EMPOWERED BY GRACE
DEFINING THE CORE VALUE
Grace is defined as unmerited favor and divine empowerment to overcome.
John 3:16–17; Ephesians 1:4–5, 2:8–10
Grace brings a sense of confident assurance that God loves and enjoys us, even in our weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:16
Father God rejoices in forgiving and restoring us, His grace empowers us to live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart.
Romans 12:1
When we understand the grace-filled process of personal transformation, we can better cooperate with the fire of perfect love in transforming from the inside out.
2 Corinthians 3:18; Malachi 3:2; 1 John 4:18
God loves His creation and extends grace to us, empowering believers to love Him and others at a higher standard than the law.
Romans 5:7–8; 2 Corinthians 5:14–18; Romans 6:11–14; Matthew 5:21–28; Romans 8:2–4; Acts 9:1–22, 26:1–23
Deeply experiencing grace teaches us about righteousness, which empowers us to overcome sin and failure. The Father’s love keeps us from focusing on sin or hiding in shame if we fail.
Ephesians 3:14–21; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; Titus 2:11–13; Colossians 3:1–5; Acts 2:14–41
Grace and fear of the Lord operate with equal importance in the transformation process of our lives. If you receive grace without fear of the Lord, you will live a compromised and entitled life. If, on the other hand, you fear the Lord without grace you will fall under the judgment of law and good works.
Romans 6:1-23; Galatians 5:4; Romans 11:22; Psalm 130:4; Hosea 3:5
God’s grace breaks the mentality that says “I am a powerless victim of circumstances” and creates a new identity that declares, “In Christ, I am a victorious overcomer, no matter the situation.”
John 16:33; 1 John 4:4; Romans 8:31–32, 35–39; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Deuteronomy 28:13; Jeremiah 29:11
DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND
In receiving God’s love and forgiveness, we must be careful not to take His grace for granted, neither viewing it as something we are entitled to nor something we must earn.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-24
None of us has obtained perfection, but we actively press on towards the perfection that is found in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12–15; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 1:8; James 3:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:13–15
We may still be tempted by old sinful habits, but we recognize that these temptations have nothing to do with our identities.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Galatians 5:24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 6:12–13; James 1:13–15
We are never content with sin remaining in our lives.
Ephesians 5:1–4; Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:1–2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 1 John 1:8–10; Romans 12:1–3
As we co-labor with Jesus, it is His power not ours. He gets the full reward.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15, 20; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13, 3:13–14; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1
We have to choose daily to live in the fullness of His abundant grace.
Lamentations 3:22–23; Luke 9:23; Galatians 5:1; Hebrews 12:1–3
God’s grace is extended to all people, but it is up to the individual to receive this gift. Because of humanity’s sin, heaven is not an automatic destination, but it is open for anyone who receives God’s gift of grace by faith.
2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 10:28; Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:31–46
Our desires need to be submitted to the will of God.
Proverbs 3:5–6, 16:9; James 4:13–15; Philippians 2:13; Romans 6:12–13
We have a responsibility to steward and manage the grace, resources, and gifts we have been given.
1 Peter 4:10; Colossians 3:23–24; Matthew 25:14–30; Romans 6:13; Genesis 1:28, 2:15
PERSONAL APPLICATION
The way we view God’s heart towards us in our own sin and weakness determines whether we run to God or from God.
Hebrews 4:16; Song of Songs 1:5; Psalm 51
It helps to understand that God sees a willing spirit of a sincere believer, even in our weakness, and even our weak love moves the heart of God. The only way the enemy wins in our lives is if we give up by not receiving God’s grace in light of our weakness and failure.
Psalm 51:17; Song of Songs 1:5; Psalm 86:1-2
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
We need to receive God’s grace continually through faith, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. There are three terms that describe this grace-filled work of transformation: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
Romans 3:24; Acts 20:32; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Our old self is dead—crucified with Christ. We are free and empowered to live in His righteousness and share in His sufferings.
Romans 6:1–7, 8:1–9; Galatians 2:19–21; 2 Corinthians 3:4–6; Philippians 3:8–11
God enjoys us in our process. He is always loving and is passionate about fulfilling His purposes for our lives.
John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:38–39; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Timothy 2:13; Romans 11:29
God has given us joy that is greater than any circumstances we face.
