Gratitude for God's Grace

The grace of God is a glorious and wonderful thing to know and experience. The sinner who has stepped into the grace and favor of God has truly encountered the most extraordinary treasure. It is by the grace of God that we are saved, sanctified and glorified, and if we are to ever blossom and flourish in our spiritual lives, we must give our minds and hearts to know more of God’s grace.

In an effort to help the Corinthian church overcome some of its difficulties, Paul reminded them of God’s grace in 1 Corinthians 1:4-9. Paul expresses his thankfulness of the church at Corinth. It is a thanksgiving expression that is deeply rooted in recognizing and appreciating the work of God’s grace.

Why should you be grateful for God’s grace? Be grateful because the grace of God is free and accomplishes our justification. Paul said said, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus” (v. 4). Paul is speaking of the grace which was given to the Corinthians in the past. In Christ Jesus, God gave them His free grace.

By its very nature grace is free gift. This free grace given to the Corinthians in Christ Jesus is the grace which justifies sinners. It is the grace which saves and brings sinners into a right standing with God. Justification is God’s declaration that a sinner is no longer under condemnation, a declaration that flows from the grace of God. This grace is free to all who will call upon the name of the Lord. It cannot be earned or purchased with a good and moral life. Salvation and justification only comes by God’s free grace found in Christ Jesus.

Why should you be grateful for God’s grace? Be grateful because the grace of God enriches our lives for purpose of sanctification. The grace of God given in Christ Jesus is grace that enriches our lives (v. 5). The Corinthians were made rich by the grace of God in Christ and received an abundance and fullness that they had never known. Like the grace given in our justification, this enriching grace of our sanctification is also found in Christ Jesus.

True riches and wealth are found in Christ Jesus. There is a comprehensive nature to the riches we have in Christ, but Paul has in mind one specific area of which this enriching grace applies, the area of spiritual gifts. He mentions that the Corinthians were rich “in all speech and all knowledge” (v. 5). The church at Corinth was a church that was full of spiritual gifts. In particular, they were rich in the gifts of speech and knowledge.

What did this richness of spiritual gifts signify about the church? The testimony concerning Christ had been confirmed in or among them. The message of Christ which Paul had preached was shown to be true and came with the attesting miracles of the apostles. The message of Christ was also confirmed in the gracious sanctification of the Corinthian believers. The Spirit of God was clearly at work among them in their spiritual gifts so much so that Paul says “that you are not lacking in any gift” (v. 7). The church was not left without anything it needed to do its work. As they eagerly awaited the coming of Christ, they were well equipped.

The Corinthians needed to understand what God’s grace had done and continued to do among them and we also need to understand this. God has graciously equipped and gifted the church for its work. The church does not lack anything needed to do what God has called us to do. We simply need to live in the grace that God has given. We simply need to exercise the spiritual gifts God has poured out among us.

In a recent article published in Facts & Trends by the SBC, pastors were asked what was holding their church back from outreach in the community. Half of the pastor gave one of these four reasons: They lacked sufficient volunteers; they lacked sufficient church staff; they lacked sufficient lay leaders; they lacked sufficient funds.

As I consider these responses, one thought continues to ring through my mind. The first century church had no budget and no buildings but it flourished. How do you explain that? God had enriched the church with all it needed. All those riches and benefits still belong to us in Christ. The Holy Spirit continues to work in the church and gift the church. We should thank God for this enriching grace which sanctifies us for Christ and obediently walk in that grace.

Why should you be grateful for God’s grace? Be grateful because the grace given by God keeps us and accomplishes our glorification. Just as God confirms the testimony of Christ in the church (v. 6), God also confirms His church to the end (v. 8). This means that by His grace, the Lord will keep His people secure to the end. By God’s grace we will be kept until the very end of the age. God intends to preserve His church blameless until the end.

Will you be counted among the blameless/guiltless in the day of the Lord? It is essential to reflect on this question and it is essential to determine how to get an answer. How do you know that you will be among those kept until the end? If you answer that question by saying, “I know I will be kept until the end because I am a good person” you have the wrong answer. If you say, “I know I will be kept by Christ because I am a member of a local church and have been baptized” you have the wrong answer. The assurance of being kept by Christ until the end is not found in personal accomplishment or achievement. If we are kept blameless in the day of the Lord it will not be because of anything we have done but because God is faithful (v. 9); through Him we were called into fellowship with His Son, and through His faithfulness we will be kept to the end.

So we come back to the source of salvation, the grace of God. It is by God’s grace we are justified; it is by God’s grace we are sanctified, and it is by God’s grace that we will be glorified in the day of the Lord. All of us should be pouring out our hearts to God in thanksgiving for His grace.