Grace

One of the greatest gifts in our life with JESUS Christ is when He opens our eyes to His Word in fresh ways. We discover His plan unfolding through the ages, His salvation by grace through faith, and His unshakable promises. These discoveries often ignite in us a new zeal for truth—and rightly so.

But in our zeal, we can sometimes forget the very heart of the gospel: grace.

It’s possible to defend the doctrines of grace while failing to live out grace in our relationships. We can be sharp when Christ calls us to gentleness. Pride sneaks in, making us impatient with others or leaving us sounding more superior than compassionate.

What Is Grace?

Grace is God’s unearned favor freely given to undeserving people (Ephesians 2:8–9). It is God treating us not according to our sin, but according to His kindness in Christ. And if grace has saved us, it should also shape how we treat one another.

Grace Shaped by Christ

Jesus Himself is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). He never compromised truth, yet always extended mercy. He confronted sin with compassion, welcomed the weary, and entrusted Himself to the Father rather than striking back. To follow Christ is not only to believe His truth but to reflect His grace.

Learning from the Gracious

Many of us can recall moments when an older, wiser believer helped us see this. I think back to when I was a younger pastor, eager to prove a point and quick to argue. An older saint listened patiently, affirmed my zeal, and then quietly reminded me, “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but be gentle to everyone” (2 Timothy 2:24–25). That gentle word had more lasting influence than any debate—it was grace embodied.

Examples of Grace

Grace shows itself in everyday choices:

A spouse offering forgiveness instead of holding a grudge. A coworker responding to harsh criticism with humility rather than retaliation. A church member serving faithfully without seeking recognition. A leader listening well, valuing others’ voices, and seeking unity rather than simply being right.

These are not small things—they are the evidence of Christ’s grace flowing through His people.

Our Shared Calling

Zeal without grace can be brittle. Like a young tree, it needs time, patience, and nurture to grow strong and fruitful. When shaped by Christ, zeal becomes steady, humble, and life-giving.

The biblical doctrine of grace should never produce graceless people. If we truly grasp that God has saved us by grace apart from works, then we should be the first to extend patience, kindness, and mercy to others.

Grace is not only a doctrine we affirm—it is a way of life by the Spirit as we grow together, for the glory of God.

Follow me… as I follow JESUS Christ.