The Foundations of Grace

A Sunday Service Recap: Why Choose Labour over Grace?

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Dear Amiable Readers, Grace and peace be with you.

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If not, consider this your warm invitation.

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I usually share my Sunday service recaps shortly after church. Today’s recap is from a Sunday ago, and it happened to be our Revelation Sunday, a time when we take a microscopic look at God’s Word.

Theme for December: Laughter

Scripture: Psalm 2:1–4: Even in the midst of commotion, demonic schemes, and the rise of antichrist campaigns, we laugh.

We laugh because we are seated with Christ. We laugh because we have authority. We laugh because we are more than conquerors. We laugh because God is in control, and we will win again and again.

Glory to God. It is still our Year of the Holy Ghost. With Him in us, victory is sure.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Topic: The Foundations of Grace

Speaker: Apostle Harrison Ayintete (AHA) Texts: Romans 11:6, Ephesians 2:8

Grace means unmerited favour. Unmerited means it is not by what you did or because of your labour.

“And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” Romans 11:6

From our core text today, you can see that Grace is a gift, freely given. You do not labour for it.

If somebody promises you money freely, and you believe them and look up to them for it, that is grace.

But if you worked for the money, it becomes a wage. It becomes a salary.

This is where the difference lies.

Labour or purgatory means heaven is dependent on you. Grace means heaven is dependent on Jesus’ sacrifice for us.

Salvific Grace

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

Salvific is derived from the Latin word salvificus meaning ‘saving’, from salvus ‘safe’. — Oxford Languages.

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines it as, having the intent or power to save or redeem.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross gave us Salvific Grace.

The Unity of the Gospel

We are not united as Christians because we boast in our works or labour. Each church often has a doctrine on “how to make heaven.”

If we all focused on grace, on Jesus’ sacrifice alone as the way to heaven, we would be united.

The Gospel is the good news of God’s grace. That is what differentiates Christianity from other religions.

Many religions preach good morals. If the Gospel were only about good morals, then Christianity would offer nothing new. Islam and Buddhism even have stricter moral codes than many Christians.

Christianity stands on grace, on what Jesus did to bring us to God.

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you… by this gospel you are saved.”

• 1Corinthians 15:1*

The Gospel is not about what we can do. It is about what Jesus has done.

People often prefer doctrines of labour and morality because it gives room for boasting, a “holier than thou” mindset.

I once saw a sermon clip where a pastor said Jesus’ death on the cross accounts for only twenty percent of what we need to make heaven.

Think about that.

If Jesus, God incarnate, left heaven, suffered, and died, and that only gives us twenty percent, how exactly are we meant to come up with the remaining eighty percent?

If I, as a human, were to be persecuted and killed, that might count as ten percent at best. That would leave me with thirty percent total grace and a seventy percent deficit.

By that logic, we are all doomed.

“All are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

• Romans 3:24*

Jesus paid it all. All you have to do is believe.

Good morals still matter. Not because they save you, but because if you belong to Christ, you will reflect Him. The fruit of the Spirit flows naturally from a life indwelt by the Holy Ghost.

If heaven depended on our labour, why did Jesus need to come and die at all?

Ministry Grace

Text: Romans 12:6

Once you accept salvific grace, ministry grace follows.

We are called to bear witness to Christ’s death and resurrection and to call others to Him. A Christian life is a speaking life. You are obligated to share the good news you received freely.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:4–5

What Grace Is Built Upon

Grace does not float in thin air. It rests on unshakable foundations:

1. Love — The purposeful love of God. This is not fleeting emotional affection, but a purposeful, disciplined love. It is a love that corrects, directs, and protects, so that we will not perish.

“The Lord disciplines those he loves.” — Hebrews 12:6

Love without purpose can be toxic. Love without discipline raises monsters. But God’s love is both tender and intentional. It is the first foundation of grace.

2. The Holy Spirit — The seal and power of grace. When we believe, God gives us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:13–14). The Spirit is the one who makes grace real in our daily lives; teaching, comforting, and empowering us to live out our new identity.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit…” — Ephesians 1:13

Why This Matters

Jesus paid it all. All you have to do is believe!

The only thing you should be labouring to do is to ensure you spread the Goodnews. If you belong to Him, you must be Christ-like. Show the fruits of the Spirit.

Why choose to sweat and remain in a hot room when you’ve been given the remote control to use the AC? Whether in the church or in your home, let Grace be your foundation.

Join Our TGN Family

I am simply a believer reflecting on the rich teachings I receive. These are my personal notes and thoughts, not a word-for-word transcript.

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Stay rooted in grace. Walk in the supernatural.

Merena

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