You Need Both To Receive From God
By: Wilfred, Atigbi (Elder)
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INTRODUCTION:
Grace and faith need to work together for you to receive what God has provided. (Ephesians 2:8-9) says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—” Note, it says we are saved by grace through faith, not just grace and not just faith. Grace is God’s part and faith is our part. It takes both working together to receive salvation. You need both!
- GRACE AND FAITH NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO POSSESS GOD’S PROMISES
God’s grace and our faith are not only needed to receive salvation, but they are both needed to receive any and every promise of God – protection, wisdom, healing, provision, favor, direction, etc. Grace is what God does and faith is what we do. It is grace and faith working together that brings God’s promises into our lives. You need both – grace and faith.
Now here’s the problem, there are those who only focus on grace and there are others who only focus on faith. As a result, there are people trying to pray, fast, give, serve, etc. in an effort to convince God to move on their behalf and then there are others who are just “waiting” on God to do something. Both end up disappointed, empty, and discouraged. (2 Pet. 3:17-18)
- GRACE IS GOD’S PART:
We need to have both working together – grace and faith. Grace is often defined as unmerited or undeserved favor. In other words, grace is not tied to anything we do. It is all about what God has done through Jesus for us. Grace is God’s part. (Tit. 3:7, Heb. 12:28)
- FAITH IS OUR PART:
Faith is defined as fully trusting God. In other words, believing without wavering or doubting that God has already done what He has promised. Faith is not trusting in what we have done. It is our response to what God has done and provided us by grace. Faith is our part. (Heb. 11:1-39)
- GOD HAS ALREADY DONE HIS PART:
Here is the key – God has already done His part and now our part is to believe and receive. It is up to you to receive “by faith” what God has promised in His Word. It is not the truth that sets you free; it’s the truth you know that will set you free. (John 8:32) So, faith requires you to know what God has promised and provided. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word”. (Romans 10:17).
- FAITH RESPONDING TO GRACE BRINGS VICTORY:
If you don’t know what God has promised how can you possibly believe. “My people perish for a lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6) So, your part is faith and faith requires you to know His Word. Grace without your faith won’t save you, and faith that’s not in response to God’s grace will fail.
However, when you have faith in what God has already done for you, then by grace you receive what God has provided. (1 John 5:4) puts it this way, “…Our faith is what wins the victory over the world.” Faith brings victory.
- BELIEVE AND TRUST GOD:
Mark it down – God has done His part – GRACE. However, FAITH – is your part. Believe and trust Him. “God is not like people. He tells no lies. God is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it.” (Numbers 23:19) So, what God has done is yours, however it is “Grace and Faith both working together” that brings His promises into your life.
CONCLUSION:
Grace means unmerited favor, a gift or blessing that is presented to one who does not deserve it, or one who is unable to pay for it regardless of what he offers in return. (Eph. 2: 8-9). Hence we are all required to believe God through faith (Rom. 10:17), worship God genuinely without wavering till death, and for us to be saved by His grace again and not by our works. (Eph. 2:8).
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