Gods Grace and Our Actions The fact that one wakes up every day, has a meal on their

table, has the energy to go through the day at work and prosper in the process, find your family alive and well when you come back from work and have a meal together is not just a coincidence or luck, it is as a result of Gods unending Grace and Love. As we go through all of the above, we are in the process of sinning through our thoughts, our words, action and what we just cant find the opportunity to do. nly the Grace of God can justify and sanctify us before the !ather in "eaven. Defining Grace Grace is unmerited favour from God. There is no #ualification to receiving this grace as it is available to everybody, the saved and unsaved. Grace has the following aspects:Aspect One: Saving Grace Eph 2:8-1 !"# $%& !or it is by grace you have been saved, through faith'and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God $(& )ot by works, so that no one can boast. $*+& !or we are Gods workmanship, created in ,hrist -esus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. This salvation is entirely by grace. There is no work we can do to merit it, or it would not be by grace. Although this salvation is not procured by good works, its purpose is to produce good works.

)ew Testament. .n fact there are several conditions given. /e will #uote only two0 $i& 1 $n 1:% !"# .f we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. $ii& &at ':1(-1) !"#. !or if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly !ather will also forgive you. $v*1& 2ut if you do not forgive men their sins, your !ather will not forgive your sins. This means that sins are not forgiven unless we first of all forgive others and demonstrates that -esus had no concept of future sins already being forgiven. Aspect two: Strengthening Grace Act 2 :*2 !"# )ow . commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Gods grace not only saves us, it also builds us up. This shows that grace is not only unmerited favour, it is also the active power of God in our lives. 2 +o 12:% !"# 2ut he said to me, 34y grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.5 Therefore . will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that ,hrists power may rest on me. This is another facet of the strengthening grace of God. .t enables us to cope with situations which in the natural would be beyond our ability to endure. Aspect three: Sanctif,ing Grace -it 2:11-12 !"# !or the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. $v*6& .t teaches us to say 3)o5 to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self7controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

True grace gives us instructions.

nce again, this is far more than unmerited favour. .t is the

sanctifying effect of grace. !irstly it gives us negative instructions. .t tells us to reject ungodliness and worldly passions. Then it gives us positive instructions on how to live, with self7control, uprightness and godliness. Aspect .our: Serving Grace /o0 1:) !"# Through him and for his names sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 1+o 1):%-1 !"# !or . am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because . persecuted the church of God. $v*+& 2ut by the grace of God . am what . am, and his grace to me was not without effect. )o, . worked harder than all of them'yet not ., but the grace of God that was with me. 2+o 8:1-2 !"# And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the 4acedonian churches. $6& ut of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their

e8treme poverty welled up in rich generosity. All of the above te8ts demonstrate that the genuine grace of God will produce within us the desire, ability and energy to serve God in his world and church. .f we do not demonstrate this service in our lives, we have no evidence that we really have received the grace of God. These four aspects of grace show us that it is far more than just unmerited favour. /e can be certain that we have received the true grace of God only when all four aspects are evidenced in our lives and in our daily business activities.

"s Grace !ecessar,1 .or deliverance fro0 Sin 4an has a natural propensity to sin and go waywardly therefore we cannot save ourselves. Grace is necessary for the deliverance from sin. Galatians ):22 lists the fruits of the spirit available in Gods grace. A lack of it will give the opposite, listed herewith but not limited to these. .ruits of the Spirit as a result of Grace 2or3s of evil as a result of tr,ing to do through the Spirit Love -oy 9eace :uiet 4ind ;ind Acts /ell doing !aith things on ones own strength "atred -ealousy 2ad temper !actions <runkenness =nvy >ivalry

Grace gives us strength and confidence in our dail, lives and in all decision 0a3ing processes4 6 Timothy 60*76 3?ou then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in ,hrist -esus5.

Grace gives us 0otivation in pursuing our goals4 /o0ans 12:'0 3/e have different gifts, according to the grace that is given to us. .f your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith, if it is serving, then serve@ if it is teaching, then teach@ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement @ if it is giving, then give generously@ if it is to lead, do it diligently@ if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully5. "s Gods Grace Sufficient1 2 +orinthians 12:%-12 2ut he said to me, 34y grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.5 Therefore . will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of ,hrist may rest upon me. 4any worry if their leadership skills are good enough or if they will be able to fulfil tasks satisfactorily and serve men and God in the process. This verse shows us that in our weaknesses, Gods grace is sufficient, "e comes through to fill us with "is Apirit to enable us to do what we have to. This glorifies God in the process. Gods Grace and Our Actions ,hristian =thics is a response to the grace of God that we have received through ,hrist -esus. ur actions are grounded in Gods action and our ability to love is preceded by our reception of Gods love.

2ecause we have received grace through the ,hrists death, grace must then characterise all our human relationships. ur reception of grace put us under a heavy responsibility as we

have to e8tend this justice to others.

5ow are our actions to 6e governed 6, the fact that we are receivers of grace1 7 +hange our attitudes towards the wea37 oppressed and need,4 The work of ,orporate Aocial >esponsibility and all organisational acts of kindness should all point out to the grace that we have received individually. /hen mining houses give to communities around them and outside their operating Bones, it is ploughing back to society and helping those in need to prosper, just as they would have been prospered. <iscrimination of others because of se8, race, gender, tribe or social status is eliminated from ones actions because one remembers they have been justified themselves. !or e8ample, bypassing a promotion for a female candidate at work who is hardworking and efficient because they are pregnant is not right. There are managers that discriminate against young female candidates because they feel that they are still in the child bearing age and will be eligible for maternity leave, recipients of grace should not act like that.

Act responsi6l, towards the environ0ent /e are custodians of the environment and organisations have to act responsibly by being producing environmentally friendly products that do not harm people and the ecosystem around us. The introduction of green fuel for e8ample is a development towards reducing the emission of harmful gases into the environment and the oBone layer.

Act fairl, towards e0plo,ees and sta3eholders rganisations and managers have to treat employees in a fairly and justly, care for others just as ,hrist cares for us. /hen you are a recipient of grace, just as ,hrist died for you and justified you on the cross, one has to act mercifully towards others. !or e8ample, when an employee reports that their child is sick and they have to go home early, be empathetic and allow them to handover and go home. A worrying worker and parent will not be as productive anyway.

5onest conduct /hen we are in custody of the resources of other, the shareholders, we have to act honestly in terms of the resources entrusted to us, the time and our general conduct on the job. Acts of fraud of any kind are not consistent with the works of the "oly Apirit in us.

/iddance of the suspicion and resent0ent ;nowing that we are all children of the living God and A88 have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, we have to rid of all suspicion and resentment towards others. There are so many disputes and fights in organisations that are fuelled by suspicion and resentment which would have been eliminated by loving one another just as one loves themselves. ,hrist commissions us as follows07

*. Love one another 6. !orgive as the Lord forgave you $,olossians C0*C&

C. 2e kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in ,hrist God forgave you $=phesians D0C6& D. =ncourage one another and build each other up. Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else $* Thessalonians 10**, *1& 1. "onour one another above yourselves $>omans *60*+&

>eferences *. The "oly 2ible $)ew .nternational Eersion&