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Articles
The Grace of God
When one begins to survey the Bible, the beauty of God’s grace toward mankind is seemingly found on every page. God could have restarted after Adam and Eve sinned, but instead He made a promise of a Savior (Genesis 3:15). God could have ended it all during the violence and wickedness of Noah’s days, but He found righteous Noah and saved his family from their present condition. When Israel turned their backs on His commandments and statutes, God could have done away with the nation of Israel, but He delivered them by judges, kings, and prophets. Even in their bondage the Lord did not forget His children, but rather appointed the time of their captivity and delivered them. The grace of God was manifested in every stage of Israel’s history; from their cries in Egypt, to their return from captivity and reentry into the Land.
The grace of God did not end with the years of silence, but continued to prepare mankind for the entrance of God’s greatest gift. The manifestation of God’s grace changed in the New Testament. It was no longer something God was doing in the background, but rather His grace was brought to life through His Son, Jesus. Jesus became the precise image of God’s grace. The scope of God’s grace also broadened in the New Testament and would now be offered to all nations, not just Israel. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus made possible the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life. This offer of grace was given to mankind, while we were yet sinners and enemies of God (Romans 5:8). The Lord did not forget His promise to Adam and Eve and brought to man their Savior through His beloved Son’s sacrifice.
The concept of grace is difficult for us to understand in our lives, because in today’s society - “nothing is ever free!” The free offer of an item is generally filled with small print that ultimately costs more than the item is worth. We have all experienced these types of schemes and being truthful may have paid more for products that were originally being given away. This causes within us an apprehension toward anything that is every promoted as “free.” While this may be true with those things promised by the world as free, we must realize it is not the same with those things promised by God. It is impossible for God to lie (Titus 1:2)! The offer of His grace is not another “ponzi scheme,” but rather it is a free gift offered by God to save you from your sins.
The grace of God is extended to every person, because the earnest desire of God is that no one perish. Our God has done everything necessary to enable salvation for each person that lives on the earth. He sent His Son to die not for only the elect or the nation of Israel, but rather Jesus’ death was for the whole world (1 John 2:2). This grace cannot be quantified or given a limit, but rather is freely given to every person. The choice in whether to accept or deny His grace must be determined in the heart of each person. This grace is not based upon stipulations outside our control, but rather it is given so that we may be justified and found righteous in the sight of God. Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection is the picture of what God is willing to do to save man from our sins. What am I willing to do in return?
The conditions of God’s grace are not beyond our capabilities, but rather are simple steps given to ensure our complete allegiance. Our willingness to hear the gospel gives us the only opportunity afforded to man to rid himself of sin and its tremendous guilt. Our confession of Jesus as the Son of God allows us to firmly establish in our hearts and minds that there is no other way to heaven. Our repentance of sin is the mechanism prescribed by God for us to recognize the depravity of our wickedness and then turn from those actions by a renewed heart of action. Finally, our submission to baptism for the forgiveness of sins is the only method given by God for sins to “washed away” from the alien sinner. These steps are all meet with the promises of God that He will make us a new creature and that we will live in newness of life before Him.
The grace of God is certainly beyond our mind’s comprehension. It offers to mankind a salvation from the burden of their sin, that would be impossible without God’s free offer. Our obedience to God’s commands do not demean or diminish His grace, but rather emphasize the greatness of His love and mercy toward the wicked and guilty. We have nothing to offer for the forgiveness of our sins; other than to accept the wonderful gift of Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. May God be praised and exalted for His free gift of grace.
