Grace, unbelievable but true
- Jacob Ninan
The Bible describes grace like this. "For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Ro.5:7,8). How can He love us who are so unlovable?
Jesus said that He would never reject anyone who came to Him (Jn.6:37). However filthy, depraved, wicked, shameful and hopeless we are, He is willing to receive us if we go to Him.
However wretched our past is, God promises that He will wash us (with the blood of Jesus) and make us white like snow! (Is.1:18). When we start with God, we can start with an absolutely clean record.
God makes us who used to be children of the devil (1Jn.3:10) and enemies of God as His children and brothers and sisters of His Son Jesus (1Jn.3:1;Ro.8:29).
Once He has cleansed us, He is never going to bring up our past and hold it against us (He.8:12).
If we fall into sin after that, which happens, of course, He will wash us again and take away every stain of sin (1Jn.1:9).
God loves us with an everlasting love (Je.31:3). He doesn't stop loving us if we don't measure up to His standards (which happens, of course).
He has taken a vow never to leave us or forsake us (He.13:5). Even if we fail Him (2Ti.2:13)..
Unbelievable! Unreasonable! Illogical! Unfair! Unjust! Yet true!
The reason for a lot of insecurity, fear, doubt and the resulting lack of joy and thankfulness in Christian life is that we have not seen grace like this. Without doubt, it is very difficult for us to believe, especially if we have been religious minded thinking that somehow we have to earn God's favour by our behaviour. However difficult it may be for us to believe, it is still true. This is how grace is.
So some of us who consider ourselves as Christians may never have really experienced such a grace in our lives and entered into a relationship with God. And some of us who have tasted something of this grace and have received the forgiveness of sins nay never have come to believe in and experience the full extent of God's grace towards us. May the Lord help us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2Pe.3:18).