Isaiah 54:1; Nehemiah 8:10; Hebrews 12:2; James 1:2–3; Psalm 27:6
We grow into Christ-like, spiritual maturity when we allow His love and power to transform us.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18; Ephesians 3:14–21; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1–3; Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:4, 5:1–2
We are changed and led into personal transformation as we partner both with the Holy Spirit and with those within the community of believers.
Titus 2:11–14; Galatians 6:1–2, 5:16; Romans 12:2; James 5:13–16; Matthew 18:15–20; Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:8–9
God’s grace empowers us to access through faith the supernatural resources of heaven so we can do His good works and change the world.
Ephesians 2:4–10; Matthew 18:18, 28:18–20; John 14:12–15; 1 John 4:17
God’s grace empowers us to be unique, to dream, and to create with Him.
1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7; John 15:7, 16, 16:24; Ephesians 3:10–11; Romans 8:18–19
Grace is defined as unmerited favor and divine empowerment to overcome.
John 3:16–17; Ephesians 1:4–5, 2:8–10
Grace brings a sense of confident assurance that God loves and enjoys us, even in our weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:16
Father God rejoices in forgiving and restoring us, His grace empowers us to live in holiness, experiencing all that delights His heart.
Romans 12:1
When we understand the grace-filled process of personal transformation, we can better cooperate with the fire of perfect love in transforming from the inside out.
2 Corinthians 3:18; Malachi 3:2; 1 John 4:18
God loves His creation and extends grace to us, empowering believers to love Him and others at a higher standard than the law.
Romans 5:7–8; 2 Corinthians 5:14–18; Romans 6:11–14; Matthew 5:21–28; Romans 8:2–4; Acts 9:1–22, 26:1–23
Deeply experiencing grace teaches us about righteousness, which empowers us to overcome sin and failure. The Father’s love keeps us from focusing on sin or hiding in shame if we fail.
Ephesians 3:14–21; 2 Corinthians 3:17–18; Titus 2:11–13; Colossians 3:1–5; Acts 2:14–41
Grace and fear of the Lord operate with equal importance in the transformation process of our lives. If you receive grace without fear of the Lord, you will live a compromised and entitled life. If, on the other hand, you fear the Lord without grace you will fall under the judgment of law and good works.
Romans 6:1-23; Galatians 5:4; Romans 11:22; Psalm 130:4; Hosea 3:5
God’s grace breaks the mentality that says “I am a powerless victim of circumstances” and creates a new identity that declares, “In Christ, I am a victorious overcomer, no matter the situation.”
John 16:33; 1 John 4:4; Romans 8:31–32, 35–39; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Deuteronomy 28:13; Jeremiah 29:11
DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND
In receiving God’s love and forgiveness, we must be careful not to take His grace for granted, neither viewing it as something we are entitled to nor something we must earn.
Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23-24
None of us has obtained perfection, but we actively press on towards the perfection that is found in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12–15; 1 Corinthians 13:12; 1 John 1:8; James 3:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:13–15
We may still be tempted by old sinful habits, but we recognize that these temptations have nothing to do with our identities.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Galatians 5:24; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Romans 6:12–13; James 1:13–15
We are never content with sin remaining in our lives.
Ephesians 5:1–4; Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:1–2; 1 Thessalonians 4:3–5; 1 John 1:8–10; Romans 12:1–3
As we co-labor with Jesus, it is His power not ours. He gets the full reward.
Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15, 20; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13, 3:13–14; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1
We have to choose daily to live in the fullness of His abundant grace.
Lamentations 3:22–23; Luke 9:23; Galatians 5:1; Hebrews 12:1–3
God’s grace is extended to all people, but it is up to the individual to receive this gift. Because of humanity’s sin, heaven is not an automatic destination, but it is open for anyone who receives God’s gift of grace by faith.
2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 10:28; Hebrews 9:27; Matthew 25:31–46
Our desires need to be submitted to the will of God.
Proverbs 3:5–6, 16:9; James 4:13–15; Philippians 2:13; Romans 6:12–13
We have a responsibility to steward and manage the grace, resources, and gifts we have been given.
