The Gift of Grace and the Seeds We Sow
Scripture reminds us that some blessings come freely by grace, while others relate to the choices we make.
The Bible speaks about receiving from God in more than one way. Some blessings are given freely by grace, while others are connected with the choices we make and the way we live.
In the New Testament, the Greek word charis is used to describe grace, the unearned favour of God. From this word comes charisma, meaning a gift freely given. The greatest of these gifts is the salvation of the soul through Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote, “By grace are ye saved through faith… it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). This salvation is not something we can earn through works or effort. It is given because of God’s mercy and the sacrifice of Jesus.
Yet the Scriptures also teach another principle that runs throughout the Bible: the principle of sowing and reaping. Paul reminds us that “whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). In many areas of life, God has established patterns where actions bring corresponding results. The choices we make, the things we pursue and the way we live all have consequences.
These two ideas are not opposed to one another. Grace provides the foundation of our relationship with God, while our actions still matter in the life that follows. The Scriptures repeatedly remind us that faith is not merely something we believe but something that is expressed in how we live.
This principle appears throughout the Bible. As James wrote, “faith, if it hath not works, is dead” (James 2:17). Paul also taught that God “will render to every man according to his deeds” (Romans 2:6–7).
For this reason the return of Christ is described as a time when the works of each person will be revealed, for the Lord Himself says, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Revelation 22:12).
With gratitude we receive the gift of grace that saves the soul through Jesus Christ. At the same time, the Scriptures encourage us to walk faithfully, remembering that the seeds we sow today are not without meaning. As we look toward the return of Christ, we are reminded that our faith is meant to bear fruit and that the life we live now prepares us for the promises and rewards that God will reveal when His Son returns.