Grace not only forgives our past, but it also reshapes our future. 

1. Grace Saves Us

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

We are saved by the grace of God. We are not saved by coming to church but by coming to Christ. I would submit to you that you can come to church and yet miss Christ. I experienced that I was at an airport, but I missed my flight because I wasn’t paying attention. The same is true in church. You can miss Christ in church if you are not focused on God.

Christianity vs. Other Religions

Imagine you’re in a deep, muddy pit—too dark to see, too slippery to climb out.

• Islam says: “Here are the five pillars—pray, fast, give, declare, and live right. Maybe Allah will lift you out if your good outweighs your bad.”
  Climb out by works and discipline.
• Hinduism says: “You’re in the pit because of karma. You must have done something in a past life to deserve this. Accept your fate, and maybe you’ll reincarnate into a better place next time.”
  Try again in the next life.
• Buddhism says: “Desire got you into this pit. Empty your mind, detach from desire, and reach enlightenment to escape suffering.”
  Escape through detachment and self-effort.
• Judaism says: “Obey God’s commandments, keep the Sabbath, follow the Law—and seek forgiveness through prayer and repentance.”
  Keep climbing through obedience to the Law.
• New Age Spirituality says: “The pit is an illusion. You’re actually already free. Just align your energy and raise your consciousness.”
  Visualize your way out.
• Atheism / Secular Humanism says: “There is no real pit. It’s just a random event. Pull yourself up. No one’s coming to save you.”
  You’re on your own. Be your own savior.
• Christianity. Jesus walks by. He doesn’t say, “Try harder,” or “You’ll get what you deserve.” He looks down, sees your helplessness, and says: “I’m coming down.” He climbs into the pit with you, lifts you up, puts your muddy weight on His shoulders, and takes your place in the pit. On the cross, He was buried in our pit so we could stand in His righteousness.
  Jesus didn’t shout instructions from the top—He climbed into our pit and carried us out with His blood-stained hands.

Christ Reaches Out To Us

“Grace is God stooping down in love to reach people who cannot climb up to Him.” — J.I. Packer

Every other religion says: “Do.” Jesus says: “It is finished.” (John 19:30). Every other religion is man reaching up to God. The gospel is God becoming a man and reaching down to man, even at our lowest, forgiving us, taking our place, rescuing us, and walking with us. That is grace. Religion says, “Earn it.” Grace says, “Receive it.”

Mercy vs Grace

“Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve.” — Unknown

Grace doesn’t just clean you up—it claims you. It doesn’t just forgive you—it frees you. It doesn’t just give you a second chance—it gives you a new identity.

2. Grace Changes Us

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…” Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV)

• Grace brought you to life, and now grace is raising you to maturity. 
• Titus, doesn’t say grace only saves us — it teaches us, parents us, and disciples us.
• Grace is not a license to sin — it’s the power to change.
• It is not just a pardon — it’s power.
• Grace is not just mercy — it’s mentorship.
• The grace of God is not just forgiveness – it’s formation.
• Grace didn’t just clean you up—it’s raising you up.
• God loves you where you are, but He loves you too much to leave you there.
• Any teaching that says the grace of God is an excuse to sin instead of a power to overcome sin is false teaching.

Three False Teachings About Grace:

• Antinomianism “Grace means I can live however I want.”

Grace saves you, and obedience doesn’t matter. Repentance is optional. God’s love covers everything—so live however you feel.

This is like saying: A child is born, and now it doesn’t need to eat, grow, or learn. Let it stay in diapers forever. Growth is unnecessary. No loving parent celebrates a child staying immature forever.

• Legalism “You have to earn or maintain salvation by works.”

You are saved by grace, but now you have to earn God’s continued love and approval by works. Your performance keeps you in God’s good graces.

This is like saying: A child is born into a family, but must earn their place every day to stay in it. If they don’t talk, walk, behave, and perform—they’re out. No good father expects a baby to perform to earn his love. The child is loved because they belong, not because they behave. “Growing in grace” (2 Peter 3:18) produces effort, but not to be accepted—because we already are. We work from love, not for love.

