We are saved by grace, through faith. Our salvation is past, present and future tense. I believe in the church today we have a grace problem. Grace is not just connected to Jesus’ work as Messiah, but it also flows from the other two works. There is a block in the flow of God’s saving grace. The gospel of grace is needed more than ever:

Acts 20:24

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

Grace flows and is supplied by the works of Jesus. Not just any works of Jesus, but the works that the Father promised. These three promises, the three-fold work of Jesus in saving humanity, contain all the grace needed to take a sinner and make him a son or daughter of God. There is enough grace to make us like Jesus.  

The grace of God is the power of God. Romans 1:16-17, “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, to the Jew first and also the Gentile, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, the just (righteous) shall live by faith.”

So to continue in faith is to continue in the grace of God. When our faith stops resting in Jesus’ work we start working for Jesus. This cuts off the supply of his grace.

Justification – Spirit – Peace – penalty of sin (Romans 6:23)

Sanctification – Soul – Power – power of sin (1 Cor. 15:56)

Glorification – Body – Purity – presence of sin (1 Cor. 15:26)

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  

1 Corinthians 15:1-3

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Colossians 2:6

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him…

Galatians 5:2-6

2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Circumcision was an outward, physical expression of righteousness according to the Old Covenant. In other words, if we rely on an outward expression of righteousness to be justified we have fallen away from grace and we are severed from Christ.

Think about this -

1. Where in your life are you relying on your own works to save (or sanctify) yourself? How does this message on grace change your mind about how God wants to mature you?
2. Identify areas in your spiritual walk where you feel numb, defeated and unable to make progress. Write them down and ask God to show you where you are relying on your own strength instead of this grace.
3. Practically, how can we live under the constant supply of God’s grace?