For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. – John 1:16
One of the coolest things in the universe is the power of grace. Lately, I’ve noticed, within the body of Christ, there has been a lot of talk concerning this profound subject. Yet I hear very little about the ability of grace to heal our wounded souls! According to its meaning, grace was built by God for just such a purpose.
Look at the word “grace” in the Strong’s Concordance: “ The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.”
Did you catch all of that? Grace is a soul-healing power! It is a “holy influence” that “keeps” the soul, “strengthens” and “increases” it. Grace also “kindles” the soul to the exercise of Christian virtues, meaning grace gives you the power to act right because it heals the wounds in your soul that are the cause of your attitude problems. Grace is much more than a doctrine. It is a literal power that can heal all the wounded areas inside of you that are sabotaging every part of your existence.
There are things in your inner man that are driving you to sin against yourself, others and God. You may realize these behaviors and addictions need to be eradicated, yet some are so strong they seem impossible to shake. That’s what soul wounds do. They control you and cause you to sin. Romans 5:20 says, “…where sin increased and abounded, grace, (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and even super abounded…” When the sin in your soul increases, God’s grace, His unmerited favor, surpasses the sin, increasing even more and even super-abounding over it!
I think the church, as a whole, is under the wrong impression about grace. I have heard a lot of people say, when we sin, grace covers it. I understand what they mean, however, what people really need to realize is that grace keeps the soul, strengthens and increases it, and kindles the soul to the exercise of Christian virtues. Grace doesn’t just cover over your sin, it heals your soul, so that you won’t want to sin anymore!
What I love most about grace is that it is free! You received an unending supply once you were born again in Christ. Ephesians 2:5 says,“Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation)”
DECREE: I decree…that I am saved and born again because of grace by faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9) I decree…sin shall not have dominion over me, for I am not under the law, but under grace. Grace is healing every area in my soul that has been controlling me. Grace is a holy influence that keeps my soul, strengthens my soul and increases my soul. Grace is kindling my soul to be controlled by Christian virtues. Grace is healing my soul, so that I will not sin. Sin will not have dominion over me because I will not desire to sin anymore. (Romans 6:14)
