Grace is essential for Christians as it is the means by which we are justified before God, as demonstrated in Luke 18:14.
The centrality of grace in the Christian faith is illustrated in Luke 18:14, where Jesus affirms that the humble publican, who asks for mercy, is justified before God. The essence of grace lies in the understanding that we cannot earn our salvation through works or righteousness, as evidenced by the self-righteous Pharisee. Instead, we are entirely dependent on God's mercy and grace for our justification. This is consistent with the historic Reformed perspective that emphasizes God's sovereign grace, claiming that salvation is wholly a work of God’s initiative, illustrating that without grace, we remain in our sins and cannot attain reconciliation with God.
Scripture References:
Luke 18:14, Romans 3:23, Ephesians 2:8-9
Commentary