Grace and Favour
‘ –if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’ (John 14:3 ESV)
A grace and favour residence is a property owned by a monarch by virtue of his or her position as head of state and is often offered on a rent-free basis.
As the above scripture shows Jesus has prepared a place for us. The Bible shows that this is a grace and favour place that is available to all human beings who accept Jesus as their saviour. But God’s grace and favour extends far beyond this.
God’s grace is his free unmerited undeserved favour and from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible unfolds the many and diverse aspects of God’s grace. For example, God did not need to create the universe including life, he did so out of grace. A short study cannot encompass the totality of his grace however, at its deepest level God’s grace is God in his kindness giving himself to and for humanity.
The apostle John tells us that God gave himself in the form of his only Son for the benefit of humanity in the well-known verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The apostle Paul expresses it slightly differently, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” (Titus 2:11) Jesus is the grace of God and through his appearance salvation is offered to all people.
To those who turn to God and accept Jesus as their saviour, God gives “the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38) The Holy Spirit is described as “the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29) and is God. The gift of the Spirit of grace is God giving himself to humanity.
Jesus adds further, perhaps surprising, insight into God’s grace, for those who accept Jesus’ word, the gospel message, the Father and Son will also make their home with them. “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:23)
What follows from God’s giving of himself is that Christians receive the riches of divine grace such as justification, righteousness, forgiveness, salvation, eternal life, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2Corinthians 13:14)
Study by Eddie Marsh
About the writer:
Eddie Marsh attends the Sheffield congregation of Grace Communion International.
Local congregation:
Grace Communion Sheffield
Regus Meeting Rooms (Management Suite)
1 The Oasis
Meadowhall Centre
Sheffield
S9 1EP
Meeting time:
Church services take place twice a month on a Saturday at 10:30am
Please email to confirm dates.
Local congregational contact:
Email: sheffield@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church