Grace - Part 3

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace (John 1:16).

"There are four crucial truths in this realm which the doctrine of grace presupposes, and if they are not acknowledged and felt in one's heart, clear faith in God's grace becomes impossible" (J. I. Packer). We have taken a brief look at those four truths:

1.    We cannot know God or experience salvation because we are all morally depraved.
2.    We stand condemned in sin and are destined to face God’s retributive justice.
3.    We are spiritually impotent/dead and unable to save ourselves from God’s wrath.
4.    God is the sovereign Lord and is free to make Himself and salvation known to whom He wills.

What is God’s grace? God’s grace is His love freely shown toward guilty sinners. It is great because we cannot know God without His grace. We cannot be saved without His grace. We cannot escape God’s judgment without His grace. We cannot be made spiritually alive without God’s grace. We cannot enjoy eternal life without His grace. “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter, bind my wand’ring heart to Thee. Teach me, Lord, some rapturous measure, meet for me Thy grace to prove, while I sing the countless treasure of my God’s unchanging love” (Robert Robinson).

Once we are clear on the matter of our sin and its consequences, the reality of God’s grace floods our mind, heart, spirit, and soul with great wonder and joy. In our sin God is our holy and righteous Judge. In His grace He is our compassionate Lord and Savior.

In case it hasn’t dawned on you yet, grace and salvation are two sides of the same coin; they are twin sisters; they are cause and effect. . . .even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:5-8). For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11).

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured – 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!” (Julia H. Johnston).

Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful, great grace that can save even the lowliest sinner like me. I know I am nor have anything apart from Your great grace, infinite mercy, and matchless love. To You, Your Son, and Spirit I will be forever grateful. Amen.”

Pastor