1 Peter 4:10; Colossians 3:23–24; Matthew 25:14–30; Romans 6:13; Genesis 1:28, 2:15
PERSONAL APPLICATION
The way we view God’s heart towards us in our own sin and weakness determines whether we run to God or from God.
Hebrews 4:16; Song of Songs 1:5; Psalm 51
It helps to understand that God sees a willing spirit of a sincere believer, even in our weakness, and even our weak love moves the heart of God. The only way the enemy wins in our lives is if we give up by not receiving God’s grace in light of our weakness and failure.
Psalm 51:17; Song of Songs 1:5; Psalm 86:1-2
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
We need to receive God’s grace continually through faith, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. There are three terms that describe this grace-filled work of transformation: justification, sanctification, and glorification.
Romans 3:24; Acts 20:32; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Our old self is dead—crucified with Christ. We are free and empowered to live in His righteousness and share in His sufferings.
Romans 6:1–7, 8:1–9; Galatians 2:19–21; 2 Corinthians 3:4–6; Philippians 3:8–11
God enjoys us in our process. He is always loving and is passionate about fulfilling His purposes for our lives.
John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4; Romans 8:38–39; 2 Peter 3:9; 2 Timothy 2:13; Romans 11:29
God has given us joy that is greater than any circumstances we face.
Isaiah 54:1; Nehemiah 8:10; Hebrews 12:2; James 1:2–3; Psalm 27:6
We grow into Christ-like, spiritual maturity when we allow His love and power to transform us.
2 Corinthians 3:17–18; Ephesians 3:14–21; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1–3; Romans 12:2; Philippians 3:12; 2 Timothy 1:9; Ephesians 1:4, 5:1–2
We are changed and led into personal transformation as we partner both with the Holy Spirit and with those within the community of believers.
Titus 2:11–14; Galatians 6:1–2, 5:16; Romans 12:2; James 5:13–16; Matthew 18:15–20; Philippians 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:8–9
God’s grace empowers us to access through faith the supernatural resources of heaven so we can do His good works and change the world.
Ephesians 2:4–10; Matthew 18:18, 28:18–20; John 14:12–15; 1 John 4:17
God’s grace empowers us to be unique, to dream, and to create with Him.
1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12:7; John 15:7, 16, 16:24; Ephesians 3:10–11; Romans 8:18–19
Here are some additional personal applications
of how grace is applied in our lives.
of how grace is applied in our lives.
FREE AND RESPONSIBLE
Christ died to set us free from sin, death, fear, and shame in order to establish us in freedom so we can live and love as God’s glorious children.
Romans 8:1–2, 15–21; Galatians 5:1; Romans 6:4, 14–22; 2 Corinthians 3:17, 5:17; 1 John 4:17–18; Luke 19:1–10
Freedom is not free— it cost God the death of His son. This truth motivates us to protect and value our freedom for the precious gift that it is.
Galatians 5:1; John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Luke 4:16–21; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
As God’s children, servants, and friends, we are not free to do whatever we want; rather, we moderate our freedom to protect our connection with Him and with one another as we live a life that is submitted to the Lord.
Galatians 5:13–14; Romans 14:13–23; Philippians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Ephesians 4:1–3; 1 Corinthians 10:23–24; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Romans 12:1; James 4:7; Philippians 2:1–7
Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. We experience true freedom as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to motivate us towards self-control, purity and integrity.
Galatians 5:13– 25; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 2 Peter 1:5– 9; 1 Corinthians 8: 9–13; 1 Peter 1:13–16; John 13:12–17; Philippians 2:12-13; Romans 8:14
In our freedom, if we sin or make mistakes, we must take responsibility for our actions, repent and reconcile with those affected.
Matthew 5:23–24; Hebrews 4:15–16; 1 John 1:6–10; James 5:1; Luke 19:1–10
We are responsible for partnering with the Holy Spirit to continually develop the foundation of our character so our character can support our growing influence and anointing.
2 Peter 1: 5–9; Titus 2:11–12; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:18– 20; Luke 9:54–56
Freedom is very personal, but it is not self-centered. We have been given freedom so we may present ourselves to the Lord as a willing sacrifice, surrendered and ready to serve.
Galatians 5:13–14; Romans 12:1– 2, 14:7– 9, 15:1– 7; Matthew 4:1–11
Life is not about us getting everything we want. Instead, we use our freedom to love and to serve others, sometimes having to do things we do not feel like doing.
