I am saved by God’s Grace. No one who is saved is saved without God’s Grace. Everyone needs God’s Grace for without it there is no way to be saved.

The fact that we have the opportunity to enjoy the blessing of God’s Grace is because God is a merciful God. But the way we touch the Grace of God is by obeying the commands that Christ gives us.

doveIt is on that point that many people take issue. The idea of Grace is sometimes misunderstood to mean “you don’t have to do anything to be saved and if you do you’re working your way to Heaven.” No no no. I can’t do anything to earn my salvation; there is no mountain I can climb so that when I do, I can plant my flag and say “look at what I did; this is my salvation because I climbed this mountain!”

No: Salvation is the God-provided way out of man’s sins. God’s provided the way out, not me. That’s why it’s called “Grace.”

And yet, it goes deeper than that.

Have you ever considered the extent to which God went in order to purchase the means for your salvation?

First of all, the very reason we need salvation is because we sinned…against God.  His Holy nature demands punishment for our crimes. Yet instead of punishing us He sacrificed of Himself instead:

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Why? Because He wants us to go to Heaven. How much? So much that He was willing for Himself to die so that we could be saved. But why not just kill us?  Look at it from His perspective: He demands justice against the sinner, in the form of His executing wrath, but since He’s the only one who can be merciful, He must be merciful. Throughout history He has demonstrated His willingness to extend punishment with one hand and mercy with the other. This is not hypocrisy; it’s the offering of choice. Since He is the only One who can truly provide the choice, He does.

When viewed from His perspective, the sinner should be amazed (and moved to obedience) at the awesomeness of God. He has—to apply to Him a human trait—every “loose end” tied up so that both the assurance of salvation (on the one hand) and destruction (on the other hand) is so perfectly understood that the choice can be clearly made by us. But the very fact that there is a choice is because of His Grace…in the form of Jesus.

That’s why it’s called “Grace:”

GOD’S
RICHES
AT
CHRIST’S
EXPENSE

His Grace is available? Have you taken advantage of it?

Think about it, and have a great day!