utmost importance, the scriptures are full of this word "Grace"; 38 times in the Old Testament and 115 times in the New Testament.
Moses was interested in knowing if he had found "Grace in the sight of the Lord." Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Grace is what the New Testament is teaching us - "Salvation by Grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ." To be ignorant of Grace is to be ignorant of the scriptures and of salvation. The meaning of "Grace" has been lost to most people, to most it's a word used to get a "celestial battery charge" when they go to church. The majority of preachers in preaching and religious people in practice deny God's grace and even frustrate it!
There is not a more urgent need today than for people to have a true understanding of Grace and what it means. What is the biblical definition of grace? Grace is God's undeserved favor, his unmerited love. It means the favor one finds in the eyes of a superior person from whom one cannot claim favorable treatment as a right! If you don't receive grace what can you say? You didn't deserve it anyway. Grace is Free, the one who shows it is in no way obligated to do so. God is not "bound" by anything about us to show grace to us, "Being justified freely by his grace" (ROM. 3: 24). Grace is entirely depending on God's will, it is never deserved, if it were it would cease to be grace. (ROM. 11:6) Men in the bible where overwhelmed by the fact that God's love towards fallen men is a Free gift (Rom. 9:16).
Grace is love, eternal, electing love manifested, "God commendeth his love toward us in, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5:8) This electing love is unconditional, unevoked, undeserved. Grace is sovereign and unconditional. Grace is God spontaneously working out in a sinner what he purposed to do from all eternity, "grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the world began" (2 Tim. 1:9). Grace is God loving the unlovely, covenanting himself to them, forgiving their sins, accepting their persons, revealing himself to them, causing them to respond. God gives them a knowledge of Himself, bringing them to enjoy Him. God in his sovereignty overcomes every obstacle to fulfill his purpose towards them. God has, God does, and God will continue to show grace to his elect people.
Grace is not an impersonal energy automatically switched on by prayer, ordinances, or works, it is the heart and hand of the living almighty God manifested to an innumerable company of sinners, whom he calls own, his children. Grace is a wonder and it is amazing. To know mans corruption, to know our absolute uselessness to add anything to God. To know the reality of God's justice and wrath against sin. When and if you ever know these things, you will in stand in amazement that there would be such a wondrous thing as Grace at all. Grace that God shows sinners at the expense of the death of his dear Son on calvary's tree!
With all the "wonders" of the world, the wonders of nature, of science, of space, these are nothing as they are compared to the Wonder of the Grace Of God. Nothing we can say can do it justice, all words fall short of describing it, it is "God's inexpressible gift" (2 Cor. 9:15).
Comments
Your comment has been submitted and is awaiting moderation. Once approved, it will appear on this page.
Be the first to comment!