Saving grace. Just the sound of that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling, like the comfort of being wrapped up in my favorite blanket. Maybe that’s because, after the sudden passing of my momma two years ago, there has been a certain warmth I receive when I wrap myself up in her blue blanket. My “saving grace” has brought forth moments to come up for air and catch my breath amid the grief while offering healing. So much hope and healing comes with those two words, especially when we put them together. Each word holds a significant meaning for us and our God; when we place them together, something beautiful emerges!
What is the real meaning of saving grace?
Behind this familiar and comforting phrase holds more than we may truly know or fully understand. Let me explain. In secular and faith-based circles, “saving grace” is often shared to breathe a sigh of relief from a close call or a means of slapping a band-aid to a major problem: a quick fix or an intervention of sorts.
The meaning of saving grace, in worldly terms, means something positive will come out of an otherwise bad or negative situation. But, looking deeper, there is so much more than what meets the eye. Our God is so awe-inspiring, and His definition of saving grace is incredible. Let’s dive in together for a closer look at the real meaning behind the all too familiar phrase, “saving grace,” and discover why we need to live with utter confidence and conviction, knowing we are saved by grace!
What Does it Mean to Be Saved?
This is where things can get a little fuzzy. While salvation can bring on a warm fuzzy feeling like my blanket analogy, for many questioning their salvation, this can stir up all kinds of feelings. Sadly, the concept of being saved is filled with many misconceptions.
Maybe you have been to a congregation where they politely ask if “you are saved?” If you shrug or wince in some way, they pull you aside and ask you to recite the prayer to accept Jesus into your life. While these are well-meant intentions, it can feel so awkward …and forced. And, honestly, this isn’t what Jesus wants from us.
Part of being saved is confessing with our mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” but the other part (and most valuable) is believing in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and He is alive (Romans 10:9-11). “Being saved” is two-fold – a full confession of faith and a heart ready to believe. But, maybe another question comes to mind …How do we prep our heart and “make it” believe? The answer is we don’t!
The heart is naturally a deceptive organ! Jeremiah 17:9-10 tells us that it is deceitful, and nobody can fully understand it. It is self-seeking, diseased, depraved, and sinful. When we confess our faith in Jesus, we experience a “new birth,” a metamorphosis that begins in the heart. Ezekiel 36:26 describes the new covenant as replacing the heart of stone with a heart of flesh. Acts 15:9 tells us God made no distinction between Jew or Gentile and cleanses their heart by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us whoever is in Christ is a new creation. Jesus says whoever believes in Him, out of their heart, will flow living water (John 7:38-39). This is what it means to be saved. It is trusting in our Lord Jesus Christ and being willing to surrender our lives over to Him!
Jesus tells us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one will come to the Father but through Him (John 14:6). “Being saved” means believing this to be true, which compels us to desire to live according to His will. Giving our heart to Jesus doesn’t just come with a heart transplant. It comes with a life change, as we become known by our fruits (Matthew 15:17-29). “Being saved” is a full-on commitment and daily choice to follow Christ’s way, seek His Truth, and live in a way that honors Him.
What is Grace?
The Scriptures speak of God’s grace eloquently, painting a beautiful picture that helps us better understand it. “Grace” is mentioned between 124 and 170 times, depending on the translation. It’s evident that God’s grace is important to understand.
What does the Bible say about grace? 2 Corinthians tells us that God’s grace is sufficient. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we have been saved through faith by grace, and it is not our doing. John 1:16 declares from His fullness, we have received grace upon grace. Romans 3:24 says that we are justified by His grace as a gift through redemption in Christ Jesus.
The bottom line is – grace is a gift from our God that is unmerited and can’t be earned, and it covers a multitude of sins. God’s grace is sovereign, unconditional, and ultimately our pathway to redemption (Ephesians 2:8). While we still have a heart of flesh as believers (Ezekiel 36:26) and will bend and sway to sin, God’s grace grants us forgiveness and a way to be fine-tuned and pruned and offers us spiritual growth (Hebrews 12:3-11).
Putting the Two Together
If grace is an undeserved gift and being saved is surrendering our lives to Christ, then saving grace is the grace God grants to those who fully receive Christ as Savior. Where common grace is the universal grace that every person can experience due to the faithfulness and goodness of our kind Father, saving grace is given to those who take the leap of faith and are fully redeemed (saved). Faith + Grace = Saving Grace, Salvation, and Redemption
That’s a pretty great outcome just to give our heart to Jesus in faith. And yes, it’s really that simple. Yet, we overcomplicate and tend to make it more about what “we” need to do rather than what Jesus has already done- paid the price on that rugged cross (Galatians 3:13-14)! It is our faith, but by His grace, we receive the fullness of life and a promise of life beyond this one!
Living with Confidence and Conviction
Faith is expressed in the things we hope for and the evidence of what is not seen (Hebrew 11:1). Faith is the complete trust and full confidence we have in Jesus. Knowing that grace runs free to His faithful sons and daughters this should prompt us to live differently.
We can live with confidence and conviction when we are saved by grace. We have confidence that our destiny is secure, and we will have a life beyond this one (1 John 2:17). We are confident in the truth found in God’s Word and that though we are sinners, we are washed by the blood of Jesus. His death gives us ever-lasting life and hope (Romans 5:8).
We should also live with conviction in a way that honors our God. That means we heed His instruction, follow His ways, and strive to become more and more like Jesus, to love more and more like Jesus, and to shine a light on those around us who don’t know Him. God's saving grace calls us to live boldly and show those who need hope His amazing grace!
Amazing Grace …Saving Grace
Saving grace implies and reflects the nature and wildly incredible love of our awesome and amazing God. That’s the real meaning behind it. It is all about the goodness, faithfulness, and graciousness of the God we serve!
Amazing Grace was played at my mother’s funeral. It was beautiful, and I must say the many times I have heard that song before, hearing it that day and seeing my momma be lowered into the ground gave me peace. While it was an uncomfortable and truly heartbreaking moment, knowing wholeheartedly that she was saved by His grace allowed me to feel God’s great mercy on me.
The beautiful thing about this fleeting life is that we have the assurance, as believers, of knowing that through God’s amazing saving grace, we will be reunited with loved ones and, better yet, be able to meet Jesus face-to-face. Praise be to God for that!
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