Free Grace

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. - 1 Corinthians 2:12

    WE often use the term “free grace” but I wonder how many understand its true meaning by experience. To really appreciate something, of necessity we must experience it. To give an example; with all our being, we may believe there is warmth by the fireside, yet if we remain bound outside in the cold, we will never experience and appreciate the warmth of the fire.

    So it is with the grace of God. Only those who have been brought by God’s omnipotent, sovereign, irresistible grace to Christ, that bask in the enjoyment, comfort, and reality of its freeness. There is nothing we can do to merit or earn God’s wondrous favor of grace. Salvation is solely owning to the pleasure and purpose of God. God, constrained only by his everlasting love for his children, freely sent his blessed Son into the world. The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s dear Son, freely, gladly, joyfully, and without reservation suffered and gave his life a ransom for us. We had absolutely nothing to do with the great work of redemption.

    What God did in Christ for his people, he did freely. Then, thanks be unto God, in his time he sent his Word by the power of his Holy Spirit and brought us to Christ. This he did freely, giving us life, revealing himself to us in the experience of grace. Now, having experienced the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord, the believer’s life is an experience of free grace.

    Some may conclude that I place too much emphasis upon experience. Judge my words however you must. I agree it is truth that we are not saved by experience. However, it is equally true that where there is no experience there is no life. There is a vast difference between head knowledge and believing with our heart.