The Grace Of God # 1

 The Grace Of God # 1

Grace is a perfection of the divine character which is exercised only toward the elect. Neither in the Old Testament nor in the New, is the grace of God ever mentioned in connection with mankind generally, still less with the lower orders of His creatures. In this it is distinguished from "mercy," for the mercy of God is "over all His works." (Psalm 145:9).

Grace is the sole source which flows the goodwill, love, and salvation of God unto His chosen people. This attribute of the divine character was defined by Abraham Booth in his helpful book, "The Reign of Grace" thus: "It is the eternal and absolute free favor of God, manifested in the bestowment of spiritual and eternal blessings to the guilty and the unworthy."

Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favor of God exercised in the bestowment of blessings upon those who have no merit in them, and for which no compensation is demanded from them. Nay, more; it is the favor of God shown to those who not only have no positive deserts of their own, but who are thoroughly il-deserving and hell-deserving. It is completely unmerited and unsought, and is altogether unattracted by anything in or from or by the objects upon which it is bestowed. Grace can neither bebought, earned, nor won by the creature. If it could be, it would cease  to be grace. When a thing is said to be of "grace", we mean that the recipient has no claim upon it, that it was in no way due him. It comes to him as pure charity, and, at first, unasked and undesired.

The fullest exposition of the amazing grace of God is to be found in the Epistles of the Apostle Paul. In his writings "grace" stands in direct opposition to works and worthiness - all works and worthiness, of whatever kind or degree. This is abundantly clear from Romans 11:6, "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." Grace and works will no more unite than an acid and an alkali. "By grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. It is not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9). The absolute favor of God can no more consist with human merit than oil and water will fuse into one (Romans 4:4-5).

There are three principal CHARACTERISTICS of divine grace.

First, divine grace is eternal. Grace was planned before it was exercised and purposed before it was imparted: "Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." (2 Timothy 1:9).

Secondly, divine grace is free, for none did ever purchase it: "Being justified freely by His grace." (Romans 3:24).

Thirdly, divine grace is sovereign, because God exercises it toward and bestows it upon whom He pleases: "Even so might grace reign." (Romans 5:21). If grace "reigns" then it is on the throne, and the occupant of the throne is sovereign. Hence "the throne of grace." (Hebrews 4:16).

Just because grace is unmerited favor, it must be exercised in a sovereign manner. Therefore does the Lord declare, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious." (Exodus 33:19). Were God to show grace to all of Adam's descendants, men would at once conclude that He was righteously compelled to take them to Heaven as a fit compensation for allowing the human race to fall into sin. But the great God is under no obligation to any of His creatures, least of all to those who are rebels against Him.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)