If Grace Is A Gift Then Why Do We Live Like It’s Earned

Somebody is always ready to sell us a shortcut: a new book, a fresh take, a “better” summary. We start by pushing against that pressure and coming back to a simple practice that changes everything: open the Bible yourself, read it, and meditate on the Word. Real spiritual growth gets sturdier when it’s rooted in Scripture, not just opinions, commentary, or noise. 

From there we follow a single theme across the New Testament: God’s grace is revealed in Jesus Christ and it keeps arriving as a gift. John 1 leads the way with “grace upon grace,” reminding us that grace and truth are not competing ideas. Jesus makes the Father known, and what we receive from Christ’s fullness is not a one-time boost but a continuing supply. Then Paul’s letters bring it down to everyday life, showing how grace fuels boldness, strengthens the church, and equips believers, not because we earned it but because God gives it. 

The thread we keep pulling is this: “give” is the language of grace. Salvation is by grace through faith, not works, so nobody gets to boast. And the giving doesn’t stop at forgiveness. We talk about the gifts God promises to give: eternal life, the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts for the good of others, and even rest and peace that Jesus personally gives when we come to him. We close with a steady assurance for tired hearts: the Father does not get tired of giving grace, and it is his good pleasure to give the kingdom. 

If this encouraged you, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s been striving, and leave a review so more people can find these Bible-centered messages. What does “grace upon grace” look like in your life right now?

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Transcript

Read Scripture For Yourself

SPEAKER_00 0:42

I was reading an article that people don't read the Bible as you should. It says that human beings who write books don't want you to read the Bible. They want you to buy their books. It might be true. But I always just say and in teaching, study for yourself. Read the Bible for yourself. How many of you have your Bibles tonight? I have the new standard version, American Standard Version of the Bible I'm using tonight. And I want to speak to you tonight. I want you to read with me to have your Bible. Meditate upon the Word. The Bible teaches us to meditate upon the Word. It helps you spiritually. Uplifting to one who studies and one who believes. I remember at the wedding, according to the Bible, Mary the mother Jesus, was there, and she made this statement to the attendants. She said to them, Whatever he says to you, do it. That's a principle. To be a Christian, we must follow him and do what he says to have life. I'm come, says Jesus, that you might have life and you might have it more abundantly. Tonight we're going to talk about God's grace. I often express my love for the grace of God. Because in John, the Gospel of John, first chapter, and the verses 16. I just want to read a few verses before. Verse 16. Then we're going to go to the scriptures. I'll let you return with me as I travel in the Word of God. John 1, beginning at verse 14. Listen to the Bible. And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of him and cried out saying, This was he of whom I said he who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for he existed before me. Verse sixteen, pay close attention. For of his fullness we have all received and grace upon grace. But grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, he has explained him as Jesus. Tonight we are going to talk to you from the Bible. Give the language of grace. Give is the language of grace. This time go with me to Romans, the chapter 15. Look there with me. Paul, our apostle Paul, purpose for writing. He's going to give the purpose for his writing to the Gentiles, especially Christ and him, especially to the Gentiles. We are Gentiles. He talked to the Jews also, but mainly to the Gentiles. Romans chapter fourteen chapter fifteen rather. I'm sorry. Chapter fifteen, commence a reading. At verse fourteen. Paul's purpose for writing. Listen, beginning at verse fourteen, and concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all the knowledge and able to admonish one another. But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again because of the grace that was given me from God to minister to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest of the gospel of God, that my offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Praise God. And I want you to turn with me to first Corinthians. The chapter is one. I want to read verse number four. Remember, I'm bringing you the language of grace. And that is give. It's a language of grace. God continues to give you and me what we need. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, and Timothy, our brother, to the church of God, which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaea. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Verse four, who comforts us in our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. Praise the Lord. Are you listening? Let's move to the first chapter. I want to commence reading at verse four. Paul says, I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you by Christ Jesus. I want you to notice, meditate upon this particular verse. Paul says, I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you by Christ Jesus. Paul wanted you to know the grace that was given him as a minister of the gospel is given to the believer also. It was given to Paul concerning grace. Grace is given to you and me. Praise God, that's why I testify. Grace upon grace, I'm glad I received the grace of Jesus Christ to be what I am today. The grace of God which produces here's what it does for you and me. The grace of God produces boldness in those who live by it is a gift from God. I have written more boldly to you on some point, says Paul, because of the grace given me by God. In fact, give is basic to the language of grace. Hear this, I'm gonna say it again. Grace is basic to the language of grace. Let me say it if excuse me. Give is basic to the language of grace. When we think of the grace of God, we think of what God is doing for us. We are Christian because of God's grace. What we do as a Christian is through God's grace. He gives us continually grace that we need as ministers of the language of the kingdom. When Paul began his first letter to believers in Corinth, he emphasized this truth. Listen to the emphasis. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus. Do you hear what he said? The grace has been given to each of us as Christians by Jesus Christ. This is the starting point for all of the work of God in human hearts. The initial work of salvation is by the gift of God's grace. None of it is produced by the works of man, the works of human beings, I should say. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any one should boast. Grace, the gift of God Ephesians two verses eight through nine. This same pattern of the giving of grace is true concerning every good thing that God wants to accomplish in us. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, according to James one in verse seventeen, and we praise God for what he is doing. Whatever God wants to do in the family of Christians is by his grace, which must be given to us by him. This is true concerning eternal life, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, according to John 10 and verse twenty eight. This also pertains to the Holy Spirit in our lives, and I will pray the Father, and he will give you another helper, and that he may abide with you forever. John fourteen and verse sixteen. It is true concerning spiritual gifts, but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one of to each one. Think about this. The Holy Spirit is given to you, given to me for the profit of all. But to each one of us, praise God, of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift, according to first Corinthians twelve and verse seven, and Ephesians four verse seven. This pattern applies to spiritual rest and peace as well. Come to me, says Jesus, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. You hear what he said? And I will give you rest. Peace, he says, I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives to you, not as the world gives, do I give it? Do I give to you? According to John eleven, verse forty eight and John fourteen and verse twenty seven. When it comes to the greatest matter of all, getting to know the Lord better, God must give to us what is required for such growth that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Ephesians one and verse seventeen, praise God. All these precious benefits, I'm glad he's a beneficial of God. Beneficial benefits, good things he gives from above from God a result of his giving of his grace into our lives. Praise God. Will the giving heart of God ever cease toward us? We need never fear that God will be tire of giving us grace. Do not fear, little flock, Luke twelve and verse thirty-four, thirty-two. Do not fear, local flock, we are little flocks. For it is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. I'm glad you tonight to be in the kingdom, living by kingdom principle. It's a joy to understand where you are positionally in Christ. This is all by faith. Jesus simply says, See in me, believe, believe me. I am the way. He says I am the truth. I am the life. Believe me. And as we close tonight, we ask the Lord to give our every good gift of grace. We thank you for the rich and extensive grace that you have given us. Help us to understand, Lord, that all your kingdom is brought into my our existence by the giving of your grace. In Jesus' name, amen. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before his presence with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior be glory and majesty, dominion, and power. Now and forever let us all say.