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March 16, 2025
L. John Bost
Grace Greater Than Sin – The Harding University Choir.
Introduction
We have seen that Jesus taught that, for one to be saved from his sins, he must hear the gospel (Mark 16:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:1-4), believe the gospel (Mark 16:15-16), repent (Luke 13:1-5; 24:46-48), confess Christ (Matt. 10:32-33; Luke 12:8-9), and be baptized (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; See What Does Jesus Say). Other inspired writers write of these requirements for salvation (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:1-7; 1 Pet. 3:21-22). However, these alone would not save us were it not for the grace of God. We will discuss this essential element of salvation in this article.
The Apostle Paul on Grace
Ephesians 2:8
Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…” The word translated, grace, here, is χάρις charis {khar’-ece}. It is defined, according to Thayer, “good will, loving-kindness, favour.”
On this word, Vine writes:
…on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindness, goodwill generally, e.g., Acts 7:10; especially with reference to the Divine favor or “grace,” e.g., Acts 14:26; in this respect there is stress on its freeness and universality, its spontaneous character, as in the case of God’s redemptive mercy, and the pleasure or joy He designs for the recipient; thus it is set in contrast with debt, Romans 4:4,16 , with works, Romans 11:6 , and with law, John 1:17; see also, e.g., Romans 6:14,15; Galatians 5:4…
Paul says we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8). He continues, “…and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…” So, our salvation is a gift from God. A similar Greek word, charisma {khar’-is-mah}, (not the suffix, -ma) means, according to Thayer, “a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own.” Paul writes in Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The word translated, free gift, here, is charisma. Paul continues in Ephesians 2:9 “…not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
We can not be saved by works that would cause us to merit or earn salvation. Our sin is such that no amount of work could save us. It is only by the grace, the free gift, of God that we can be saved.
Paul writes in Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV), “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men…” This is a better translation than the New American Standard Bible and English Standard Version, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…” The grace of God has not brought salvation to all men, nor, sadly, will it ever do so. However, the grace of God has appeared to all men making salvation possible for all men.
Paul said in Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” We are saved by the grace of God when we have faith in Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:21-25
Paul writes in Romans 3:21-25:
But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.
Salvation is for all who believe, for all have sinned. We are justified as a free gift by his grace. This is made possible by the redemption in Christ Jesus. According to Vine, the word translated redemption means “a releasing, for (i.e., on payment of) a ransom. ” Jesus paid the ransom to release us from sin when He died on the cross (See Jesus Died for You).
Paul continues, “…whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith.” On the word translated, propitiation, Coffman writes:
The Greek usage of the word here translated as “propitiation” applies it to the making of sacrifices to gods or men for the purpose of mollifying their anger or procuring their favor; but the scriptural usage of this term is not like that of the ancients. God makes the propitiation, but, at the same time, is the one propitiated; moreover, God does not need to be reconciled to man, but man needs to be reconciled to God
Sin causes a separation between God and man (See Is. 59:1-2). Jesus became the propitiatory sacrifice to reconcile sinful man to God. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:18-19:
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
So, a paraphrase of Romans 3:23-25 would be:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being made righteous as a gift by His grace through the ransom which was paid by Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a sacrifice to reconcile us to Himself in Christ blood through faith…
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Conclusion
God’s grace and our faith save us. Grace is the gift of God. God gives us salvation, not as a result of works of merit on our part, for we could not possibly work that much. Jesus, by the grace of God, died for our sins, which result in spiritual death, so that we might live.
