The Three Types of God's Grace (Study Outline)

Written on 05/12/2024

Lesson Notes:

  1. Grace is anything that God chooses to give to His creation. God's giving is His grace.

  • Grace is unmerited; you can't earn it. Grace is not compensation; it is a free gift. 

    • Also translated benefit or favor, grace is always given according to God's own purpose, meaning that He gives when He decides that He wants to, not when we ask for it (Romans 9:15-16, 11:5-6, Ephesians 2:8-9). 

 

  1. Types of Grace

  • Type 1: Common Grace – the grace given to everyone, including unbelievers. We need it to survive and/or enjoy anything in life (Matthew 5:44-45, Acts 14:16-17).

    • The gift of life itself, air to breathe, a beating heart, music, beauty in creation, any moment of love or joy—all these are graces of God. We didn't earn any of these things; therefore they are all the grace of God in effect. You wouldn't be able to succeed at anything, let alone survive or even exist, without the grace of God!

  • Type 2: Saving Grace – the grace given through Jesus Christ, allowing us to be saved (Acts 15:11, Romans 3:24-26).

    • God didn't have to save us; we deserved to perish in hell. But He chose to save, and we didn't do a single thing to earn it.

  • Type 3: Empowering Grace – the grace given from the Holy Spirit to believers in the form of spiritual gifts, miracles, strength and energy to accomplish any work for God (1 Corinthians 15:10). 

    • Any way in which you are vitalized, influenced, or empowered by God is a show of His grace. Strong's concordance expands the definition of grace in this way: “...the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.”

      • Spiritual gifts/miracles are a grace of God (Romans 12:6).

      • Faith is a grace of God (Romans 12:3).

      • Wisdom and/or leadership ability is a grace of God (1 Corinthians 3:10).

      • Ability to minister the gospel is a grace of God (Romans 12:3, 15:15-16).

      • Understanding speech and knowledge are a grace of God (1 Corinthians 1:3-5).

      • The ability to repent and obey God is itself a grace of God (Acts 5:31, Romans 1:5).

       

  1. As believers, a benefit of Empowering Grace:

  • Empowering Grace is what allows imperfect people to do anything for God. We are often sloppy and make mistakes, but God gets everything done anyway.

    • You can rest knowing that no matter how obedient you are, or not, God will always accomplish everything He needs to. His will is always done. You should still want to be obedient, but your obedience is not any greater advantage to God (Job 35:5-8). Your obedience helps you and it helps others, but it doesn't help God. In other words, God doesn't need you to be obedient in order for His plans to be accomplished (Acts 17:25). 

    • We may feel bad about our failures, but it's comforting to know that, even when we fail or only partially succeed, God always finishes the job.