BIBLICAL GRACE

Lesson 3

Grace To Work

The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ has not been given unto us for us to lie around and waste it on carnality. The grace of God has been given for a reason, otherwise it is has been given in vain. We must understand what grace is for now that we are saved.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. – 1 Corinthians 15:10

Once grace has saved us, it would seem as though grace shifts functions in our lives and then empowers and strengthens us to work, work, work, and work some more for the Kingdom of God. Paul boldly proclaimed that because of grace working in his life, he was able to outwork all of the chief apostles. What an indictment against them!

EVERYONE IS GRACED TO WORK

Every Christian is a member of the Body of Christ and is therefore needful. Each body part has a function, role, and job to do. Grace equips and strengthens you for this God-assigned task in His Body. Any body part that is non-functional is lame and cripple.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office (job, work, deed, function): . . . Having then gifts (chárisma) differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; – Romans 12:4, 6

Every Christian has been given a special function or job in the Body of Christ. God gives a measure of grace to that Christian based on the function they are called to perform. If a Christian does not operate in that God-ordained function, we might call that a dysfunctional Christian. This is called “receiving the grace of God in vain.”

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. – 2 Corinthians 6:1
. . . and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: – 1 Corinthians 15:10b

Lazy Christians squander the grace of God. They come to church and quickly return home without helping or benefiting the Kingdom or the local church at all. They are very akin to leeches and parasites. Let us not be a parasite on Christ’s Body.

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) – Galatians 2:8

Paul testified that God was working effectually in Peter to accomplish a work in the earth: the salvation of the Jews. The words “wrought effectually” are one Greek word: energéō—to be at work, to be active, to put forth power. The word “mighty” in reference to Paul’s ministry toward the Gentiles is the same word: energéō. Grace was given to each of them to do something to promote the Kingdom of God and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have (hold fast) grace, whereby we may we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: – Hebrews 12:28

It requires grace to acceptably serve God. Without grace, we cannot serve acceptably. This grace enables us to serve with reverence and godly fear. If we don’t hold fast this grace, our service will not be accepted.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: – 2 Corinthians 9:8

When grace abounds in your life, work for the Kingdom will abound in your life. Grace is not given for you to be selfish and introverted in the Kingdom. Grace comes for you to abound in good works. Grace produces sufficiency in your life, that is, a condition in life where no aid or support is needed. It is a condition of contentment. Contentment frees you up to serve God. If there aren’t any good works in your life, there is no grace working in your life.

OLD TESTAMENT GRACE

Let us examine the Old Testament for examples of what grace can accomplish.

Noah—Noah found grace in the eyes of God and that grace enabled him to preach righteousness and build an ark. The grace of God empowered Noah to build and preach for 120 years. In the end, Noah saved his family and condemned the world by grace through faith (Genesis 6-9; Hebrews 11:7; 2 Peter 2:5).
Moses—Moses found grace in the eyes of God and was equipped to pastor the Israelites for 40 years: through the Red Sea, to the mountain, through the wilderness, around the mountain, against enemies, through a building program, and up to the Jordan River. Grace kept Moses very busy and allowed him to walk very close with God (Exodus 33, 34).
Gideon—Gideon obtained grace and favor from God and it enabled him to become a mighty military leader and judge over Israel for 40 years. Grace caused Gideon to be a leader and a revivalist, delivering Israel from the hands of their enemies and bringing God’s people back to the altar of the true and living God (Judges 6-8).
Ezra—Ezra and a remnant of Israel obtained grace, not to stay the same, but to escape out of captivity and return to their home country, Israel. Grace came to help Ezra and his contingency of men to travel about five months from Babylon back to Jerusalem (Ezra 9:8).

GRACE AS A STEWARDHIP

A stewardship is anything you have been given to look after and to care for. In stewardship it is understood that you will have to give an account for what you did or did not do with what has been placed in your care. We are stewards over God’s grace.

As every man hath received the gift (chárisma), even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. – 1 Peter 4:10

These graces given to us to work for the Kingdom are a stewardship just as our bodies, finances, and relationships are stewardships. If we are not good stewards over the grace in our life, we will have to answer for our negligence and laziness.

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. . . Thou wicked and slothful servant, . . . And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 25:25, 26b, 30

May we not be neither wicked, nor slothful, nor unprofitable with the graces the LORD has given us. Let us continue to walk in the light. Serving by grace keeps us in the light.

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BIBLICAL GRACE

Lesson 3

Grace To Work

The grace of our LORD Jesus Christ has not been given unto us for us to lie around and waste it on carnality. The grace of God has been given for a reason, otherwise it is has been given in vain. We must understand what grace is for now that we are saved.

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. – 1 Corinthians 15:10

EVERYONE IS GRACED TO WORK

Every Christian is a member of the Body of Christ and is therefore needful. Each body part has a function, role, and job to do. Grace equips and strengthens you for this God-assigned task in His Body. Any body part that is non-functional is lame and cripple.

For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office (job, work, deed, function): . . . Having then gifts (chárisma) differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; – Romans 12:4, 6

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. – 2 Corinthians 6:1

. . . and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: – 1 Corinthians 15:10b

Lazy Christians squander the grace of God. They come to church and quickly return home without helping or benefiting the Kingdom or the local church at all. They are very akin to leeches and parasites. Let us not be a parasite on Christ’s Body.

(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) – Galatians 2:8

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have (hold fast) grace, whereby we may we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: – Hebrews 12:28

It requires grace to acceptably serve God. Without grace, we cannot serve acceptably. This grace enables us to serve with reverence and godly fear. If we don’t hold fast this grace, our service will not be accepted.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: – 2 Corinthians 9:8

OLD TESTAMENT GRACE

Let us examine the Old Testament for examples of what grace can accomplish.

Ezra—Ezra and a remnant of Israel obtained grace, not to stay the same, but to escape out of captivity and return to their home country, Israel. Grace came to help Ezra and his contingency of men to travel about five months from Babylon back to Jerusalem (Ezra 9:8).

GRACE AS A STEWARDHIP

A stewardship is anything you have been given to look after and to care for. In stewardship it is understood that you will have to give an account for what you did or did not do with what has been placed in your care. We are stewards over God’s grace.

As every man hath received the gift (chárisma), even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. – 1 Peter 4:10

These graces given to us to work for the Kingdom are a stewardship just as our bodies, finances, and relationships are stewardships. If we are not good stewards over the grace in our life, we will have to answer for our negligence and laziness.

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. . . Thou wicked and slothful servant, . . . And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 25:25, 26b, 30

May we not be neither wicked, nor slothful, nor unprofitable with the graces the LORD has given us. Let us continue to walk in the light. Serving by grace keeps us in the light.

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