Ep 905 – Sanctification - 1 Corinthians 15:9-11

The grace of God is a remarkable thing. But we sometimes take it for granted. It's almost as if we think we somehow deserve God's grace, which would end up making it something other than grace altogether. Grace is undeserved and unmerited. You can't earn it. It's not payment for services rendered. And the more we recognize that it is a free gift bestowed on us by God, the greater its value will grow in our estimation. Paul understood grace and never took it for granted. He knew his entire life, from his birth to his new birth, his apostleship to his sonship, were the result of God's grace and mercy. Rather than giving Paul what he deserved, God had graciously given Paul what he could have never merited on his own: A relationship with Himself based on the saving work of Jesus Christ. Paul knew who he was and he had no problem admitting that it was because of God.