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Episode 11
Yes, because of God’s perennial supply of his grace, even in the face of trials, pains, heartaches and sorrows, Spafford could declare, ‘It is well with my soul’. What a great testimony! If we were in his shoes, could we have said that with equal conviction?
There is power in the grace of God that surpasses human imagination. God’s grace has the power to do four things.
First, the grace of God has the power to discipline us. In Titus 2:11-12 we read, ‘For the grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all mankind; and by it we are disciplined to renounce godless ways and worldly desires, and to live a life of temperance, honesty, and godliness in the present age. God administers his discipline in grace and not by law. Law simply condemns but grace forgives. Law commands us to obey but does not have the power to help us do it. But grace does.
Think about it. If God disciplines us by law, where would we be? How can we stand? Maybe that is the reason we do not reap what we sow immediately. Interestingly, not only is there saving grace and healing grace but also disciplining grace. ‘The grace that brings salvation to us also disciplines us. God never saves people and leaves them alone to continue in their immaturity and sinful lifestyles. Those whom He saves, He disciplines’ (Bridges 1994:49). Through the discipline of his grace, we are empowered to overcome difficulties through the indwelling Spirit. Since we are disciplined by grace, we need to live a godly life. Grace teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions. Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:10 –11 says:
Pain borne in God’s way brings no regrets but a change of heart leading to salvation; pain borne in the world’s way brings death. You bore your pain in God’s way, and just look at the results: it made you take the matter seriously and vindicate yourselves.
Second, the grace of God has the power to empower us to do impossible things, for example, to forgive those who hurt us and love those who betray us. To do so, we need to be empowered by grace. It is difficult and almost impossible to forgive because it goes against our human nature. However, his grace enables us to overcome life’s difficulties and meet challenges. His grace will empower us to accept demotion without resentment, to be charitable, to be more Christ-like in the face of opposition, to live a life of contentment and to develop an attitude of gratitude. His grace equips us to live victoriously in all circumstances. God’s grace empowers us to forgive and be more gracious to others. It equips us to walk and live a righteous life. God will give us the grace to do right and live out the consequences.
Third, the grace of God has the power to give people hope. The epistle of Romans by the apostle Paul is a deeply theological book. When we read Romans 15:13, we are filled with hope. Yes we can have hope because we believe in Christ. Because of God’s grace, we are a people of hope.
Hope is important. Without hope, life is meaningless. Without hope, there is nothing to look forward to. Without hope, life is dreary and bleak. Without hope, we lose the will to live.
Hope made Abraham leave his home. Hope made Moses willing to go against Pharaoh. Hope drove the prophets to proclaim God’s word in the midst of the pagan societies. The Gospel is the gospel of hope and second chance. When hope is gone, all is gone. Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 4 states: ‘But for anyone who is counted among the living there is hope: remember, a live dog is better than a dead lion’.
In the most ironic twist of history, Satan meant the cross for evil but God meant it for good. Jesus’ death on the cross bridged the gap between a perfect God and a flawed humanity. Sin was defeated and Christ triumphed over Satan. God took the worst deed of history and turned it into the greatest act in history. From a negative sign, the cross becomes a positive sign. Yes, because of the cross, I have hope.
Fourth, the grace of God has the power to transform people. See the awesome power of God’s grace in transforming the lives of the apostles Paul and Peter. A genuine work of grace always leaves its mark.
The Conversion and Life of Paul
The life of Paul is an excellent example of God’s grace (see Acts 9:1-8; 19-22). Paul whose original name was Saul was born in a Greco-Roman city called Tarsus on the Mediterranean Sea. He was a pure Jew (‘A Hebrew of Hebrews’; cf Phil 3:5) with a Roman citizenship. He was the son of a Pharisee raised in strict Jewish orthodoxy and he studied under the leading teacher and respectable Pharisee Gamaliel.
Paul had a part in stoning Stephen to death. We are told, ‘Saul was among those who approved of his execution’ (Acts 8:1). While Stephen was being buried, the Scripture informs us that ‘Saul, meanwhile, was harrying the church; he entered house after house, seizing men and women and sending them to prison’ (Acts 8: 3). As if that was not enough, he obtained permission from the Jewish rulers to chase believers all the way to Damascus. How he really hated the believers!
However, on his way to Damascus he met the Lord under the blinding light and was converted. Saul, for all that he had done to persecute Christians, should have been judged and deserved to be punished by God. But the Lord practised grace on him. The Lord gave him what he needed - ‘a chance to see the light’ instead of giving him what he deserved – judgment and even death.
As a result of his Damascus experience, Paul the Law-intoxicated man became Paul the Grace-intoxicated man! From a glowing ember he became a conflagration. From a flickering light he became a blazing light. Why? He had experienced the transforming power of God’s grace. Hence from a recipient of God’s grace, he became a dispenser of His grace. In Acts 11:23, we are told Barnabas saw the evidence of God’s grace in Paul’s life - Grace was made visible - and the effects could be seen.
As a result of that ‘second chance’ experience, Paul gave new meaning to the word grace. Not only did he use grace as a greeting but he practised grace as an important theological truth in his life and writings. Everything about his life can be summarized in one word - grace.
Paul frequently prefaces or ends his letters with the blessing of grace along with peace. ‘Grace and peace to you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Rom 1:7; cf. Rom 16:20; 1 Cor 1:3; 2 Cor 13:14; Eph 1:2, 6:24; Phil 1:2; Col 1:2; Col 4:8; 1 Thess 1:1, 5:28; 2 Thess 1:2, 3:18; 1 Tim 1:2, 6:21; 2 Tim 1:2; 4:22; Titus 3:15; Philem 25).
Paul asserts that God’s grace enabled him to fulfil his calling as an apostle faithfully. ‘It is through Him that we have received grace (God’s unmerited favour) and [our] apostleship to promote obedience to the faith and make disciples for His name’s sake among all the nations’ (Roman 1:5; Amplified). He uses phrases like ‘the grace God has given me’ (Rom 12:3); ‘His grace has made me a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles’ (Rom 15:16); ‘According to the grace (the special endowment for my task) of God bestowed on me, like a skilful architect and master builder I laid [the] foundation…’ (1 Cor 310; Amplified). ‘However by God’s grace, I am what I am’ (1 Cor 15:10) and ‘such is the gospel of which I was made a minister by God’s ummerited gift [grace], so powerfully at work in me. To me, who am less than the least of all God’s people, he has granted the privilege of proclaiming to the Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ’ (Eph 3:7-8). He is mindful that in spite of his past activities, ‘the grace (unmerited favour and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me…’(1 Tim 1:13; Amplified).
In sum, the words of Robert Robertson ‘O to Grace How Great a Debtor, Daily I’m Constrained To Be’ best summarizes the life of Paul. Likewise, we who have experienced the magnificent and extravagant grace of God would feel the same.
Discussion Questions