Sola Gratia - By Grace Alone

Living as we do in what has been described as a "broken world", a world still under the curse of sin, God has intervened through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to give life to those of us, who having been dead in trespasses and sins, and unable of ourselves to know God or to worship Him, can now, be beneficiaries of His mercy.

It is the fact that this understanding of our state is only revealed to us by a sovereign act of God, through His divine grace. We, having no capacity to make ourselves perfect, or acceptable to God can only see these truths as we perceive them and receive them by faith - again a gift from a gracious, merciful and loving God.

God, through what has been called 'common grace' enables all, believer and unbeliever alike to be partakers of many of His gracious benefits. But, it is to His own special people that He exhibits saving grace, looks upon them with favour, and grants repentance that leads to eternal life, restoring them to a position where they are able to truly worship Him.

The Reformers realised that it is only by being clothed with the righteousness of Christ that we are able to stand forgiven and justified beore a holy God. Such amazing grace originated in God in the plan of salvation, formed in eternity past. What then is our response to this act of kindness? May each of us realise that "By grace ye are saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)