Vital Signs - Wednesday, January 1, 2020

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise, grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6, NASB).

Grace is mentioned about 130 times in the New Testament alone.

Grace gives hope to the hopeless, joy to the sorrowing, faith to the faithless, and life to the dying. The word charis (“grace”) comes from a root meaning "to be joyful," and the word is always associated with happiness and joy.

Grace means that God is for us even when we are against Him. Grace refers to the active love of God streaming continually and generously as sunshine from the sun. Augustine said it is not grace unless it is gratis, that is free. The word “grace” carries the meaning of generous gifts which have to do with redemption and all that goes with it.

There could have been no grace whatsoever for us but for the fact that God the Son volunteered to take our place and redeem us: Grace... came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

Happy New Year!