1 Corinthians 9:19, 10:23–24, 13:4–7; Matthew 26:39; John 15:13; 1 Peter 2:16–20
Freedom is very valuable to God. He has given us freewill. Therefore, it is not our goal to control people’s choices, but instead call them to freely love God and choose His righteousness.
Genesis 2:15–17; 2 Corinthians 3:16–17; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; 2 Peter 3:9
Environments of freedom, responsibility, and empowerment enable people to live holy, healthy, bold, creative lives.
2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Luke 10:1–2, 17–20; Acts 2:42–47; 1 John 4:17–18; Galatians 3:23–29
Usually our dreams are too small. God has big purposes for us to extend His Kingdom. As we submit our lives to Him and become excited about seeing His dreams fulfilled, we are free to dream big dreams for our lives with Him.
Ephesians 3:20; Psalm 37:4–5; Isaiah 55:1–13; 1 Corinthians 2:9–10; John 14:12–14; Matthew 6:10, 33; Genesis 12:1–3; 2 Chronicles 6:5–8
Romans 8:1–2, 15–21; Galatians 5:1; Romans 6:4, 14–22; 2 Corinthians 3:17, 5:17; 1 John 4:17–18; Luke 19:1–10
Freedom is not free— it cost God the death of His son. This truth motivates us to protect and value our freedom for the precious gift that it is.
Galatians 5:1; John 3:16; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Luke 4:16–21; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
As God’s children, servants, and friends, we are not free to do whatever we want; rather, we moderate our freedom to protect our connection with Him and with one another as we live a life that is submitted to the Lord.
Galatians 5:13–14; Romans 14:13–23; Philippians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 6:19–20; Ephesians 4:1–3; 1 Corinthians 10:23–24; 1 Peter 2:13–17; Romans 12:1; James 4:7; Philippians 2:1–7
Freedom and responsibility are inseparable. We experience true freedom as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to motivate us towards self-control, purity and integrity.
Galatians 5:13– 25; 1 Corinthians 9:19; 2 Peter 1:5– 9; 1 Corinthians 8: 9–13; 1 Peter 1:13–16; John 13:12–17; Philippians 2:12-13; Romans 8:14
In our freedom, if we sin or make mistakes, we must take responsibility for our actions, repent and reconcile with those affected.
Matthew 5:23–24; Hebrews 4:15–16; 1 John 1:6–10; James 5:1; Luke 19:1–10
We are responsible for partnering with the Holy Spirit to continually develop the foundation of our character so our character can support our growing influence and anointing.
2 Peter 1: 5–9; Titus 2:11–12; Ephesians 4:1; Colossians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 6:18– 20; Luke 9:54–56
Freedom is very personal, but it is not self-centered. We have been given freedom so we may present ourselves to the Lord as a willing sacrifice, surrendered and ready to serve.
Galatians 5:13–14; Romans 12:1– 2, 14:7– 9, 15:1– 7; Matthew 4:1–11
Life is not about us getting everything we want. Instead, we use our freedom to love and to serve others, sometimes having to do things we do not feel like doing.
1 Corinthians 9:19, 10:23–24, 13:4–7; Matthew 26:39; John 15:13; 1 Peter 2:16–20
Freedom is very valuable to God. He has given us freewill. Therefore, it is not our goal to control people’s choices, but instead call them to freely love God and choose His righteousness.
Genesis 2:15–17; 2 Corinthians 3:16–17; John 14:15; Romans 12:1; 2 Peter 3:9
Environments of freedom, responsibility, and empowerment enable people to live holy, healthy, bold, creative lives.
2 Corinthians 3:7–18; Luke 10:1–2, 17–20; Acts 2:42–47; 1 John 4:17–18; Galatians 3:23–29
Usually our dreams are too small. God has big purposes for us to extend His Kingdom. As we submit our lives to Him and become excited about seeing His dreams fulfilled, we are free to dream big dreams for our lives with Him.
Ephesians 3:20; Psalm 37:4–5; Isaiah 55:1–13; 1 Corinthians 2:9–10; John 14:12–14; Matthew 6:10, 33; Genesis 12:1–3; 2 Chronicles 6:5–8