Discover the fullness of God’s grace through Christ—grace upon grace. Learn how to unwrap and receive His divine gift of grace this Christmas and live in its abundance.
Grace Is a Gift
Good things come in small packages—a familiar cliché. Sweet babies, velvet boxes encasing sparkling diamonds…these images capture the idea that true treasure is often disguised in small, humble ways.
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” – John 1:16
In this short verse from John 1, a treasure beyond measure is revealed in just 12 words.
“Have you ever considered how much is packed into this one sentence? Every lack, problem, resistance, and emptiness we will ever face is addressed in the fullness of Christ. Every single need is met by His grace. Let’s back up a little to see where this fullness begins:”
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14
Jesus is the fullness of God—all that God is and all that God has. And this divine fullness is what He offers to us.
Grace Upon Grace
The fullness of God comes to us as grace upon grace. This phrase speaks of God’s favor given in a continuous, abundant supply—one blessing heaped upon another, provision layered on provision, and joy multiplied again and again.
Key Aspects of Grace in Scripture:
- Undeserved Favor:
Grace is not something we can earn or deserve; it is given freely by God out of His love for us.- “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Ephesians 2:8-9
- Salvation through Christ:
Grace is most clearly demonstrated in God sending His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life.- “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.” – Titus 2:11
- Sustaining Power:
Grace is not just for salvation; it sustains us daily in our relationship with God, giving us strength in our weaknesses.- “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
- A Transforming Gift:
Grace changes us from the inside out, enabling us to live holy lives and reflect God’s goodness.- “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:10
- Continuous and Abundant:
God’s grace is inexhaustible, providing for every need and continually renewing us.- “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” – John 1:16
Grace is the favor and mercy of God; His blessing, joy, abundance, pleasure, forgiveness, and love poured out freely. Imagine a net filled to bursting, bulging with so much goodness that not one more thing can fit. This is the picture of grace upon grace, a gift that can never be exhausted or outdone.
Born as a tiny infant in humble circumstances, Jesus—the fullness of God—came to earth as the ultimate good thing in a small package.
Worship Tip: Believe and Receive
There is only one word in John 1:16 that asks anything of us: Receive.
The gift of grace is freely given, but we must receive it. Faith is the energy that empowers our hearts to reach out and take hold of this incredible treasure. Without believing, we cannot truly receive.
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12
Worship Tip: Unwrap Your Gift and Enjoy It
Grace isn’t just something to believe in—it’s something to live in.
How often have we left God’s gift of grace unopened on the shelf of our self-sufficiency? How many times have we received the fullness of God with mental belief but denied its power in the way we live our days?
Have we forgotten, in the busyness of life, that this grace upon grace is available to us in every moment? Grace is not just a theological concept—it’s the divine multiplier that fills our soul and sustains us in every circumstance.
The True Gift Under Your Tree
Take a look at your Christmas tree, glowing with lights and covered in cherished ornaments. Beneath it, there are likely a few gifts waiting to be opened.
What if those gifts stayed unopened? What if they were left under the tree, admired but never unwrapped? Wouldn’t it be a waste? In the same way, God’s gift of grace is meant to be opened, cherished, and used. It’s not just a decoration in the story of Christmas—it’s the central treasure we are meant to enjoy and live in every day.
Today’s Worship Challenge
Choose one or more of these ways to respond to God’s incredible gift of grace today:
- Receive the Gift of Salvation:
If you’ve never truly received God’s gift of salvation, don’t wait. Right now, believe and receive the gift of eternal life through Christ. Pray and accept His gift of grace, trusting Him to fill your heart with His presence. - Create a Tangible Reminder:
Write John 1:16 on a card or paper, decorate it beautifully, and wrap it in a small box. Add glittery ribbon and a tag addressed to yourself or your family. Place it under your tree as a visual reminder of God’s everlasting gift. - Meditate on Grace Upon Grace:
Take time to reflect on this phrase and write down ways God has shown you grace in your life. What blessings has He heaped upon blessings? Let your heart overflow with gratitude as you dwell on His abundant goodness. - Share the Gift of Grace:
Just as you’ve received this gift, look for ways to share God’s grace with someone else today. Whether through a kind word, an act of generosity, or sharing your testimony, let grace overflow into the lives of those around you.
Prayerfully open the gift of God’s fullness today with hands eager to unwrap the joy, abundance, and life He offers.
Enjoy this extraordinary video of Malakai singing “Pie Jesu.”
What does “grace upon grace” mean to you this Christmas? Leave a comment and share how you’re unwrapping and living in God’s gift this season. See you tomorrow for the next step in the Christmas Worship Challenge!
The Christmas Worship Challenge
- Worship Like a Wise Man
- The Glory of Christ
- Both Child and Mighty God
- Four Ways to Love God
- God With Us
- Two Ways to Exalt Christ This Christmas
- A God who Speaks
- Let Beauty Spark Your Worship Today
- Make it Beautiful
- Give God Glory: Put on You’re Dancing Shoes
- A Lesson From the Christmas Shepherds
- Make it Known: Another Lesson from the Shepherds
- Treasuring and Pondering: Meditation of the Heart
- Fullness of Grace: The Divine Multiplier
- How to Find Joy
- Worship by Giving the Gift of Prayer
- Believing God: The Rest of Peace
- Break Out of Your Worship Rut
- Christmas Through the Eyes of a Child
- The Worship of Gratitude
- Celebrate Christmas: Give God the Gift of Yourself
- Why You Should Sing in the New Year with a New Song
- We Don’t Worship Alone
- Practical Tips to Deepen Your Worship Now
- More Tips to Deepen Your Worship Now
- Worship You Don’t Want to Miss
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