In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul wrote, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain, but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”
God’s grace is more than just forgiveness. It’s a tangible presence in our lives that gives us strength and hope. When we accept God’s grace, we will be filled with everlasting peace and joy. Through His grace, God shows us the way to true freedom and helps us find lasting fulfillment in Him.
Grace is a powerful and beautiful gift of love that none of us can ever deserve, and yet it’s freely given to us all. It is the mercy and kindness of God towards sinners, granting us undeserved favor regardless of our past or present sins.
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What Is God’s Grace?
Out of His fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.—John 1:16–17
God’s grace is a powerful concept. It is the one thing that can save us from our sins and bring us into eternal life. In Christianity, this grace is seen as a gift[1], given freely to all who come to faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. The Bible teaches us that salvation comes through faith in Christ and cannot be earned or deserved (Ephesians 2:8–9).
The grace of God is also found in the Old Testament. For example, in Isaiah 53:5 we read, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.” This verse describes Jesus’ death on the cross as being a substitutionary sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His death and resurrection make it possible for us to be saved from our sins and receive eternal life.
The idea of grace is further illustrated in the parable of the laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1–15). In this parable, the landowner pays all his workers the same amount regardless of how long they have labored.
This story illustrates how God shows mercy to those who have labored more abundantly than others—even if their works are considered “vain” (John 4:38). Similarly, God shows mercy towards those who have not labored much at all—he loves each one of us “just as a father loves his children” (Hebrews 12:6).
What Does “By The Grace Of God I Am What I Am” Mean?
God’s Grace Makes Us Unique And Distinct
But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain, but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.—1 Corinthians 15:10
In God’s eyes, we are all unique and distinct individuals, but we also share a commonality that is rooted in our shared humanity. This Scripture verse tells us that we each have a distinct DNA signature that makes us who we are. But our individuality goes beyond our physical makeup; it extends into our personality and character as well.
The apostle Paul struggled with God regarding his personhood. All the apostles also experienced some sort of identity issue. When called by God, Paul claimed that he was unworthy of the task God had asked him. But God prevailed, and Paul worked harder than the other apostles. Each of us is an image of Christ, though we may not always be able to see it.
In the Bible, God is often portrayed as a potter who shapes us like clay. This metaphor of Paul speaks to how each person’s life is crafted with both beauty and flaws. Paul realized this notion when he claimed, “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” He also said, “On the contrary, I worked harder” than any other apostle. We are imperfect but holy because we were made to bear the image of Christ through prayer, service, and sacrifice.
A Child Of God
But to all who received him and believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.—John 1:12 (NRSV Updated Edition)
Our God is a loving and merciful God who has given us the gift of faith. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, Christians are no longer once sinners but are now sons and daughters of the Most High. This is the right that God poured upon us through adoption, whereby He makes us His children. The Holy Spirit is at work in us to bring us closer to God and to help us understand more about His love for us.
We have been blessed with this incredible gift of faith so that we can walk confidently in the knowledge that we are loved by God and accepted as His children. The grace of God, which was bestowed upon us, is a true blessing.
When we walk in the power of God’s grace, we can do things that seem impossible. Like Paul, we can say, “Not I, but God,” when we allude to our good uniqueness as a work of the Lord. Paul and all the other apostles also experienced God’s special favor of grace. They also worked harder to proclaim the kingdom of God, build the church, and preach the good news.
We can rise above our circumstances and be victorious over our weaknesses and struggles. The grace of God is always not in vain but a powerful force that can change everything for the better.
What Does It Mean To Have The Grace Of God In Your Life?
Salvation
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.—Ephesians 2:8–9
This Bible verse says that we are all sinners. Our first parents were banished from the Garden of Eden because of their disobedience to God. They lost their perfection and mortality. Our fallen nature made us easy prey for the wiles of the Enemy, which resulted in pain, brokenness, and death.
But because of God’s abounding love, He sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to pay for all our sins and for us to gain eternal life. The gospel in the New Testament tells us that it is through the abounding love of God and His grace toward us that we can look forward to eternity with hope and joy.
The Sufficiency Of God
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.—2 Corinthians 12:9
We often complain about the many things in life and the insufficiency of what we have. Our fallen nature has made us sorely attached to the things of this world and other matters that are unspiritual and ungodly.
But thanks to God for His grace, His Word, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, our bondage to the wiles of Satan and things of this earth has been cut off. On the contrary, no longer are we primarily concerned about money, possessions, and other earthly pursuits. Instead, we have adopted God as the center of our hearts and the king of our lives.
Having the grace of God in your life also means realizing that in an updated edition of the Bible, Paul stresses that God is the great provider who graciously gives us what we need.
How To Not Waste The Grace Of God?
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”—Hebrews 13:5
Our earthly and fallen nature prevents us from being content in our lives. We tend to want more and more of the things of this world—money, possessions, cars, honor, and other earthly treasures and concerns. As a result, we experience relentless dissatisfaction and anxiety, with the vain feeling that we still don’t have enough.
God is forsaken when we express discontent and ingratitude. But thank God, Christ has entered our lives and made us a new creation. We no longer live by the worries of this world or the abundance of riches. On the contrary, we remain grateful and content for all the blessings that we have. God knows and provides what we need, and we also look forward to our main concern: the glory of eternal life.
Conclusion
Our fallen humanity has resulted in the pain, disease tragedies, brokenness, and death that Christians experience. But thank God for His forgiveness and abounding love; He sent Jesus to save us. God’s grace is a priceless gift for all of humanity.
The Lord abundantly empowers us every day with His wisdom so that we may go through our mundane existence with peace, joy, and sufficiency. Like Paul, we claim, “By the grace of God, I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain, but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” God’s grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, enables us to have a renewed and meaningful life.
