Simple Lessons in Grace

Grace in its simplest form is unmerited favor bestowed on us by our Creator. It is a free gift—not earned by how big of a check you write to the church or how often you serve a meal at the homeless shelter. While both of these are good works, it does not increase the grace given to us through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Below are a few select Scripture verses along with some thoughts from Dwight Moody and Charles Spurgeon. I hope you find it inspiring:

“There were one or two women in the inquiry-room last night who said to me, “I am going to try and become a Christian.” “Well,” said I, “you may as well not try at all.” “What,” said they, “you would not have us try?” “No,” said I, “as soon as you stop trying you will become a Christian.” In the north of England, at a meeting, I urged all the men and women to stop trying to save themselves, and told them that whenever they did then there was some hope.

Down came a woman from the gallery at the close of the meeting, and said, “Mr. Moody, you have made me more wretched than ever. You told us in your sermon that we had better stop trying to save ourselves, and I have been trying to save myself for many years. I was in hopes of becoming a Christian some day, but now if I stop trying, what will become of me?” “The Lord will save you when you stop trying to save yourself,” I told her; “for salvation is a gift, and you must take it as a gift. And then I got her attention to a few passages of Scripture, and she saw what grace was. And if there is a man or woman here to-night who have been trying to save themselves, they may as well stop, and accept Him who came to save you.

As I told you last night, by grace are you saved, not by good deeds or good works. We work from the cross, not toward it; we work because we are saved, not to be saved. No man or woman has ever been saved who has been trying to save themselves.”

Moody, D. L. (1877). New Sermons, Addresses, and Prayers (pp. 100–101). Cincinnati, OH: Henry S. Goodspeed & Co.

“The Lord gives his people the grace to live a heavenly life before they get to heaven; he gives them the grace to taste the clusters of Eshcol before they enter the Promised Land; and he will continue to give grace till grace is consummated in glory. Do not be afraid of the glorious doctrine of the saints’ final preservation, but believe that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. He who puts his hand to this plough will never look back from it, but will plough, a straight furrow right to the last end of the headland. If he has begun to bear our souls up toward himself and his glory, he will never turn from his purpose, or slacken his hand, until he has finished the work in righteousness. He who has commenced this building will never cease to work till the head stone is brought forth with shoutings of “Grace, grace unto it.”

Spurgeon, C. H. (1897). Grace and Glory. In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 43). London: Passmore & Alabaster.

Select Scripture References on Grace

John 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 (ESV)

17 For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:4–9 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Timothy 1:13–14 (ESV)

13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:8–9 (ESV)

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Titus 3:3–7 (ESV)

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 4:15–16 (ESV)

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.