The Artisan Post

For some time now, I’ve listened to preaching about grace. Over and over, I hear about God’s grace—His forgiveness and His love. But something is missing—something crucial. And that is, messaging that reflects the fullness of the power of God’s grace.

Grace is the gift of God to us—undeserved favor, far beyond mere forgiveness. Mercy was shown in that the wrath of God for our sin was withheld from us and poured out on Jesus Christ at the cross. Grace was shown in that we are not only cleansed from sin, but also given new life in Jesus Christ through His resurrection, beginning now and into eternity. This new life is realized through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit, poured out after His ascension, enabling us to walk in obedience. This is what would more reflect the fullness of the riches of God’s grace to us in Christ Jesus.

Anything less empties grace of its value and limits its power and beauty.

Where is the preaching on the new life in Christ? On grace in all its fullness? On the call to live in holy obedience? On the transformative power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, enabling us to recognize and flee from sin? Where is the call to embrace life as a new creation?

Romans 6 challenges the idea of grace without transformation:

Romans 6:1-4 (ESV)
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

And in Titus 2, the grace of God is described not as a passive gift, but as the active, transformative work of Christ—calling and equipping us to holy living:

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

God did not intend for us to limit His grace. The riches of His grace in Christ Jesus have no limits. They are unfathomable.

We must shift our message to reflect the fullness of God’s grace.

Grace that does not transform is grace misunderstood. A grace limited.

Are we embracing the full power of God’s grace and Spirit? Or are we settling for something less?