“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all” (Rom. 4:16 KJV).
Faith gives us access into the grace of God. It is, therefore, important that we understand what faith is and what grace is. The grace of God is available to every believer, but it is accessed by faith. Faith and grace are two very important subjects in the Bible. When you study the Bible, you’ll find that both of them operate together. Both Romans 4:16 and Romans 5:1-2 illustrate this connection.
Faith gives us access into the grace of God; it is, therefore important that we understand what faith is and what grace is. The grace of God is available to every believer; it’s accessed by faith. Faith is the accelerator of grace; it makes the grace of God go in your life.
Grace is unmerited favor. The word unmerited is important. It means that grace is not earned; we can’t work for grace. Grace is a gift from God to us, pure and simple.
However, you can’t receive anything in the grace of God except through the vehicle of the faith of God. What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified Bible answers this question: “Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed of things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality, faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.”
If it’s not now, it’s not faith. Faith must be released through words. Faith-filled words dominate the laws of death. Faith is acting on what you believe; acting as though the Word of God is true because it is.
Individuals operating in the faith of God are not looking at what they see, but are looking at what God Word says about a matter. We’re not moved by what we see; we’re moved by what we believe. Our job simply is to pray and walk by faith, not by sight. Hence, faith is the lifestyle of the believer.
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).