Amazing Grace (1)
Thursday November 14, 2013
What is grace? One of the world’s best known songs is “Amazing Grace” which people worldwide like to sing at all sorts of events. Have you ever stopped to think about what that amazing “grace” really is?
The Bible tells us that: ….. because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 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. 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 2:4-9 NIV
We often hear about the grace of God poured out on us and yet somehow we don’t stop to understand what that really is. The dictionary definition of the word grace includes terms such as: 1) Goodwill. 2) The act of showing favour. 3) Mercy. 4) The love of God towards man. Each of these definitions indicates that grace is given by one who extends it to another. Grace is given without cost to the recipient. Grace is solely given for the benefit of the recipient. The intended recipient did not solicit this grace or earn it. If the recipient solicited favour, or asked for it in some other way, or if they did something to earn it, then it would not be considered grace that was given. It would be deemed the answer to a request or wages for what was done. When grace is offered the recipient’s part is simply to receive or reject what is being offered by the one who extends the offer. Some of us haven’t recognized the giving of grace by our loving God. God sent His only son Jesus into the world to die for our sins. We did not request this gracious act of God; it was initiated by God Himself. Jesus didn’t come into this world in human flesh to condemn humans for the sinful, disobedient, polluted ways that they were living. He came into the world to die for our sin. He came to give us fullness of joy in this life. He came to give us the gift of everlasting life with Him. When He went back to heaven He said He was going to prepare a place for us. He said He would come back for us.
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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:3-7 NIV) What does God’s act of grace in sending Jesus to die in your place mean to you? Do you accept or reject this offer of grace? Today may be a day to make a decision about what you will do with God’s offer of Jesus’ death in payment for your sins, or, would you prefer to pay your own debt? This is the day of God’s grace and He says now is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late.
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