“Lesson 18 Class Preparation Material: Receiving the Savior’s Divine Gift of Grace,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material (2023)
“Lesson 18 Class Preparation Material,” Jesus Christ and His Everlasting Gospel Teacher Material
Lesson 18 Class Preparation Material
Receiving the Savior’s Divine Gift of Grace
Have there been times when you have felt discouraged because of your sins, mistakes, weaknesses, and shortcomings? Have you ever said to yourself things like “I am just not good enough” or “I will never measure up”? As you study, consider how the Lord’s grace can rescue you from self-criticism, transform your weaknesses into strengths (see Ether 12:27), and empower you to be better and do more good than you ever could on your own.
Section 1
Why do I need the Savior’s grace?
The Apostle Paul testified, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). This strengthening or enabling power is called grace and is “extended to us through the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Gospel Topics, “Grace,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
The Savior illustrated our need for His grace in the parable of the true vine.
Study in Preparation for Class
Read John 15:1–8, and consider what the symbols in this parable can teach us about our need for the Lord’s help. (Note: “Purgeth” in verse 2 can also be translated as “prunes” or “purifies.” “Abide” in verse 4 can be translated as “remain.”)
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said of this parable:
Christ is everything to us and we are to “abide” in Him permanently, unyieldingly, steadfastly, forever. For the fruit of the gospel to blossom and bless our lives, we must be firmly attached to Him. … He is the vine that is our true source of strength and the only source of eternal life. (“Abide in Me,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 32)
Abiding, or remaining, in Jesus Christ enables us to receive His grace so we can overcome sin and realize our full potential. Lehi taught, “There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah” (2 Nephi 2:8). And Moroni testified that through Christ’s grace we may become like Him—sanctified, perfected, and holy (see Moroni 10:32–33).
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that the grace made available through the Savior’s Atonement “helps us to see and to do and to become good in ways that we could never recognize or accomplish with our limited mortal capacity” (“In the Strength of the Lord,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 77).
Discuss in Preparation for Class
Ask a friend or family member how she or he would explain the grace of Jesus Christ and how she or he experiences His grace.
Section 2
What role does my faith and obedience play in my receiving the Savior’s grace?
Consider the two accompanying images. These images can represent two views of divine grace. Some see grace as a gift that is freely given regardless of what we do in life. Others believe that we can somehow earn God’s grace by our good works. Of these two incomplete perspectives, Elder Holland said:
Some gifts coming from the Atonement are universal, infinite, and unconditional. These include His ransom for Adam’s original transgression … [and] the Resurrection. …
Other aspects of Christ’s atoning gift are conditional. They depend on one’s diligence in keeping God’s commandments. For example, while all members of the human family are freely given a reprieve from Adam’s sin through no effort of their own, they are not given a reprieve from their own sins unless they pledge faith in Christ [and] repent of those sins. …
Obviously the unconditional blessings of the Atonement are unearned, but the conditional ones are not fully merited either. By living faithfully and keeping the commandments of God, one can receive additional privileges; but they are still given freely, not technically earned. (“The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, Mar. 2008, 36–37)
Speaking of the conditional gifts of grace made available through the Savior’s Atonement, Nephi said, “We know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23). Some have felt troubled by the phrase “after all we can do.” To help you better understand Nephi’s words, read the following statements by Church leaders:
I wonder if sometimes we misinterpret the phrase “after all we can do.” We must understand that “after” does not equal “because.”
We are not saved “because” of all that we can do. Have any of us done all that we can do? Does God wait until we’ve expended every effort before He will intervene in our lives with His saving grace? …
I am certain Nephi knew that the Savior’s grace allows and enables us to overcome sin [see 2 Nephi 4:19–35; Alma 34:31]. This is why Nephi labored so diligently to persuade his children and brethren “to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God” [2 Nephi 25:23]. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “The Gift of Grace,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2015, 110)
We do not need to achieve some minimum level of capacity or goodness before God will help—divine aid can be ours every hour of every day, no matter where we are in the path of obedience. … My plea is simply to take responsibility and go to work so that there is something for God to help us with. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 19)
The Savior’s gift of grace to us is not necessarily limited in time to “after” all we can do. We may receive His grace before, during, and after the time when we expend our own efforts. (Bruce C. Hafen, The Broken Heart: Applying the Atonement to Life’s Experiences [1989], 155–56)
Ponder in Preparation for Class
What are some misconceptions you have heard about the Savior’s grace? How could what you are learning about grace bless you and others you know?
Section 3
How can the Savior’s grace change my life?
Jesus Christ has experienced all the pains, temptations, infirmities, and weaknesses of mortal life, so He knows how to help us (see Hebrews 2:18; 4:15; Alma 7:11–12; Doctrine and Covenants 62:1). Because Jesus Christ is both a willing and capable Savior, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Study in Preparation for Class
Consider what you can learn about seeking or receiving the Lord’s grace from one or more of the following scripture accounts.
-
Ether 12:23–28: Moroni worries over his weakness in writing.
-
2 Nephi 4:17–26, 30–33: Nephi worries about his sins.
-
Mosiah 24:8–16: Alma’s people struggle in captivity.
-
Moses 6:27, 31–32; 7:10–13: Enoch feels inadequate to preach and prophesy.
-
2 Corinthians 12:7–10: Paul speaks of a “thorn in the flesh,” a metaphor suggesting an infirmity he lived with that troubled him.
As you read, reflect on the following questions:
-
How was grace manifest?
-
What did the person (or persons) do to invite or rely on the Lord’s grace?
-
How can I relate this account to my life?
Record Your Thoughts
Think about and record a time you feel like you received the Lord’s grace. Keep in mind that most of the time, grace comes in small and simple ways. Be prepared to share an example during class.