Within the household of believers we talk much about God’s grace. The depth of the riches of God’s grace can be measured by the gift of God that made that grace available to us.
The book of Ephesians refers to the wealth of unsearchable riches that are provided us in Christ. We are going to look at the unlimited riches of His grace.
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Redemption is the price that was paid to save us from the penalty of our sin. The price that was paid was the blood of Christ. This redemption made the forgiveness of sins possible. Redemption and forgiveness are possible through the unsearchable riches of His grace. The human condition was hopeless and without escape. There was no way for people who were condemned to escape judgment and wrath. Watch how God’s mercy and love that restrains His wrath are tied into the grace by which we are saved. Since we could do nothing to remedy our situation, we needed intervention from a source that was free from condemnation.
Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
God in boundless mercy and great love intervened. Look at those words — “by grace you have been saved.” We were without hope, but God Who is rich in mercy and great in love intervened. His action through Christ is the single greatest measure of unsearchable and unlimited grace. Watch how far God’s unlimited grace changed our condition and estate. We were dead in trespasses, but God made us alive together with Christ. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead quickens us and makes us alive with Christ. Not only are we made alive by grace through Christ, God raised us up with Him and made us sit with Christ in heavenly places. It is difficult to comprehend the magnitude of God’s grace that would lift us and seat us with Christ. God has an eternal plan to display what He has done in you.
Ephesians 2:7-9 NKJV That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
The work of God’s grace is not finished by what He has done for us by forgiving our sins. The unlimited grace of God will continue to be manifest in us throughout the ages to come. We could easily ask, “How could we be allowed to have a place to sit at the Lord’s table?” There is only one answer, “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
What is the definition of grace?
We are looking at the unsearchable riches of Christ’s unlimited grace.
- Grace is unmerited favor or kindness.
- Grace is the merciful and undeserved kindness of God that turns people to Christ.
- Grace keeps, strengthens, and increases believers in Christ and presents them acceptable to God.
- Grace is the riches of Christ that affords joy, pleasure, favor, delight, sweetness, loving-kindness and good will.
The full meaning of the unlimited grace in Christ is truly beyond our capacity to fathom. The depth and fullness of His grace is unsearchable and boundless. We have experienced His grace, but the depth of it is beyond comprehension. Every good and perfect gift comes down to us through the function of the Holy Spirit by the rich power of God’s mercy and grace. Grace is not just a heartfelt disposition; it is the active demonstration of God’s kindness. Grace is unmerited divine favor. Grace is favor that is bestowed on those who are totally unable to return the favor.
God’s grace accompanied with His mercy takes aggressive action for those without merit. Actually, grace has taken action for those deserving punishment. The only action we deserved was judgment and wrath. Sin and transgression rendered us unworthy and without merit of grace or mercy. Grace comes in where there is demerit. Everything that could stand in the way of grace was present in us. But God, Who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, had unlimited grace to save us.
Titus 3:4-7 NLT But—When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of His grace He made us right in His sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
Why is the grace of God so rich?
To understand the riches of God’s grace, we must recognize the character of His grace. Grace is God’s free action at Christ’s expense. Grace is the application of God’s mercy applied to totally unworthy people. Our demerit made us enemies of God.
Romans 5:10 NKJV For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
That is God’s voluntary, spontaneous, and free action of mercy without any obligation. God acted totally on His own free will to save us.
“Grace abounded where sin abounded.” This is the unsearchable and unlimited riches of His grace.
God’s grace is not finished when He saved us. The depth of His grace is revealed in His kindness that names us and claims us as His own.
Go back to Ephesians 2 and notice the action of God’s grace.
Ephesians 2:4-6 NKJV But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
We are looking at “unlimited grace.” When we came to God, we were unworthy, unclean and ready for the fire. Our sins had taken us far from God. In mercy and great grace, God looked on our low estate and brought us in. Through unlimited grace, God cleansed us through the blood of Jesus Christ and made us His own. He adopted us as His sons and daughters and provided a place for us. Now we have been included in His eternal inheritance.
Ephesians 2:7-9 NKJV That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
This is the unsearchable riches of Christ’s grace. Not only has He brought us into this grace in which we stand, His exceeding rich grace has prepared an eternal place in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
This is the wonder of His grace. “By grace you were saved” is not the end of His unlimited grace. God has taken us from the destruction and shame of our sin and has made us His own. He has cleansed and covered us in Christ’s righteousness. By unlimited grace, God has shown us His unfailing love.
Take note of the language in this verse.
We are now God’s Own handiwork and His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus for good works. Your regeneration has made you fit for the position and service that God has created you. He has prepared a place of honor and service for us now and throughout the ages. We are not what we were in the kingdom of darkness. We have been elevated to a place of honor by grace and have been made a child of the King of kings. By God’s grace and mercy we have been included with Christ. We have been raised into a position of God’s favor and have been given the inheritance of sons of God.
This represents a great change that has occurred in us. Since we have been made sons and daughters of God, we have received a new assignment, commission and anointing to do those things that please the Father. This grace that we have received has brought us into this new life and fruitfulness. By God’s grace we are enabled and equipped to do good works of righteousness. In the unlimited grace of Christ, we stand and our works follow after the grace that we have received. The unsearchable riches of His unlimited grace make us want to know Him more.
