The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace. However, after we are saved, grace continues to work in our lives. Grace saves us and keeps us, but it also wants to influence every area of our lives.

Grace is an effectual grace. It wants to touch our problems. It wants to touch our hurts. It wants to touch our relationships. It wants to touch our failures. It wants to touch our fears. It wants to touch our personalities. It wants to touch everything that seems negative in our lives. In short, it wants to touch us.

The Apostle Paul said, “I am what I am by the grace of God.” Many and probably most of us cannot say that. Do we realize how big of a saying this is?

Many of us would say that we are what we are because of our troubles. Our troubles are so great that they overwhelm us. We spend most of our time fretting, worrying, and being filled with anxiety. Fear grips us and rules our lives.

Paul also had troubles. He was stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned, abused, hated, and he even suffered financially at times. Yet, he did not say, “I am what I am because of troubles.” He said, “I am what I am because of the grace of God.”

Many of us would say that we are what we are because of our parents. We received their DNA. They ran out on us. They died when we were young. They were not good: They were abusive. They were too critical; therefore, we are plagued with inferiority.

They were too religious or not religious enough.

The truth is that we all have baggage from our upbringings. I’m sure the Apostle Paul was no different.

Yet, he did say that he was what he was because of his parents. No, he was what he was because of the grace of God.

Many of us would say that we are what we are because of our past failures. They make us feel like a nobody. They make us feel inadequate at everything we try to do. We’ve had several failed marriages. We have lost several good jobs. We failed kindergarten or maybe college.

Failure influences us so much that we choose to live our lives on the sidelines, never getting involved with anything worthwhile because we are afraid of failure.

All of us have failures and so did the Apostle Paul. Paul was not what he was because of past failures but because of the grace of God.

Many of us are what we are because of our emotions. They rule us. Every action is based on our feelings at the moment. Sometimes, we are nice; however, most of the time we are mean. Sometimes, we are strong; however, most of the time we are weak. Sometimes, we are happy; however, most of the time we are sad. Sometimes, we can handle the situations in life; however, most of the time we are overwhelmed.

The Apostle Paul had emotions also. The same ones we do. Yet, he was not what he was because of his emotions. He was what he was because of the grace of God.

The Bible never allows for excuses for us not being Christ-like. This is because effectual grace supplies everything that is needed.

We can be complete in Christ. We can be fulfilled in Christ. We can be enriched in all things in Christ. The fruit of the Spirit can be our lives.

How? We must by faith allow God’s effectual grace to touch every area of our lives. Then we can say victoriously, “We are what we are by the Grace of God.”