The summary of what we have been looking at this month is that Growing in grace is growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, Growing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ is growing in all things. Growing in all things connote growing in virtue.
We understand that the Grace of God is what makes us do what we are doing for him.
Grace factor means the grace of God is a constant factor in a life of a man that is growing in all things. It is the grace of God that makes a man to be fruitful in bringing forth virtue, fruitful to be able to serve and be a blessing to mankind.
So when you see anyone that is useful in the hand of God or useful to mankind or a man growing consistently, one common factor in such a life is the grace of God.
Even to salvation, no one gets saved outside the grace of God.
Reading from Ephesians 2:8-9, God did salvation in such a way that no one can stand before him and boast. No one can hit his chest and declare that he is who is his by his strength or he got saved by prayer.
Nobody is saved or can be saved on the strength of anything, not even prayer. The only thing that qualifies a man to be saved is the grace of God.
Even salvation is by the grace of God. Some people would have loved to be saved but Grace has not found them. Even the desire to receive the gift of salvation is a product of grace.
If the bible says “the Grace of God has appeared to all men” what the bible is saying is that the Grace of God is available for all men to be saved but despite that all men are not saved.
That a man accepts the gift of Salvation, it means grace found him. It was the grace factor upon such a life.
When it comes to spiritual growth, the common factor there is grace. In salvation, the common factor is grace . We grow in grace and that grace is in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and that grace is the common factor in the life of a man that makes him grow.
2 Peter 3:18
1 Timothy 1:12-16
By his life, Paul was not qualified to be a minister of Christ. He recognized that it was the grace of God that was “exceeding and abundant in his life”. That’s the only reason why Paul was in ministry. He realized it’s the grace of God and mercy he obtained. As an injurious person he wasn’t qualified. As a blasphemer, he wasn’t qualified . It was God that made him a partner. He acknowledged God “putting him” into the ministry.
The Bible further reveals that the mighty were not called, the weak and foolish were called. The weak and foolish of this world enjoy grace. This message of grace is sweeter in the mouth of the injurious or persecutor, that is the evidence of the message. Such a man will actually be able to communicate the wonderful message of our Lord Jesus Christ. That’s one of the credence, knowing Paul could internalize his message. He knew his story, he could internalize and relate with the grace and mercy of God. His life and experiences actually fit into the message.
If Judas was a good student of Jesus Christ, he should have made the gospel have a different narrative just the way Paul was a perfect example to preach the gospel. It should have been on the platform that he sold Christ but grace found him.
This calling of God that God is using any man is on the platform of the grace of God.
Paul was not qualified by human standard, he was not a perfect example of one who should be a bearer of the gospel but he recognized the fact that God had mercy on him
The first recipient of salvation and the grace of God, was the thief on the cross. Judas did not understand the reason why his Master was on the cross.
Apostle Paul doing ministry was based on the fact that he obtained mercy and the exceeding abundant grace he received. There is nobody that is beyond redemption. Paul described himself as the chief sinner, yet he received redemption.
In the life of the chief sinner was whom God was pleased to make a pattern in the life of anyone that would believe.
If the thief on the cross can be saved, Judas can be saved. The one on the cross stole, as well as Judas. The matter would have still been resolved at the cross and the difference would have been, Judas would not have died the way he did.
Our emphasis this season is grace, that was what Paul received. Why did God leave the good boys and go for the Chief of sinners to be the one to bear the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ?
When it comes to salvation or growth in ministry, it requires grace.
The common factor among great and chosen men is grace. The only credentials we have to show is grace. We shouldn’t get it twisted. No one can claim that God is using him based on the length of time he uses in praying
If you find anyone projecting this , then something is fundamentally wrong. Your prowess will never be the reason God is using you. Your skills can never be a standard before God.
This does not undermine the place of being efficient and effective in your walk with God., in addition to that, you shouldn’t rob your excellent walk with God in people’s face.
The basis for God to use a man is the grace of God. Outside grace, we would be irrelevant.
It is possible that you begin to switch to pride and not be aware when God’s hands are increasingly and heavily upon you. There is a need to be guided. To guard your heart.
If not the grace of God, what can a man do? There are many in the father’s quiver who are not renowned.
When you get to the point where you begin to speak about the things you do, be mindful that you address the grace of God and not your efforts.
Christ paid it all, he did all the labour. Boast in his grace and provision. Pray that you don’t start with grace and end up substituting it with your works.