The Ongoing Work of Grace in a Believer’s Life
Imagine you get a gift from someone you love very much. You didn’t do anything to earn it; they gave it to you because they love you. This is a lot like grace. Grace is a gift from God. He gives it to us because He loves us, not because we did something to deserve it.
Scriptural Reference: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8
Let’s say you have a messy room, and your mom decides to help you clean it up because she loves you. Even after the room is clean, your mom might keep helping you by reminding you to put things away, showing you how to keep it tidy, and helping you clean when it gets messy again. This ongoing help is like the ongoing work of grace in our lives.
Grace doesn’t just save us; it helps us grow and become better people. It’s like having God’s help every day to make good choices and live in a way that makes Him happy.
Growing in Grace and Holiness
Now, let’s talk about growing in grace and holiness. Holiness means being close to God and living in a way that makes Him happy. It’s like when you learn new things at school and grow smarter, or practice a sport and become better at it. Growing in grace and holiness is similar; it’s about learning and practicing how to live like Jesus.
Scriptural Reference: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18
Imagine you planted a small seed. At first, it’s just a tiny plant, but with water, sunlight, and care, it grows into a big, beautiful tree. Our lives are like that plant. When we accept Jesus and His grace, we start as a small seed. As we read the Bible, pray, and follow Jesus’ teachings, we grow bigger and stronger in our faith.
Practical Example:
Think about your favorite athlete. They didn’t become great overnight. They practiced every day, listened to their coach, and worked hard. In the same way, growing in grace and holiness takes time and effort. We read the Bible to know more about God, pray to talk to Him, and try to live like Jesus taught us. We have the Holy Spirit, our coach, who helps us along the way.
Scriptural Reference: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14
A Story About Grace and Sanctification
Let’s tell a story about a boy named Timmy. Timmy had a messy room and a hard time keeping it clean. One day, his dad said, “Timmy, I’ll help you clean your room.” They worked together, and soon the room was spotless. Timmy’s dad didn’t stop there. He taught Timmy how to put his toys away and how to make his bed every morning. Every now and then, Timmy’s dad would check on him and help him tidy up if it got messy again.
Timmy’s dad’s help is like God’s grace. God helps us clean up our lives and teaches us how to live in a way that makes Him happy. Just like Timmy had to keep learning and practicing to keep his room clean, we have to keep learning and practicing to grow in grace and holiness.
Summary
Grace is God’s gift to us, given because He loves us. It helps us become better people and live in a way that pleases Him. Growing in grace and holiness is like learning and practicing to be better every day. We do this by reading the Bible, praying, and following Jesus’ teachings. And just like a coach or a parent helps us along the way, God helps us too, through His Holy Spirit.
