Remember the commercials for Wendy’s Hamburgers where the lady looked at a hamburger
of a competitor and cried, “Where’s the Beef?” I was talking to a pastor friend who was
accused of not preaching grace because he was preaching the whole counsel of God and
not just the accomplishments of salvation by God’s grace. It was as if some in the
congregation were saying, “Where’s the grace?”

It’s easy to get like that and desire a diet of just hearing about God’s grace in salvation.
We are told over and over in God’s Word that salvation is not by works of righteousness
which we have done for we have no righteousness nor can we produce anything righteous
outside the help of God. We are told that salvation is of the Lord as He chose us, redeemed
us, called us, preserves us, and some day will glorify us. From start to finish it’s a message
of God’s sovereign grace as it’s bestowed upon sinners.

But the proclamation of God’s grace does not end with salvation. His grace is extended to
us as we receive instruction for living, correction, or even calls for repentance from God’s
Word. It’s still God’s unmerited favor to declare that God cares enough about us to draw us
into a pathway of blessing. To neglect teaching what God expects from us in living a life
that is pleasing to Him, is avoiding the teaching of God’s Word and robbing God’s people of
enjoying benefits that are experienced as a result.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (ESV) ¹I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to
judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word;
be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience
and teaching. ³For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but
having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Acts 20:26-27 (ESV) ²⁶Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of
all of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

In order to declare the whole counsel of God, there must be a balance of what God has
done and what God expects from those for whom He has accomplished salvation. God has
worked for us and in us, and now He expects us to live it out.

Philippians 2:12-13 (ESV) ¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now,
not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good
pleasure.

The beauty of a balanced diet is the combination of motivation from knowing what He has
done and the fulfillment in presenting our lives to Him through dedication and obedience.
The cry of a heart that is changed by grace is for instruction on what can be offered to God
in gratitude.

Psalms 116:12 (ESV) What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) ¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable
and perfect.

Where’s the grace?

1 Corinthians 15:10 (ESV) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward
me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I,
but the grace of God that is with me.

In this passage Paul looks at God’s grace in three different ways. Grace is what makes the
difference in salvation, grace is the motivating factor in moving us to serve, and it is His
grace which helps us do the things that please Him. From start to finish it is His grace. So
when someone says, “Where’s the Grace?” when they are getting the whole counsel of
God, it’s really an indication of immaturity from a lack of practicing what we have been
taught from God’s Word.

Hebrews 5:12-14 (ESV) ¹²For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need
someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not
solid food, ¹³for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since
he is a child. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of
discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

It’s not an easy thing to bring a balanced diet in a weekly message in the church. There is
always a need to bring the free offer of the Gospel to those who are seeking, but there is
also a need to challenge believers to move to maturity and holiness by practicing God’s
Word. That takes grace from Him in preparing and preaching His Word. It takes grace from
Him to open the ears of those who hear. It takes grace to apply His Word.

From start to finish it’s grace - whether we talk salvation or application of His Word. As we
think about His grace, may we all be given to respond with gratitude and greater dedication in His service.

James 4:6 (ESV) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but
gives grace to the humble."

Godspeed,