God’s grace to you is manifest in Christ Jesus by His resurrection from the dead.  By the gift of faith in Him you have forgiveness, fellowship with God and the promise of eternal life.

Saint Paul speaks of Christ as the One (Romans 1:5 ESV): “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the

obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.”  

Often we think of God’s grace as the forgiveness of sins.  And it is.

Grace is the unmerited favor and loving kindness of God expressed to us in Christ Jesus.  But grace is much more.  Grace envelopes enemies.  Saul (later Saint Paul) was the enemy of Christ.  He did everything possible to destroy the early Christian church and to persecute Christians.  He confessed to having been the “chief of sinners.”  But, by grace God confronted and converted him to faith and service.

God’s grace works hand-in-hand with faith to transform lives “for the sake of [Christ’s] name among the nations.”  God converts us to faith with the purpose of making us His servants.  Paul was an Apostle, a “sent one.”  You also are a royal priest (1 Peter 2:9): “…that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  The Holy Spirit gifts us with spiritual abilities to carry out this kingdom work.  That is another aspect of grace.

And, grace adopts us and makes us heirs of God’s kingdom.  Grace forms a new relationship with the Father in Heaven. Grace takes us when we are enemies and makes us God’s friends.  We live our whole lives under His grace and in His grace we stand. 

Soon we celebrate the birth of God’s gracious gift of light and life

in Jesus Christ.   John 1:16-17 says, “And from his fullness we have

all received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

May grace be multiplied to you – GraceXGraceXGrace…  Amen.