p. 411 | NOTES by Milton C. Wilcox

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 8, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 26.

NOTES.

By Milton C. Wilcox

“GRACE” means favor. It comes from the Latin word gratus, meaning “kind.” Crabb says, “Grace results from pure kindness independently of the merit of the receiver.” It is used in the Scriptures to denote (as in Romans 3:24) the unmerited kindness of God toward sinful man. It is bestowed without recompense. This grace of God is expressed by Inspiration in the following words:—

“For we ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7.

Grace is the manifestation of God’s love and kindness toward us, not for our good deeds but always unmerited by us. It is in this way that it is generally used in the Scriptures when referring to God. Sometimes the fruits or gifts of God’s Spirit are called graces. See the text and margin of 2 Cor. 8:4, 6, 7. Grace is used in this lesson in both of these senses. The connection and use of the word clearly determines its meaning.

QUESTION 2.—God’s grace, or kindness was especially manifested in giving his Son, by whom the worlds and all intelligences were created, to come to this world to take upon him the lowest nature, morally, of all his creatures, namely, sinful flesh, that he might be a merciful priest; to endure man’s temptations, that he might overcome them; to die a malefactor, bearing the sins of the world, that he might redeem mankind and the earth from the curse. All this had been promised, and the promise confirmed by an oath, but at the first advent, promise and oath and type were fulfilled. Grace promised was grace manifested. Men could look upon that gracious being face to face, could behold his mighty miracles, could hear his gracious words, such as man never before spake.

WE are not, however, to understand by this or by verse 14 that grace was not manifested till Christ came. Grace was manifested at the time when God placed man on a new probation and put enmity in his heart against the destroyer. Without this, man would have had no hope. Grace was manifested in God’s goodness and mercy and mighty miracles for sinful man all the way from the first to the second Adam. But a fuller manifestation was given at the first advent of Christ. It is grace all through man’s probationary career; and when that is past, and the faithful enter upon the eternal ages of the kingdom of Christ, “the exceeding riches of his grace,” will be seen in “the riches of his glory” then revealed. Eph. 2:7; 1 Cor. 4:17. Made immortal and perfect, we can better comprehend the extent and fullness of God’s grace, but even here it will be sufficient for all trials, or vicissitudes to every trusting soul.

Men “are saved by grace.” Of course, faith is necessary; but the salvation is all of grace. If it were not, man would have whereof to boast; but not one in the whole host of the redeemed will ascribe his salvation to himself. From that vast throng arises without one note of discord, “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb” (Rev. 7:10); and the sinless universe breaks forth in one grand chorus: “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Rev. 5:13. It is through grace we are pardoned; it is through grace we are purified; it is through grace we are made like our divine Lord; it will be “the exceeding riches of his grace” throughout eternity; for eternal life is the gracious gift of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Rom. 6:23.

QUESTION 6.—The extent of God’s grace is eternal and infinite. While it is bestowed upon every soul to a greater or less extent, upon the upright God through his grace will bestow all good things; and among the good things is the life eternal and the infinite blessings of God’s glorious kingdom.

WHILE this grace has appeared to all, and is bestowed upon all, and all are partakers of it, all do not profit by it; all do not receive it as the grace of God. They take all his common blessings as a matter of course; they despise the plan of salvation. Their pride will not allow them to be saved in any other way than their own—a way of their own devising followed by their own strength. But one class is profited by this grace, and that is the humble. The humble heart has a low opinion of self and a sense of its own unworthiness before God. It is therefore lowly and submissive, and God has “respect unto the lowly.” M. C. W.