To the elders of the Lord’s church at Ephesus Paul said, “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24). Paul characterized preaching as testifying the good news of God’s grace. To the same congregation at Ephesus, the apostle wrote:

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, 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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10.)

God’s grace is accessed by faith on man’s part. Humans cannot have perfect works to earn salvation whereof to boast. However, by faith a man can receive God’s saving grace. The phrase “raised us up” in Ephesians 2:6 is reminiscent of Romans 6:3-4; thus, receiving this grace includes baptism (see also Titus 3:5-7 and John 3:3-5).

False teachers crept into the church in the first century who twisted God’s grace into lewdness (Jude 4). God’s grace does not give people a license to throw off all self-constraint, ignore God’s boundaries, and indulge in whatever sin they please. Jude exhorted Christians to contend earnestly for the faith and not allow such perversions of God’s grace to lead people astray (Jude 3). False teachers similarly mislead individuals today by twisting God’s grace to sanction sin. We must earnestly contend for the truth against such false systems of religion.

Instead of furthering a selfish life of sinful behavior, God’s gift of grace should put a song in our hearts that gives thanks to the Lord (Colossians 3:16). God’s grace in the proper, biblical sense moves us to live holy lives. Titus 2:11-14 says:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

As Paul, in speaking to the elders of Ephesus, characterized preaching as testifying the good news of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), he also commended them to God and the word of His grace which is able to build us up and give us an inheritance among all those who are sanctified (Acts 20:28). Spend time being spiritually edified in God’s word of grace. If you follow it, it will result in your sanctification and final inheritance in heaven.