Young People's Group

The Call to Give Praise to the Glory of His Grace

by Mitchell Tan
July 09, 2019

THE GLORIOUS GRACE OF GOD

What is grace? It is the favour that God gives that enables us to achieve that which cannot be done by human strength. It is also through the grace of God that His blessings come upon us. Paul had written in his greetings to the Ephesians to wish that grace and peace be given to the church from God the Father and the Lord Jesus (Ephesians 1:2). Both God and the Lord Jesus are sources of grace. There is truly an abundant supply of grace from these two sources. The apostle Paul goes on to explain how the Lord’s grace is truly glorious.

“To the praise of the glory of His grace”
Ephesians 1:6

This grace that God gives is not just in quantity but in quality. It is truly glorious. One of the ways to deeply appreciate the glorious grace of God is through the salvation that He gives. What are the aspects of salvation that we have through His glorious grace?

1. PROFOUND SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS

A. PREDESTINED TO ADOPTION AS SONS

“Having predestined us to adoption as sons”
Ephesians 1:5

The Lord God had predestined the elect to be His sons. It is truly by His mercies and grace that we are predestined to be saved. It is through the Spirit of God that we are adopted as His children according to the good pleasure of His will.

B. CHOSEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world”
Ephesians 1:4

It is through His grace that we are specially chosen in Christ. Before time began, the Lord had already extended His grace towards us and chosen us to be distinct and different from the world. This is indeed a great privilege!

C. BEING MADE ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

“By which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
Ephesians 1:6

I. ACCEPTED

The word “accepted” in Greek has the idea of God bestowing much grace upon a person. It is through His glorious grace that we are endowed with grace and thus being accepted by God. This comes about through the great grace we have in Christ. Despite all our sinfulness, the Lord still accepts us through His grace.

II. IN THE BELOVED

The word “Beloved” is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord God called the Lord Jesus His “beloved Son” at the time of His ordination (Matthew 3:17). He had been deeply loved by the Father because He had been faithful in doing His will. It is in the Beloved that we have grace, salvation and acceptance. The world may hate us but the Lord still accepts us despite who we are and what we have done.

2. PERSONAL PURPOSE – TO GIVE PRAISE TO HIS GLORIOUS GRACE

“To the praise of the glory of His grace”
Ephesians 1:6

A. DEPTH OF APPRECIATION OF HIS GRACE

There should come deep appreciation for the glorious grace that has been given to us. Even though we have great sins, we are still accepted through His grace. The salvation that we have in Christ comes through abundant grace. Truly His grace is nothing less than glorious.

B. DEPTH OF RESPONSE TO HIS GRACE

I. THROUGH OUR WORDS

Let’s give praise to God and the glory of His grace through our words and through singing.

II. THROUGH OUR LIFE

Let’s seek to be holy and blameless that we may be distinct and different from the world. Let’s seek to give praise to His grace through our lives, saved by grace.

Back to Article Listing