Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. II Corinthians 6:1 English Standard Version, ESV)

This tells us that it is possible for us to receive the grace of God in vain. There are many ways we can do that.

We were saved by grace through faith. That is how we are to live (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 1:17). God gives us grace to overcome sin, satan, the world, our flesh, wrong thinking, inabilities, disabilities, weaknesses and frailties. He offers us grace: His divine ability, divine favor, divine forgiveness. By faith, we receive that grace. Then, we must use what God has given so we can overcome. That’s how we become who He made us to be. If we fail to do use it, we have received His grace in vain, or for nothing.

When sin comes to tempt you, yield to God and His grace rather than the temptation. By grace through faith, receive God’s peace and allow it to work in you. It will bring peace where there is trouble, stress, and strife. When we don’t use His grace, we lose it. When we let things slip, we become weaker, making it harder to overcome next time. We must continue to utilize His grace so we don’t lose ground.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)

We waste God’s grace when we don’t use it to help us in our time of need. God gives grace for us to be able to go through things, to endure and outlast trouble. As we receive and release God’s grace to work for us, we will walk in victory. When a need arises, don’t try to meet it on your own, but instead let God and His grace do it (Philippians 4:19). We do our part to believe and receive, and God does His part to work and release provision (II Corinthians 6:1).

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. I Corinthians 15:10 (KJV)

We can struggle trying to change on our own, but that ends in complete failure and frustration. That’s wasting God’s grace, not using what was provided. Instead, let God’s grace change you from the inside-out so you are free to be you.

The ultimate waste of God’s grace is when people reject God’s grace for salvation. Jesus died to give us this grace to save us and keep us saved. We are to let God’s grace, His divine ability doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves, save us. And we use that same grace to remain saved and in Christ. As we trusted in Jesus to be saved, we must trust that same grace to keep us.

The grace that saved us will give us all we need to live the life God has for us. Everything we need has been provided by God’s grace, so receive it by faith and do not waste it.