In the Christian lexicon, the word ‘grace’ rightfully occupies a lofty position. There are some who know very little about our Great God of all Grace. To many in the world, a God of Grace is a foreign concept – a truth they reject. The only god they know is not one who is known to be gracious. The God of the Bible is gracious!
But what is grace? Here is a borrowed definition: “A favour done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving-kindness of God to men, finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.”
Maybe the word ‘grace’ is not new to you and, like many of us, you read your Bible, see the word often and just keep on reading, without giving it a second thought. Been there and done exactly that. But try reading Romans Chapter 5 and pay particular attention to the word ‘grace’. It’s hard to just keep on reading routinely. In fact, you may experience heart palpitations as your heart leaps for joy.
Try this verse:
“…where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
so that, as sin reigned in death,
even so grace would reign through righteousness
to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
(Romans 5:20-21 NASB)
Hello. Are you okay? Is your heart bursting with a resounding and triumphant “Yes!!” as you think about beautiful Grace reigning?
Yes! This is the climax of the first five chapters of Romans. Grace has dominion over the power of sin. Grace is the governing principle of God in His dealings today with sinners like us.
Unmerited favour. Totally undeserved kindness poured out, without reservation, from the full and generous heart of our loving and kind God.
Apart from Christ, there was no answer for sin. Without Christ, sin results in eternal death. But the powerful light of grace shines in the dense darkness. There was absolutely no reason for God to look upon us favourably. Furthermore, there was no way for Him to show us kindness, even if He desired to. To ignore our sin would be to compromise His holiness – a total impossibility. Against the backdrop of this hopeless situation, Jesus appears on the earth as God’s total answer. On the Cross, Jesus satisfied ALL God’s righteous and holy requirements and, at the same time, FULLY met sinful people’s deepest needs. Today, through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord, grace reigns.
Let’s hear a drum roll and a blast of the trumpet as we shout together in cyberspace: ‘Hallelujah!’
Grace doesn’t merely exist as a possibility; grace isn’t just super-abounding over sin – it actually reigns. We do not have to withhold the Gospel from any sinner – regardless of their crimes or their lifestyle. Unmerited and totally undeserved kindness is available to every person without discrimination.
As a Christian, may the Lord help me to reflect that beautiful grace and kindness to everyone who crosses my path today. “Preserve me Lord from hardness and a lack of compassion for sinners in need and saints in distress. May grace be the governing principle in my life and reign on the throne of my heart as a believer!“
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today,
Warmly in Christ