"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32)
What does “the word of His grace” mean and what is this word? The Greek for “word” is “logo” and simply means that which is communicated to mankind by God. And what is that? His GRACE…unmerited favor among those who are sanctified.
Mankind is sanctified (deemed Holy by God) through the truth of His Word (what He has communicated to us)…
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:17-18)
Christ Jesus came to save the world. He consecrated himself for that purpose and through his shed blood he succeeded.
“…all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness… But he has appeared once FOR ALL at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Hebrews 9:22-26)
So for me, the “WORD OF HIS GRACE” is as follows:
Mankind is SAVED by His GRACE, not of works…
“For by grace you have been saved…not as a result of works” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Mankind is JUSTIFIED (declared righteous) by His GRACE…
“…so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7)
Mankind is RECONCILED to God through Christ Jesus by His Grace…
“…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
So where does FAITH fit in?
The Greek word for FAITH is also translated BELIEVE. So FAITH is simply believing what God says. Mankind can only find true JOY and PEACE in this present evil age by having FAITH in the “Word of His Grace”….in other words by believing it.
NEVERTHELESS, there will come a day when everyone will come forth from the grave (“hades”) as Jesus said…
“…for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on my own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and MY JUDGMENT IS JUST (right), because I do not seek my own will, but THE WILL OF HIM WHO SENT ME.” (John 5:28-30)
It is my view of Scripture that at the resurrection those of us who have BELIEVED the “word of his Grace” in this age will rise to enter immediately into immortal life. Those who, for whatever reason, have NOT believed the “word of his Grace” in this life will rise to be judged JUSTLY, according to the WILL of God who sent Jesus to SAVE the world, not condemn it…
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him...it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.…” (John 3:17; 1 Timothy 4:8-10)