• Free Grace Theology “Salvation doesn’t require repentance or obedience.”

You can be saved without ever following Jesus. A one-time belief is enough—even if there’s no fruit, no change, no repentance.

This is like saying: A child is born… and that’s it. No heartbeat, breath, or development? Doesn’t matter. Birth happened. There’s no expectation of life beyond the womb.

Birth without life is tragedy. Real birth is followed by growth, breathing, movement, hunger. If there’s no sign of life, we don’t call that a healthy child—we call that a concern.

True salvation results in new life, not just a one-time profession. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…” — 2 Corinthians 5:17

There is no Two-Tier Christianity: 

• Forgiven and radical. Forgiven and transformed.
• If you’ve received grace, you’re enrolled into transformation. 
• Grace doesn’t just save you from hell, it trains you to walk in heaven’s power right now.

When the enemy says:

• “You’ll never change.” → Remind him, Grace is changing me.
• “You’re always going to struggle with this.” → Say, I’m not who I was. Grace is rewiring me.
• “You were born this way.” → Declare, I was born again a different way.
  

3. Grace Moves Mountains

Grace isn’t just for salvation. It isn’t just for transformation but is also for opposition. 

“Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’” Zechariah 4:7 (NKJV)

God’s people in a stalled season. Zechariah was a prophet to the remnant of Israel returning from exile around 520 BC. The people had started rebuilding the temple, but the work stalled. There was resistance from the outside and discouragement on the inside. Progress halted. Faith grew cold. They had laid the foundation, but couldn’t seem to finish the assignment. And just when it looked impossible—

God speaks through Zechariah and says:

“Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts.” — Zechariah 4:6

And then comes the breakthrough word:

“Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of: GRACE, GRACE TO IT!”

The Mountain of Difficulty

The mountain you see isn’t stronger than the grace you carry. 

• The mountain symbolized everything standing in the way—fear, lack, discouragement, opposition.
• Zerubbabel had started the project—but it looked like he would never finish.
• God says, “You will finish it. And when you do, it won’t be by your grind—but by My grace.”
• The capstone was the final piece—the proof the temple was complete.
• And it would be brought forth not with pride, not with self-congratulation—But with a shout of: “GRACE, GRACE TO IT!”

Mountains don’t move by strategy-they move by grace.

• Some of you are standing in front of a mountain right now. A medical diagnosis. A financial crisis. A rebellious child. A dream delayed. A future you can’t see. And every time you pray, it seems to grow taller.
• But can I tell you what God told Zerubbabel? This mountain will become a plain. Not by might. Not by your hustle. Not by your degrees. But by GRACE.
• You don’t need a bulldozer. You need a shout. You don’t need more connections. You need a confession of grace. You don’t need perfect conditions. You need a revelation of favor.
• The cross removed your sin. The resurrection removed your ceiling. If God flattened the mountain of death, then what is cancer? What is addiction? What is depression? What is fear?”

Jesus is the true Zerubbabel who came to build not a temple of stone—but of people.” (1 Peter 2:5)

He didn’t just conquer the grave—He conquered every mountain between you and your destiny.

What Hinders Grace? PRIDE. What Releases It? HUMILITY.

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (NKJV)

Grace only flows where pride gets out of the way.

Grace is like rain—it falls everywhere…but it only collects in low places. Lift yourself up, and it rolls away. Bow yourself low, and it pools around your soul.

You don’t need to prove you’re worthy. You just need to get low. Humble yourself and grace will meet you at the bottom. The cross is where your pride dies and God’s grace begins

The greatest barrier to grace is not your weakness—it’s your pride in your strength. God’s not looking for strong people to help Him. He’s looking for humble people to receive Him.

So today, if you’re ready, humble yourself. Let grace flow like rain, grace save you, and grace change you. Let grace move your mountain.

The same God who finished the temple through Zerubbabel will finish the work He began in you.

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