Several years ago my wife and I visited a “mainline” church. I do not remember the denomination. In Sunday School a Christian Sister raised the question of how many “points” she earned by working for the Lord. She was concerned that if she did not have enough “points,” would she get into Heaven?

This Sister had not been told that our salvation is because of the Grace of God. In thinking back, I wonder what else she had not been taught.

The Grace of God is a wonderful thing. The Greek word translated as “grace” is charis (Strong’s G5485). Thayer’s Dictionary defines charis as “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.” This certainly describes the wonderful grace that Christians have received from the Lord.

Grace does not save us. Salvation is offered and given to us because of God’s grace. Grace is a benefit extended to us by the Lord. We are saved because of the Grace of God. (Ephesians 2:8)

In Galatians the Apostle Paul argued against the Jewish doctrine that you had to become a Jew first, before you could become a Christian. Some were even claiming that you had to be circumcised first. In Galatians 5:1-4a Paul argues against becoming entangled in the “yoke of bondage” which is the Law. He stated that if you required circumcision for salvation, you then had to follow the whole law.

In Galatians 5:4b Paul stated that if this was the case, “you have fallen from grace.”

Remember, Christians are saved by the atoning blood of Jesus. (First John 1:7, Revelation 1:5) We receive this salvation because of the Grace of God, who desires that all should be saved. (Second Peter 3:9) We can walk away from the Lord, as the prodigal son walked away from his father, but the prodigal was still his son and the father still loved him. (Luke 15:11-24) God does not offer salvation and then take it back. We are still his children, even if we turn our back on the benefit of His Grace.

Think about it. We are saved by Jesus because of the Grace of God. In my opinion, we may be able to turn our back on that grace, “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness,” but we are still the children of God through the blood of Jesus.

How thankful I am for the wonderful Grace of God and the Salvation of Jesus. May we always praise the name of the Lord and Jesus!