Evidence of Grace
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
Having been saved by grace (justification), the scripture says we are to grow in grace. This growth (sanctification) is the process whereby we are conformed to His image. So, what is the evidence of this growth? How does it show up in our lives? The evidence of grace is in how we treat others.
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
The evidence of grace is in what spills out when we hit the inevitable bumps in the road of life. Do faith and peace spill out, or is it fear and uncertainty? The evidence is in how we respond to God’s grace in the lives of others, in how we extend His grace to others, in how we share His grace with others.
The evidence of grace is in the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The evidence of grace is in how we walk. In writing to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul says that we are to walk in the light. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. (Ephesians 5:8-9) As we grow in Him, our lives will look more like the light and less like the darkness.
His grace sets us free to live how we ought, not how we want. So, one final question: Is the way you want to live becoming more like the way you ought to live?
By Jesse Smith
Having been saved by grace (justification), the scripture says we are to grow in grace. This growth (sanctification) is the process whereby we are conformed to His image. So, what is the evidence of this growth? How does it show up in our lives? The evidence of grace is in how we treat others.
“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
The evidence of grace is in what spills out when we hit the inevitable bumps in the road of life. Do faith and peace spill out, or is it fear and uncertainty? The evidence is in how we respond to God’s grace in the lives of others, in how we extend His grace to others, in how we share His grace with others.
The evidence of grace is in the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The evidence of grace is in how we walk. In writing to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul says that we are to walk in the light. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. (Ephesians 5:8-9) As we grow in Him, our lives will look more like the light and less like the darkness.
His grace sets us free to live how we ought, not how we want. So, one final question: Is the way you want to live becoming more like the way you ought to live?
By Jesse Smith
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