What is Grace?

What is grace and do I really need it?

In the game of Halo, Master Chief is designated John 117. In the Bible John 1:17 says, “For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE and truth came by Jesus Christ!”

The initials in our gamertags "GBG" help to identify clan members of Gaming By Grace, however it also reminds us that we are "Saved By Grace". This term comes from the Bible, in the Book of Ephesians, Chapter 2 verses 8 & 9:

"8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast."

When you are in a burning building you do not need someone to tell you how to put out the fire or give you a list of do’s and don’ts, you want someone who will fearlessly run into the inferno and rescue you without questioning whether you started the fire or who you are or what you have done or not done in the past. At that moment there is nothing you can do to earn His desire to save you. It is only because of His grace.

We believe that each person has to decide in their life if they want that hero (Jesus Christ) to rescue them or not. Romans 3:23 says that every person has sinned and has been separated from God. That means unless someone steps in to help us we have no way out of that building. No matter how good we are or how bad we are. We need someone who can carry us out. We must acknowledge that there is nothing that we can do to save ourselves! Our part is to believe in Him and trust Him.

Notice that GRACE came by Jesus and truth came with Him too! Before Jesus, grace was not available to those who believed. Because all of us fail and break the law that God gave in one way or another we need someone who can pay the penalty for us breaking the law. Grace is made available to us through a hero who gave his life up so that others may live, so that you may live! He offers this grace to anyone who will believe in their heart that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead.

He didn’t die to appease Himself, but to remove the burden of sin from us. He removed the consequence of sin and reconciled us, so that we can once again have a right relationship with Him. It wasn’t a selfish act, it was a selfless act done for us.

All other religions are about a system, a code, works, or the law, but Christianity is not a religion… it is a relationship! It is about having a relationship with the Creator of the universe, who loves you so much! It is about knowing that He sent a Savior to go and bring you out of that burning building when there was absolutely nothing you could do to save yourself.

Whether you are a Christian or not, you are welcome to join Gaming By Grace. We hope that you will experience the grace that has been extended to you and choose to walk as a son or daughter of the God who has known and loved you all your life.

If you have any questions about what it takes to have a relationship with Jesus, please let the staff of GBG know and we will be glad to share with you the grace and truth that is Jesus.

For more about Grace visit our forum's Section on Grace!