The Purpose of Grace
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”
— Romans 6:1–2 (KJV)
Grace is one of the most incredible gifts of God.
It is “the gift of God… not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
Grace reached down for you when you were lost.
Grace forgave you when you didn’t deserve forgiveness.
Grace pulled you out of sin when judgment should have crushed you.
You’re breathing today because of grace. But contrary to many opinions: grace is not an excuse to live wrong.
Grace doesn’t overlook sin; it empowers you to overcome it. Grace doesn’t lower God’s standard; it gives you strength to live up to it.
Paul asked, “Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” Then he thundered, “God forbid!”
Grace is beautiful, but it’s also powerful. It’s not just pardon; it’s transformation.
Grace and Truth: The Woman Caught in Adultery
John 8 gives one of the clearest pictures of grace in action.
A woman caught in adultery was thrown before Jesus. The law said she should die, and the crowd was ready to stone her.
But Jesus stooped down and wrote in the sand, then said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.” One by one, her accusers dropped their stones and walked away.
Then Jesus looked at her and said, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)
That’s the perfect balance of grace and truth.
Grace says, “Neither do I condemn thee.”
Truth says, “Go, and sin no more.”
Grace meets you where you are, but it never leaves you there.
As Titus 2:11–12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that… we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
Grace teaches.
Grace disciplines.
Grace changes.
The Misunderstanding of Grace
In recent years, grace has been misused. Some preach forgiveness without repentance; salvation without surrender.
The false doctrine of “once saved, always saved” claims that grace covers all future sins automatically.
But the Bible says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12)
Jesus said, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:13)
And Jude warned about “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness.” (Jude 1:4)
Grace doesn’t cover rebellion; it covers repentance. Grace doesn’t make sin safe; it makes freedom possible.
Grace That Cost Something
Grace is free, but it’s not cheap.
“For ye are bought with a price.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
It cost Jesus everything; the lashes, the nails, the thorns, and His precious blood. The sinless Lamb of God carried the weight of every failure, every addiction, every act of rebellion. When you realize what grace cost, you stop treating it casually. Because grace was costly, grace is holy.
It calls you out of darkness.
It calls you into holiness.
It calls you to walk worthy of your calling.
Grace Produces Change
When grace truly works in your life, it shows. The woman caught in adultery didn’t go back to her sin. Zacchaeus didn’t keep stealing after Jesus came to his house. The man delivered from demons didn’t return to the tombs.
Grace always produces visible change.
“If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Grace doesn’t comfort you in sin; it convicts you out of it.
Conviction isn’t cruelty; it’s love.
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” (Hebrews 12:6)
God loves you too much to leave you the same.
Grace Leads to Salvation
Romans 6:4 says, “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death… even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
That’s what grace does; it leads you to new life.
Grace brings you to repentance, where you turn away from sin and toward God.
Grace leads you to baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, where your sins are washed away.
Grace fills you with the Holy Ghost, giving you power to live a changed life.
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38)
That’s the purpose of grace; it doesn’t just forgive you; it transforms you. It doesn’t leave you halfway changed; it makes you completely new.
The Call of Grace
Maybe you’ve been forgiven, but you’ve never truly repented.
Maybe you’ve repented, but you’ve never been baptized in the name of Jesus.
Maybe you’ve been baptized, but you’ve never received the Holy Ghost.
Grace is calling you further today.
Grace is not permission; it’s power.
Grace is not weakness; it’s victory.
Grace is not the end; it’s the beginning of a new life.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Grace is calling you home.
Grace is more than forgiveness; it’s transformation.
It doesn’t excuse your sin; it empowers your deliverance.
The purpose of grace is not to make you comfortable in your old life; it’s to give you a brand-new one.