The Scope of Grace

“He is the one who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not based on our works but on his own purpose and grace, granted to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Tim. 1:9 NET).

Grace is much bigger than we could ever imagine. When many believers hear of grace, the thing that comes to their minds is that God will not punish them for their sins—that they are forgiven. Yes, grace brought forgiveness of sins and the gift of righteousness—but it is much more than this.

Grace is God’s response to man’s sin. Rather than judgment and condemnation, God responded in kindness and acceptance. However, grace is not just a response to sin. Sin did not make God gracious. He was gracious before Adam ever committed sin in Eden. Grace is the revelation of His eternal purpose in humanity: to dwell on earth in man through Christ. God had already, by His grace, predestined man to be a partaker of the divine nature by uniting him with Christ. The scripture above teaches us that before time began, God had already called us in Christ. The grace of God comprises these two-divine responses to the fall of man and the unveiling of the eternal purpose for creation. Your Christian life is way bigger than spending each day struggling with sin or Satan. Freedom from sin is just the beginning. The glory of God, the radiance of the beauty of His indwelling presence through you, is your calling in grace. Step higher, for there has been something better prepared for you since before time began.

MEDITATE

What is the meaning of “before time began” in 2 Tim. 1:9 above? See also Titus 1:2 and Eph.1:4.

APPLY THE WORD!

A direct application from the devotional above is that there is more that God wants you to experience here and now than fighting with sin and Satan. He wants to fill you completely so that you become a visible manifestation of His invisible attributes.