His Gift of Grace!

Isaiah 9:6 is one of the best-loved verses in the Bible because it reveals five dynamics of the name and character of Jesus! More than 800 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied that His name should be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace! And when we look at the names of Jesus, we look at the character of Jesus. Understanding His Name helps us to better understand Him.

Our earthly foreparents, Adam and Eve, fell in Genesis 3 when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Romans 5:12 is clear that as sin passed on one man, Adam, sin passed on all men (us). Yet, before the foundation of the world, God knew He would have to restore His fallen creation. His solution? Send Jesus! “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJV).

For our sins, we deserved death, but because of God’s grace, we were given life. At His first advent, Jesus came to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). At His second advent, He’s coming to redeem us from this earth (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Praise God for His grace! Thank God for His grace! And just as He has extended us grace, giving us what we don’t deserve, may we extend His grace to others. May we be the collective church that seeks to “out-grace” others as opposed to showing “ungrace.”

Grace empowers righteous living. But “ungrace” disables it. Grace motivates obedience because Jesus died on Calvary for our sins. But “ungrace” demands obedience under the threat of condemnation if we come up short. Grace leads to freedom, victory and release. But “ungrace” leads to bondage, oppression and defeat. Grace looks to happiness, joy and delight in Jesus! But “ungrace” looks to salvation by works, legalistic legislation and bureaucratic bottlenecks! Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more, but grace also means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less. He loved us when we’re “un-loveable.” He loved us when we didn’t love Him! He loved us when we didn’t love ourselves! 

He didn’t wait until we got right to love us, but He loved us when we didn’t do right. I’m a miracle of grace! You’re a miracle of grace! And because of His grace, He’s Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace!

I praise God that He came the first time, but I’m praising God in anticipation for His coming the second time! He promised He’s coming back! I claim two promises where He said He would. First, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:1-3 (KJV). Second, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12 (KJV).

And that’s His gift of grace! He’s coming back!

By Carlton P. Byrd, D.Min.

President