Did you know that St. Paul was chosen by God as the apostle of grace? He was Godβs great example of grace, the βchief of sinnersβ saved by grace (1 Timothy 1:12-16). To him was committed βthe dispensation of the grace of Godβ (Ephesians 3:2). He was sent forth to proclaim βthe gospel of the grace of Godβ (Acts 20:24).
Paul wrote far more about grace than any other Bible writer. All his epistles open or close (or both) with the salutation βGrace be to you.β He declares:
βWe have redemption through [Christβs] blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His graceβ (Ephesians 1:7).
He shows how this grace was planned for believers in ages past:
βWho hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and [His own] grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world beganβ (II Timothy 1:9).
He shows how this grace will be ours in ages to come:
βThat in the ages to come, He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesusβ (Ephesians 2:7).
He shows how this grace is greater than all our sins:
βWhere sin abounded grace did much more aboundβ (Romans 5:20).
He shows how grace gives us a righteous standing before God:
βBeing justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesusβ (Romans 3:24).
He shows how Godβs grace has given believers a position in heaven:
β[He] hathβ¦ made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesusβ¦ for by grace are ye saved, through faithβ¦.β (Ephesians 2:6-8).
He shows how Godβs grace is sufficient for our difficulties and can help us to live consistent Christian lives:
βMy grace is sufficient for theeβ (II Corinthians 12:9).
βAnd God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good workβ (II Corinthians 9:8).
Accept salvation βby grace, through faithβ as βthe gift of Godβ (Ephesians 2:8-9), and eternal life is yours.
