The Promises of Grace

Title: The Promises of Grace: Living in the Grip of God's Love
Author: Bryan Chapell
Publisher: Baker, 2001
Pages: 171
Begun: January 15, 2009
Finished: January 17, 2009
Rating: ****

As children of God, we are sometimes prone to doubt the sovereignty, love, and grace of the Father, especially during times of intense pressure and testing. What gives us unshakeable hope and assurance in the midst of the furnace is the promise of God's grace to His own. That is the central theme of this book. Chapell puts is this way in the introduction:

"The benefits of God's grace are so overwhelming, so sure, and so powerful that they defy the ability of the troubles of this world to dampen our faith or spoil our joy" (9).

Written in a devotional style and a highly accessible reading level, The Promises of Grace is a study on Romans 8 and is divided into four parts: 1. Calming Storms, 2. Spirit Signs, 3. God's Grace, and 4. Jesus' Love.

Chapter One of Part One hones in on the first verse of Romans 8: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Nothing, not even sin, brings condemnation to those who are in Christ. "Spiritual health never comes from belittling sin, but from a willingness to bathe its filthy entirety in the compassion of God. Our hearts will not be whole, nor will our lives be more holy, if every room and dark corner in them does not echo the promise, 'There is now no condemnation'" (26).

Chapell continues in the Second Chapter with a look at doubting one's faith and self-rejection. It is the Christ's gospel that liberates us from the chains of doubt:

"When Christians' hearts grive in sorrow over sin, they are witnessing the presence of the Spirit in them, because apart from the Spirit there could be no such grief.....my antipathy for my sin is my assurance of God's love. The storm of self-rejection cannot destroy my peace because its blasts prove I am anchored in God's acceptance" (38).

Chapell in Part Two visits the work of the Spirit. In Chapters Three and Four, he discusses joy in the Spirit and prayer through the Spirit.

Part Three is the core of the book dealing with grace itself. Chapell explains:

"God adds the grace necessary to mark you as His own and to make you after the likeness of His Son. He provides whatever grace is necessary to conform your life to the model of His design. Because your destination is God's own kingdom, you are of infinite value to Him, and He provides the grace necessary to make you reflect His own glory" (76).

"We will never be loved any more by God, and we can be loved no less, for God already loves us as He loves His own Son who resides in us. We have all of God's love" (91).

This grace and love is spiritually motivating: "A biblical view of the unlimited, unchanging love of God is the only path to healthy holiness" (93).

Part Four concludes on the love and mercy of Christ with a focus on Romans 8:38-39:For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chapell closes well with these statements:

"We are too weak to hold onto God....our grasp is bound to fail if we rely on our own strength to maintain our hold on God. The message of grace in Romans 8 is as simple as our predicament is plain. Because we cannot hang onto God, He holds onto us.....Godliness thrives when God holds us in the promises of grace" (170-71).

Those of you interested in The Promises of Grace may find it a good resource for small group Bible studies or classes. Each chapter has review questions and Chapell provides a suggested schedule in studying this book on pages 172-73. This book well communicates and elevates the Gospel and grace for living.