The Revolutionary Identity of Grace: Understanding Our Place in God's Story

The word "gospel" has become so ubiquitous in our culture that it's lost much of its meaning. From barbecue to comic books, everything seems to claim the gospel name. Yet for those who follow Jesus, the gospel means something specific and transformative: it is the glory of Jesus Christ revealed. Where there is Jesus, there is hope in the gospel.

The Cost of Free Salvation

One of the most profound paradoxes of Christian faith is this: salvation is free, yet it costs everything. We often emphasize that salvation cannot be earned or purchased—it's a gift of grace. But what we sometimes fail to acknowledge is that this free gift demands our entire lives.

When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we become His slaves. This isn't the language of oppression but of willing surrender. The ancient Greek word "doulos" describes not just a servant but a bondservant—one who chooses to belong completely to their master.

Why would anyone choose such a designation? Because our Master is wiser than we are. He's kinder than we are. He's more generous, more loving, and He knows all things. His will is perfect, and when we follow it, we find joy and peace. We are filled with the fruit of the Spirit. Being a slave of Jesus Christ isn't a negative consequence—it's the most liberating choice we could ever make.

The Promise Fulfilled

The gospel didn't appear out of nowhere. It was promised beforehand through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures. From the beginning, God was weaving a story that would culminate in Jesus Christ. The promise given to King David—that one of his descendants would sit on the throne forever—found its fulfillment in Jesus.

This connection to ancient prophecy matters because it reveals that Jesus isn't a new invention or a deviation from God's plan. He is the pinnacle of what was and the gateway to what will be. Everything in the Old Testament points forward to Him, and everything after flows from Him.

The Son of God in Power

One of the most fascinating aspects of Jesus's identity is how His designation changed through His journey from eternity to earth and back to glory. In eternity past, Jesus existed as the eternal Son, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

At the incarnation—that miraculous moment we celebrate each Christmas—Jesus humbled Himself. He took on flesh and became the Son of Man. Philippians tells us that "though He existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking on the form of a slave."

This doesn't mean Jesus stopped being God. Rather, it means He chose not to grasp at or cling to the full expression of His divine glory while walking on earth. He was still "God with us"—Emmanuel—but He was also the Suffering Servant who came not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

Then came the resurrection—that world-changing moment when everything shifted. At the resurrection, Jesus was appointed by the Holy Spirit with a new designation: Son of God in power. His glory returned in its fullness. The humility He had chosen during His earthly ministry gave way to the complete revelation of His authority and majesty.

Jesus Himself said, "No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own free will, and I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again." He voluntarily set aside the full expression of His glory, walked among us, and then took it all back at the resurrection.

Now He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. In His name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord—whether people choose to acknowledge it now or not.

Called to Be Saints

Understanding who Jesus is transforms how we understand ourselves. We are not just believers or church-goers. We are loved by God. We are called to be saints.

Let that sink in for a moment. Called to be saints. Not because of our own goodness or achievement, but because God has made us holy through Christ. This calling isn't about perfection but about identity. We belong to the One who is perfect, and He is transforming us into His image.

This identity comes with a responsibility: the obedience of faith. Faith and obedience are not separate concepts in Scripture—they're intertwined. True faith expresses itself through obedience. Not a grudging, rule-following obedience, but a joyful surrender to the One who loves us and knows what's best for us.

Grace and Peace in Troubled Times

We live in a world full of division, strife, turmoil, pain, and death. The chaos around us can feel overwhelming. Political tensions run high. Cultural divisions seem insurmountable. Personal struggles weigh heavy on our hearts.

Into this reality comes a blessing: grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace—the unmerited favor of God that saves us and sustains us. Peace—not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God's shalom, His wholeness and wellbeing, in the midst of trouble.

These aren't just nice words. They're the reality available to everyone who belongs to Christ. In a chaotic world, we can experience supernatural grace and peace because we're connected to the Son of God in power.

Living as Slaves and Saints

The Christian life, then, is a paradox of identities. We are slaves who have found perfect freedom. We are sinners who have been called saints. We are ordinary people indwelt by an extraordinary God.

This means our allegiance to Christ comes first—above all other allegiances, above all other identities, above all other loyalties. He is our Lord, our God, our King. And because He is wiser, kinder, and more loving than anyone or anything else, this allegiance brings life, not death.

The gospel isn't just information about Jesus. It's transformation through Jesus. It's the good news that God has not left us alone, that He has revealed Himself fully in Christ, and that through Christ, we can know God, be reconciled to God, and live as His beloved children.

May we embrace our identity as slaves of Christ and saints of God. May we walk in the obedience of faith. And may we experience the grace and peace that comes from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ—the Son of God in power, who reigns forever and ever.