This Week’s Biblical Lesson: Grace as the Source of True Identity

Theme:

We are not defined by our past, our performance, or our perfection—but by the grace of God that calls, shapes, and sustains us.

Key Scripture Passage:

1 Corinthians 15:10

Reflection:

Dr. Don Keathley’s quote “By the Grace of God, I am what I am;” beautifully mirrors Paul’s declaration in 1 Corinthians. It is a statement of radical humility and deep confidence—not in self, but in the transformative power of grace.

Paul, once a persecutor of the church, became one of its greatest apostles. He did not hide his past nor did he boast in his achievements. Instead, he pointed to grace as the reason for everything: his calling, his labor, his identity. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.”

This is the essence of Grace Theology: God’s unmerited favor defines us. We are not the sum of our failures or the measure of our successes. We are beloved, chosen, and empowered—not because we earned it, but because God gave it.

Grace does not just forgive—it transforms. It reshapes how we perceive ourselves and how we live. It removes the pressure to perform and replaces it with the freedom to grow. It silences shame and awakens purpose.

Application:

* Embrace Your Identity in Grace: Let go of labels that shame or limit you. You are who you are by God’s grace—loved, accepted, and called.

* Let Grace Have Its Effect: Like Paul, allow grace to move you into action—not out of obligation, but out of gratitude.

* Live Free from Comparison: Grace Levels the Ground

Grace serves as a foundation, eliminating the need for self-comparison. Remember that your worth is not earned but bestowed upon you by God. Be a source of affirmation and hope by reminding those around you that their worth is inherent.

Prayer:

Dear Father of Grace, I express my gratitude for your love and for shaping me into the individual I am becoming. By Your grace, I am not defined by my past or confined by my weaknesses. Allow Your grace to fully manifest within me, transforming my heart, guiding my steps, and inspiring my life.

Help me to cultivate humility, walk with confidence, and extend grace to others as freely as You have bestowed upon me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen