Well, it’s another Sunday morning. “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” Romans 3:20-24 (ESV)
So, what is this “Grace” and whats all the big deal about wanting it? The fact is, grace is the most important concept in the Bible, or in Christianity, or even in the world for that matter. It is expressed in the promises of God, revealed in Scripture, and embodied in Jesus Christ. Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely; the peace of God given to the restless; the unmerited favor of God and yet it is so much more. Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving. (B.B. Warfield) Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.(John Stott) Grace is God reaching downward to people who are in rebellion against Him. (Jerry Bridges) Grace is unconditional love toward a person who does not deserve it. (Paul Zahl)
The fact is, Grace is most needed and best understood in the midst of sin, suffering, and brokenness. We live in a world of earning, deserving, and merit, and these result in judgment. That is why everyone wants and needs grace. Judgment kills, only grace makes alive.
A quick definition for grace is, “Mercy, not merit.” Grace is actually the opposite of karma. See, karma is about getting what you deserve. Grace on the other hand is about getting what you don’t deserve, and not getting what you really do deserve. We are taught through our Christian beliefs that what we deserve is death with no hope of resurrection, but through Grace there will be forgiveness and resurrection. Romans 5:17 (ESV) says this, “For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.”
While everyone desperately needs it, grace is not about us. Grace is fundamentally a word about God. It is His un-coerced actions and extreme demonstrations of care and favor. Michael Horton writes, “In grace, God gives nothing less than Himself. Grace, then, by definition, is not a third thing or substance mediating between God and sinners, but is Jesus Christ in redeeming action.”
We all live every day by the grace of God. We receive forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace, and grace drives our spiritual blessings. Paul tells us in Titus 2:11-14 (ESV) this, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem all of us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. We don’t deserve it, most people don’t understand it or even accept the gift that was given to them freely. Grace is God’s love, but it is truly so much more. By faith we know it is true, and by accepting God’s grace we will be redeemed.”
God asks very little from us for this amazing gift, He asks us to share the good word of his amazing grace, and to love one another as he loves us. I want to tell you all that through your belief in Jesus Christ you are truly cover by God’s amazing grace. You are blessed and you are loved, God truly loves each and every one of you, and so do I.
