Grace Greater Than All Our
Sin
George Skariah
Grace is the
unmerited favor of God, which He freely bestows on them whom He has a special
love. It is a favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free
expression of the loving kindness of God to men. Those who receive it are the
ones whom God elects to eternal life through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.
This is called the special grace of
God, which is distinguished from the common
grace, which is universally given. Common grace is bestowed on all mankind
because of the Creator’s sustaining care for His creation; also known as the
general providence (Matthew 5:45).
Grace
originates from God. The Apostle Peter writes, But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you (1
Peter 5:10). And God gives grace to His children. The psalmist says, The LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).
The Riches of God’s Grace
God’s grace has
been so rich towards sinners. Through one man’s (Adam) disobedience sin entered
into this world. Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul says, where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath
reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto
eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:20-21). Paul explains it
further: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before
the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before
him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus
Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of
the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according
to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:3-7). The riches of God’s grace is
seen in the fact that it begins from God and comes to us through His Son Jesus
Christ, our Saviour. It precedes all human decision and endeavor. Grace always
means that it is God who takes the initiative and implies the priority of God’s
action on behalf of needy sinners. Grace is not earned or merited by a sinner,
but it is freely and lovingly given to him who has no resources.
The Display of God’s Grace in Christ
Jesus
The richness
of God’s grace is displayed through His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ. The
Apostle John declares in 1 John 4:10, 19, Herein
is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
We love him, because he first loved us. The Apostle Paul adds, But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when we were
enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being
reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Romans 5:8, 10). Paul again
writes, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to
himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:18, 21).
The Effect of God’s Grace
Christians
are indebted to the immeasurable riches of God’s grace displayed in Christ
Jesus because the Apostle Paul says, Even
when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye
are saved;) And hath raised us
up together, and made us sit
together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of
his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift
of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:5-9). By grace
through faith, sinners become recipients of God’s mercy and all their sins are
forgiven once-for-all. They stand before the presence of the most holy and
righteous God for ever reconciled by the finished work of Christ on the Cross
of Calvary. Christ’s death on the Cross has become the propitiation for our
sins, ie, Christ bore in His body the punishment due us for our sin; in so
doing He satisfied God’s just demand that sin be punished (1 John 5:2). Hence,
we are covered by the imputed righteousness of Christ.
By the grace
of God, the whole of our redemption is already achieved and sealed in Christ
Jesus, For whom he did foreknow, he also
did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also
called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them
he also glorified (Romans 8:29-30). This understanding of God’s grace
should be a source of the utmost confidence, strength, and security for every
believer. Paul says in Philippians 1:6, He who has begun a good work in us will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Paul is convinced that the work of
grace that God began in the believers at conversion will be divinely continued
until the return of Christ.
The Strength of God’s Grace
God’s
regenerating grace is dynamic. It not only saves but also transforms and
revitalizes those whose lives were previously broken and meaningless. This is
illustrated by the experience of the Apostle Paul. Paul testifies of the grace
he received in his life, 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
(1 Corinthians 15:10). Paul ascribes all to the grace of God, not only his
conversion experience, but also the whole course of his ministry and pilgrimage
on earth.
God’s grace is
sufficient for all believers in their trials and struggles of life. This
sufficiency flows from the infinite power and goodness of God. The Apostle Paul
describes it the exceeding greatness of
his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power
(Ephesians 2:19). Those who draw near to Him through Christ, He is able to save
them to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25). In all their trials and afflictions,
God’s grace continues to be unfailingly sufficient for them (2 Corinthians
12:9). The Lord has promised, I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say The Lord is my
helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me (Hebrews 13:5-6).
Amen.
Grace
Greater Than Our Sin
Marvelous
Grace of our loving Lord,
Grace
that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder
on Calvary ’s mount outpoured
There
where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Grace,
grace, God’s grace,
Grace
that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace,
grace, God’s grace,
Grace
that is greater than all our sin!
Sin
and despair, like the sea-waves cold,
Threaten
the soul with infinite loss;
Grace
that is greater yes, grace untold
Points
to the Refuge, the mighty Cross.
Dark
is the stain that we cannot hide,
What
can avail to wash it away?
Look!
there is flowing a crimson tide
Whiter
than snow you may be today.
Marvelous,
infinite, matchless grace,
Freely
bestowed on all who believe!
You
that are looking to see His face,
Will
you this moment His grace receive?
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