Table of Contents
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17
What does it mean to receive grace? How do we receive grace? What is “grace for grace”?
Matthew Henry defined grace as
…the good will of God towards us and the good work of God in us.
This highlights two aspects of grace: grace as a gift, and gifts as grace.
Grace as a Gift
Grace as a gift is the God-given availability of salvation for anyone who has faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. This grace is a token of God’s love for us and is the only mechanism by which we can be saved. We are entirely unable to earn it or deserve it.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Gifts as Grace
As we are totally undeserving of salvation, we are also totally unable to be used by God for good works. But He gives us gifts and talents to do the good works which He created us to do.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.Ephesians 2:10
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them… Romans 12:6
The gifts of prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy are all given by grace. (Romans 12:7-8) None of them are talents we can claim to own because of our own merit, but we can learn to use and develop them for God’s glory.
Grace for Works
Matthew Henry continues:
God’s good will works the good work, and then the good work qualifies us for further tokens of his good will.
We can only desire to do good works because of God’s grace in us:
…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13
Even the ministers to the church are gifts of grace. None of the offices in the “five-fold ministry” are self-appointed, or self-realized. Anybody operating in those callings are only able to use the gifts because of the grace of God in their lives. Faithfulness with the gifts of God qualifies us for more gifts. See the parable about talents in Matthew 25.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. …And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers… Ephesians 4:7,11
Grace to Reign
The book of Revelation tells us that we will be reign with Christ during the millennium. (Revelation 5:10, 20:4,6) But Paul points out that reigning with Christ is also simply an outcome of grace:
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17
Grace for Glory
God’s grace in our lives glorifies Him, not us. It is because our works are grace-empowered that God gets the glory.
How often have you thanked God for something a human did? It’s because we recognize that God works all things together that we thank Him (and we also thank the people involved, hopefully). Paul tells us that grace in our lives glorifies God and the Lord Jesus Christ:
For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 4:15
…that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:12
When we receive God’s grace in our lives, it’s not just for us, but for all the people that he will touch by our work. We should not trust in ourselves, but in His grace working in us. Our works are by His grace, so grace may abound to others. Paul used himself as an example to explain what our attitude should be:
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
Jesus hinted at this when He foretold how we should respond when we are done with our works on earth:
“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Luke 17:10
Our challenge is to receive God’s grace in a way that is profitable for His kingdom, for His glory. Our works should encourage others to also receive His grace. If they see how our works glorify our Father in Heaven, they will be encouraged to receive His grace themselves.
Our grace encourages more grace. It’s “grace for grace”. Don’t waste the grace you received. Others need it to work through you.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1
[1] Henry, M. (1 Mar, 1996). Commentary on John 1 by Matthew Henry. Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mhc/Jhn/Jhn_001.cfm
[2] Ibid.
- Our first book, “Families from the Beginning: Your Family, God’s Design” is available in paperback or Kindle on Amazon. Click here to order your copy.
- Follow this link to see the first chapter: Families from the Beginning, Chapter 1 .
*All Scripture quotations for this article are from the New King James Version (NKJV).
