Dec 8
Louie Giglio sheds light on the thread of grace that has existed throughout Scripture—from the beginning in Genesis to the final words of Revelation. This grace builds us up, gives us an inheritance, and gifts us with the promise of eternity with our Savior.
Key Takeaway
There is a thread of the grace of God that goes all the way before creation.
Grace is God at work, and glory is God's weight and worth. Grace and glory are the operational epicenters of eternity, and the fulcrum of eternal praise, and the epicenter of grace and glory is the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Not just in those three days but in every bit of time and eternity.
Read Revelation 13:8, 1 Peter 1:17-21, Ephesians 1:3-10, 2 Timothy 1:9-10.
From the beginning of time, He has chosen us to be a part of His story, to be holy and blameless in His sight.
The thread of grace can be seen throughout Scripture:
Creation is a gift of grace. (Genesis 1:1)
Jesus, the agent of grace, is Himself the agent of creation. (Hebrews 1:1-3, John 1:1-3)
Mankind is a gift of grace. Our very existence is an act of grace—God at work. (Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:7)
Grace for sin was displayed in the garden, and the first sacrifice was for the covering of sin. (Genesis 3:15, Genesis 3:21)
God chose Noah out of grace. Noah had to build the boat, but it was God at work through the 40 days and nights saving humanity. (Genesis 6:5-8)
Grace on the mountain. Mt. Moriah is the place where Jesus died. (Genesis 21:5-7, Genesis 22:8,13-14)
Grace to preserve the way of Jesus. (Genesis 50:19-20)
Deliverance from bondage by grace (Exodus 3:7-10)
Passover lamb is grace. (Exodus 12:12, Matthew 26:1-2)
Way maker by grace. (Exodus 14:13-14, 21-23)
There is a scarlet thread of grace. (Exodus 28:31-35, Exodus 36:8, Hebrews 10:11-14, Hebrews 10:19-22)
Priestly blessing of grace. (Numbers 6:22-26)
Rehab’s scarlet cord of grace. (Joshua 1:17-20)
Grace as far as east to west. (Psalm 103:7-14, Isaiah 53, Isaiah 7:14)
Grace is born. (Matthew 1:18-21)
Grace announced to shepherds that the Lamb of God was born. (Luke 2:8-14)
Jesus is full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
Jesus is the fountain of grace. (John 1:16-17)
The scarlet thread and the scarlet robe. (Matthew 27:27-28)
Jesus finished the work of grace. (John 19:30)
We are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:4-10)
His throne is grace. (Hebrews 4:14-16)
Grace was the greeting of the early church. (Ephesians 1:1-2, Ephesians 6:23-24)
His grace is our riches. (Acts 20:32, 2 Corinthians 8:9)
Grace ushers us into forever. (Revelation 1:4-6)
The new song of heaven is a song of grace. (Revelation 5:9-10)
The rider on the white horse is dressed in grace. (Revelation 19:11-13)
Grace creates a new heaven and a new earth. (Revelation 21:5)
The last word in the Word is grace. (Revelation 22:21)
Our story is a story of what God has done from eternity past into eternity future to extend saving grace, mercy, kindness, and life to all who put their faith in Him.
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"It is not by works. It is not a system. It is a savior. It is grace."
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Louie Giglio
Discussion Questions
Grace is God at work. How have you seen grace in your life?
How does knowing that grace existed before the world was created effect your understanding of theology?
He chose you to be a part of His story from the beginning of time. How does knowing this worth impact your understanding of your worthiness in Christ?
Our existence is an act of grace. How does this perspective change how you move forward in your day today?
Have you ever made the connection between the story of Abraham offering Isaac up on the altar of Mt. Moriah and the story of Jesus being sacrificed on Mt. Moriah centuries later? How has this shaped your Scripture comprehension?
We see the scarlet thread woven into so many stories of Scripture. How do all of these prophecies coming to pass instill confidence in the validity of the Word and your trust in the Savior?
Scripture References
8.All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.13:8 Or written from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was slain
17.Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18.For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19.but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20.He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21.Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
3.Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4.For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5.he1:4,5 Or sight in love. 5 He predestined us for adoption to sonship1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6.to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7.In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8.that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9.he1:8,9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10.to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
17.Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18.For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19.but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20.He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21.Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
3.Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4.For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5.he1:4,5 Or sight in love. 5 He predestined us for adoption to sonship1:5 The Greek word for adoption to sonship is a legal term referring to the full legal standing of an adopted male heir in Roman culture. through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6.to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7.In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8.that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9.he1:8,9 Or us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10.to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
9.He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10.but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
1.In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
1.In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2.but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3.The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
27.So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
7.Then the Lord God formed a man2:7 The Hebrew for man (adam) sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground (adamah); it is also the name Adam (see verse 20). from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
15.And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring3:15 Or seed and hers;
he will crush3:15 Or strike your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
21.The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
5.The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6.The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. 7.So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8.But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
5.Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.6.Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.” 7.And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”
8.Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.
13.Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram22:13 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint and Syriac; most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text a ram behind him caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14.So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
19.But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20.You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
7.The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8.So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9.And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10.So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
12.“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord.
1.When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2.“As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
13.Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14.The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
21.Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22.and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.23.The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea.
31.“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, 32.with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar28:32 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain. around this opening, so that it will not tear. 33.Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. 34.The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. 35.Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the Lord and when he comes out, so that he will not die.
8.All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by expert hands.
11.Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12.But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13.and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14.For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
19.Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20.by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21.and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22.let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
22.The Lord said to Moses, 23.“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:24.“ ‘ “The Lord bless you
and keep you;25.the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;26.the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ’
17.Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18.Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
7.He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:8.The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.9.He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;10.he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.11.For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;12.as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.13.As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;14.for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
1.Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2.He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3.He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
4.Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
5.But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6.We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
7.He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8.By oppression53:8 Or From arrest and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.53:8 Or generation considered / that he was cut off from the land of the living,/ that he was punished for the transgression of my people?
9.He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10.Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes53:10 Hebrew though you make his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11.After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life53:11 Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text does not have the light of life. and be satisfied53:11 Or (with Masoretic Text) 11 He will see the fruit of his suffering / and will be satisfied;
by his knowledge53:11 Or by knowledge of him my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12.Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,53:12 Or many
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,53:12 Or numerous
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.
14.Therefore the Lord himself will give you7:14 The Hebrew is plural. a sign: The virgin7:14 Or young woman will conceive and give birth to a son, and7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they will call him Immanuel.7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
18.This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19.Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet1:19 Or was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.20.But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21.She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves. because he will save his people from their sins.”
8.And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9.An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10.But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11.Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12.This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13.Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,14.“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
14.The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
16.Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17.For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
27.Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28.They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
30.When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
4.But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5.made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6.And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7.in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8.For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9.not by works, so that no one can boast. 10.For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
14.Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15.For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16.Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
1.Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus,1:1 Some early manuscripts do not have in Ephesus. the faithful in Christ Jesus:2.Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
23.Peace to the brothers and sisters,6:23 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family. and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.24.Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.6:24 Or Grace and immortality to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.
32.“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
9.For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
4.John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits1:4 That is, the sevenfold Spirit before his throne, 5.and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6.and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Louie Giglio
Louie Giglio is the Visionary Architect and Director of the Passion Movement, comprised of Passion Conferences, Passion City Church, Passion Publishing and sixstepsrecords, and the founder of Passion Institute.