For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. – [Ephesians 2:8]

Amongst Christendom there is a consensus when it comes to an understanding of the word grace. The Oxford Dictionary describes it as ‘…the free and unmerited favour of God’ and this is furthered in the IMS Know Your Bible Correspondence Course in Lesson 18 which states: ‘Grace brings salvation as a gift, through faith. And grace is what Christ offers us as a result of His death in our place.’ Grace indeed is a gift bestowed to us freely and available to us through Christ alone. As confirmed in the scriptures:

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have we all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. – [John 1:15-17]

To understand grace more completely however one must understand the function of grace.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; – [Titus 2:11-13]

Grace hath appeared to all men, teaching us… Isn’t that an interesting point? Grace is a teacher, but we also know by scripture of another teacher.

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. – [John 14:26]

What then distinguishes the teaching of the Holy Spirit from the teaching of grace? Or more to the point what distinguishes the Holy Spirit from grace?

But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. – [Ephesians 4:7-8]

‘Wherefore’, being an adverb and conjunction word meaning ‘as a result of which’. This verse tells us then that grace is given to us as a measure of and according to the gift Christ gave and promised on his Ascension. What gift was that?

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. – [Luke 24:49]

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: – [John 15:26]

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? – [Luke 11:13]

There is then an interconnectedness and an interchangeability between grace and the Holy Spirit. Both are unmerited gifts, both come from Jesus alone and both are teachers. Grace is given in proportion to receiving the Holy Spirit and at the same time you cannot receive the Holy Spirit except to receive it by grace. In simpler terms the giving of the Holy Spirit is an act of grace but the working of the Holy Spirit is the fulfilment of grace.

To make God’s grace our own, we must act our part. The Lord does not propose to perform for us either the willing or the doing. His grace is given to work in us to will and to do, but never as a substitute for our effort. Our souls are to be aroused to cooperate. The Holy Spirit works in us, that we may work out our own salvation. This is the practical lesson the Holy Spirit is striving to teach us (The Youth’s Instructor, August 20, 1903). {4 Bible Commentaries 1167.6}

The sanctification of the soul by the operation of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity. It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ revealed in character, and the grace of Christ brought into active exercise in good works. Thus the character is transformed more and more perfectly after the image of Christ in righteousness and true holiness. There are broad requirements in divine truth stretching out into one line after another of good works. The truths of the gospel are not unconnected; uniting they form one string of heavenly jewels, as in the personal work of Christ, and like threads of gold they run through the whole of Christian work and experience. {3 Selected Messages 198.4}

Grace is not merely unmerited favour, grace is unmerited power, the power to obey and a power which works in you proportionate to the openness of your heart to receive the Holy Spirit. Thus, to have the full measure of grace is only possible when you have the full measure of the Holy Ghost.

But man cannot transform himself by the exercise of his will. He possesses no power by which this change can be effected. The leaven—something wholly from without—must be put into the meal before the desired change can be wrought in it. So the grace of God must be received by the sinner before he can be fitted for the kingdom of glory. All the culture and education which the world can give will fail of making a degraded child of sin a child of heaven. The renewing energy must come from God. The change can be made only by the Holy Spirit. All who would be saved, high or low, rich or poor, must submit to the working of this power. {Christ Object Lessons 96.2}

So then are we under grace or under the law? I am not asking a theoretical question but a personal one. Are you imbued with the Holy Spirit and therefore under the workmanship of grace or are you merely working in the sparks of your own kindling and under the law? How do we know we are under grace? How did the apostolic church know?

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. – [Acts 11:20-24]

What was it that Barnabas saw? The evidence of grace. If you are under grace what then will be evident in your life or more broadly in your church?

There are hearts that the Lord has touched with His Holy Spirit. No sooner does grace begin its work in the soul, than the heart is humbled and subdued; there is no wrestling for the supremacy; pride is gone; there is such a sense of the love of Christ in giving His life for sinful beings that there is no desire to become self-exalted. The converted one sees that his Redeemer lived a life of humility, and he desires to walk in His footsteps. This missionary spirit is awakened in his heart; and, while walking humbly and circumspectly, in accordance with his faith, he cannot rest until he is engaged in the work of trying to win souls to Christ. He wants every one to know the preciousness of a Saviour’s love.—Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 25. {Counsels on Sabbath School Work 68.2}

The whole work of grace is one continual service of love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. During every hour of Christ’s sojourn upon the earth, the love of God was flowing from Him in irrepressible streams. All who are imbued with His Spirit will love as He loved. The very principle that actuated Christ will actuate them in all their dealing one with another. {Desire of Ages 677.2}

Through the grace of Christ, the highest attainments in character are possible; for every soul who comes under the molding influence of the Spirit of God, may be transformed in mind and heart. {Fundamentals of Christian Education 214.1}

The early church was able to discern whether a man or woman was under grace purely from observation. Grace cannot be faked. As the last quotes tell us the Holy Spirit brings about a complete transformation of both mind and heart. Grace is evident in a continual service of love, of self-denying, self-sacrificing effort. It is evidenced by humility and a desire to share the Saviour’s love. Oh how each of us should long and desire that of us others could say they had ‘seen the grace of God’.

What a testimony each one of us could give to the honour of God if we but let the Holy Spirit work in us to perfect grace. But as we have already read to make God’s grace our own, we must act our part.

The agency of the Spirit of God does not remove from us the necessity of exercising our faculties and talents, but teaches us how to use every power to the glory of God. The human faculties when under the special direction of the grace of God, are capable of being used to the best purpose on earth, and will be exercised in the future immortal life. {Christian Education 202.3}

Herein is how grace works through the Holy Spirit unto good works. When we submit to the Spirit, grace is both bestowed on us and imparted through us by the Spirit’s leading. We are compelled to live as Christ lived, to love as Christ loved. In doing this we are working out our own salvation and whilst we are active in exercising our facilities and talents, they are exercised according to the prompting of the Spirt and not according to ourselves. And if by grace, then it is no more of works [Romans 11:6].

The apostle Paul understood this well when he said:

For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 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 15:9-10]

When the grace of Christ is implanted in the soul by the Holy Spirit, its possessor will become humble in spirit and will seek for the society of those whose conversation is upon heavenly things. Then the Spirit will take the things of Christ and show them unto us and will glorify, not the receiver, but the Giver. If, therefore, you have the sacred peace of Christ in your heart, your lips will be filled with praise and thanksgiving to God. Your prayers, the discharge of your duty, your benevolence, your self-denial, will not be the theme of your thought or conversation, but you will magnify Him who gave Himself for you when you were yet a sinner. You will say: “I give myself to Jesus. I have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write.” As you praise Him you will have a precious blessing, and all the praise and glory for that which is done through your instrumentality will be given back to God. {Faith and Works 87.3}

I pray brothers and sisters that this study has enlarged your mind not only as to what grace is but what grace does. I pray that we each may open our hearts to the Spirit of grace, that we may move from dead works out of dead corruptible hearts and be filled by the Spirit with newness of life, for by grace are ye saved.

Grace is a free gift, but a gift can only be enjoyed if it is first received.

The Lord knows the thoughts and purposes of man, and how easily He can melt us! How His Spirit, like a fire, can subdue the flinty heart! How He can fill the soul with love and tenderness! How He can give us the graces of His Holy Spirit, and fit us to go in and out, in laboring for souls! The power of overcoming grace should be felt throughout the church today; and it may be felt, if we take heed to the counsels of Christ to His followers. As we learn to adorn the doctrine of Christ our Saviour we shall surely see of the salvation of God. {Counsels on Stewardship 189.2}

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Elder Steven Caruana