A Study of Grace

 

Grace. What is it? Do we need it? Google AI says, “In Christianity, grace is commonly understood as a divine gift, an unearned favor or blessing from a higher power…Essentially, it is something good that is given to someone without them having to earn it.” While this is true, it doesn’t even remotely come close to the full explanation of what grace truly means for us. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says, “Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” So, we know that we are all sinners, unable to do good. So, yes, we all need God’s grace. Romans 6:23 tells us why this is important to know: “For the wages of sin is death.” However, it goes on to tell us why we can have hope, continuing with “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 3:23-25a says, “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, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith.”

Since the fall into sin in paradise, mankind is unable to pay the price for sin and redeem itself. God, in His grace, did not leave us or forsake us; He gave us a way out of this dilemma. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” If life were a courtroom, the jury would condemn us. However, the eternal judge has declared us “Not guilty”. How can that be? Is there a scapegoat? (Interestingly enough, this term comes from the goat that was symbolically burdened with the sins of the community and then driven away. We can read about this in the Old Testament.) When we, by faith, through the Holy Spirit, believe in Jesus' death and resurrection, Christ takes our place. He gives us forgiveness and makes us right with God. Christ took upon Himself the punishment that should have been ours! Romans 5:8-9 explains it well when it says, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved, by Him, from the wrath of God.” This sums up the gospel of grace for us. God’s love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws us in. How can we not be filled with thankfulness and joy? How beautiful and amazing it is that God loves us so much that He gave His own Son up to die for us. I will never understand this to its full extent, I doubt any parent could. Most would never willingly give up their child to die for anyone, much less a horrible sinner. But we are all terrible sinners. Yet God, in His grace, put the punishment we deserved on His one and only Son. If He loves us so much, He did that, will He not continue to care for us? Take heart and be strong in faith, for “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8). Trust in the grace of God.