The Scripture at 1st Corinthians 15:10 states, "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." This passage of Scripture deals with the expression of Apostle Paul's humility and explanation to the call and work of his ministry.

It is often said that a mind is a terrible thing to waste. Yet, it is a far greater tragedy to reject God's grace. And I sense that so many of us often reject God's grace.

What then is grace? GRACE refers to God's favor or kindness shown toward us without regard to our worth or merit and in spite of what we deserve. God's grace is classified as common (i.e., general or universal) grace and as special (i.e., saving or regenerating) grace. Common grace is so called because it is common to all mankind. It is concerned with God's continuing care for his creation by which he provides for the needs of his creatures, restrains human society from becoming altogether intolerable and ungovernable. Common grace deals with mankind; though fallen, nevertheless, as a result of living together in an orderly and cooperative manner, God's common grace brings about mutual forbearance among mankind for the purpose of cultivating the scientific, cultural, and economic pursuits of civilization. Perfect examples of God's common grace are exhibited through the international space station and the recent scientific breakthrough in a cure for cancer.

On the other hand, Special Grace is the grace by which God redeems, sanctifies, and glorifies his people. Unlike common grace, which is universally given, special grace is bestowed only on those whom God elects to eternal life through faith in his Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Special grace deals with Prevenient Grace, Efficacious Grace, Irresistible Grace, and Sufficient Grace. Prevenient grace is grace which comes first. It precedes all human decision and endeavor. Grace always means that it is God who takes the initiative and implies the priority of God's action on behalf of needy sinners. That is the whole point of grace; it does not start with us, it starts with God; it is not earned or merited by us, it is freely and lovingly given to us who have no resources or deservings of our own. But for the prevenience, or priority, of divine grace, all would be lost.

Efficacious Grace is grace which effects the purpose for which it is given. It is efficacious simply because it is God's grace. To better explain: what is involved here is the doctrine of God. That is, what God purposes and performs cannot fail or come to nothing; otherwise he is not God. That the grace of God in Christ Jesus is efficacious, that it achieves now and for evermore the redemption it was designed to achieve, should be a source of the utmost confidence, strength, and security of the Christian. The fact that "God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his" (II Tim. 2:19) should fill believers with unshakable assurance. Since the grace of redemption is the grace of God, saints may be absolutely certain: that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6), God's special grace is never in vain (I Cor. 15:10).

Irresistible Grace is grace which cannot be rejected. The conception of the irresistibility of special grace is closely bound up with what has been said previously concerning the efficacious nature of that grace. As the work of God always achieves the effect toward which it is directed, so also it cannot be resisted or thrust aside. No doubt it's true that most persons blindly struggle against the redemptive grace of God at first, just as Saul of Tarsus fought against the goads of his conscience (Acts 26:14); subsequently, however, he understood that God had not only called him through his grace but had set him apart before he was born (Gal. 1:15), indeed that those who are Christ's were chosen in him before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). As creation was irresistibly effected through the same all-powerful work and will. The Creator God is one and the same with the Redeemer God. The regenerating work of God in the believing heart, because it is God's work, can no more be resisted than it can come to nothing.

Sufficient Grace is grace that is adequate for the saving of the believer here and now and hereafter to all eternity. As with the other aspects of special grace, its sufficiency flows form the infinite power and goodness of God. Those who draw near to him through Christ he saves "fully and completely". The cross is the only place of forgiveness and reconciliation , and it is fully so; for the blood of Jesus shed there for us cleanses from all sin and from all unrighteousness, and he is the propitiation not for our sins only but also for the sins of the whole world. Moreover, as we face the trials and afflictions of this present life the Lord's grace continues to be unfailingly sufficient for us. He has promised, I will never fail you nor forsake you. The fact that many who hear the call of the gospel fail to respond to it with repentance and faith, and continue in their unbelief, does not imply that there is any insufficiency in? Christ's atoning sacrifice of himself with them, and they are condemned because of their own unbelief. God's grace is boundless. No matter how much we draw from it, the river of divine grace is always full of water. God does not treat men as though they were puppets with no mind or will of their own. Our human dignity as responsible persons under God is never violated or despised. Those who turn away from it do so of their own Choice and stand self condemned as lovers of darkness rather than light. Those who thankfully receive it; do so in full personal responsibility, but then they give all the praise to God because their whole redemption is, in some wonderful way, due entire to the grace of God and not at all to themselves. Confronted with this marvelous but mysterious reality, we can do no more than exclaim, with Paul: "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgement's and how inscrutable his ways! ...For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. (Rom. 11:33, 36).

And it is at this very moment that I challenge each and every individual to accept the Grace of God. In doing so, I close with the Scripture found at I Peter 5:10:11 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

AMEN