God’s Grace

As Christians we talk a lot about God’s grace. We talk and sing about how great and amazing God’s grace is. So what is God’s grace? And why does it matter? What makes it so great?

 

Hunger Games

 

Have you read or watched the “Hunger Games?” If you haven’t let me just say that Katniss (the main character) volunteered to go the Hunger Games in place of her sister, Primrose. The Hunger Games is basically 24 children/young adults fighting to the death, only one will come out alive. As soon as Primrose was named as the female contestant Katniss stepped out and volunteered to go in her place.

So, we have to ask why Katniss would volunteer to die for her sister.

 

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13 (ESV)

 

Katniss volunteered to die for her sister because she loved her. And I would venture to say that she loved Primrose so much that it would be easier to die that to allow her sister to die. I am sure that there are a couple of people in your life that you would rather die for than to lose. I know that I do.

 

What if?

Just for a second let’s play “what if” with this story line.

 

In the story Katniss has a strong bond with Primrose. She even felt responsible for the care and welfare for Primrose. But, what if this bond wasn’t there? What if they were indifferent towards each other or didn’t get along at all? Do you think this would have changed Katniss’ willingness to die for her? The Hunger Games were feared, no one wanted to go. And there is no indication that Katniss would have volunteer for anyone. I am sure that she wouldn’t have volunteered for anyone else.

 

Would you die for your sister? Spouse? Child? Friend? Neighbor? Stranger? What about someone you don’t get along with? Or how about an enemy?

 

“For one will scarcely die for a righteous person – though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die”

Romans 5:7 (ESV)

 

What is God’s Grace

 

First, let me say that there is no way to fully cover God’s grace in one blog post. I have read many books on this subject and found that most didn’t fully cover the whole of what God’s grace is. My hope here is to give a basic understanding of what God’s grace is and why it is so amazing. Now, in order to do this, I think it is best to take an overview look of the Bible.

 

What does the Old Testament teach?

 

The Old Testament teaches us that God created everything in heaven and earth. And that even though man is sinful God is faithful. The Old Testament records God’s laws and teaches us that God is holy and just.

 

What does the New Testament teach?

 

In the New Testament we learn about Jesus. His birth, life, teachings, death, and resurrection. It is through Jesus that we learn of God’s grace. Because of God’s love for us He gave His Son to die for our sins. And in this very act we see the grace of God. I often hear that mercy is not getting what we deserve when we deserve punishment and grace is getting good things that we don’t deserve.

 

“For God has done what the low, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Romans 8:3-4 (ESV)

 

Putting it together

 

We know that God created heaven, earth and man. He loved man and had a close personal relationship with Adam and Eve. God is holy and just. Man brought sin into the world. And a holy God cannot tolerate sin.

 

Because of God’s love for us He sent His son to pay the price for our sin.

 

“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17 (ESV)

Romans 5:17 (ESV)

 

Jesus Paid the Price

 

Only Jesus was sinless, and this is why only Jesus could pay the price for all sin. When Jesus died on the cross He carried every sin; past, present, and future. He paid the price of both thieves who were crucified with Him. Yet only on was willing to accept the gift of God’s grace – Forgiveness, that was offered. I have written more about this aspect of forgiveness before in The 3^rd Side of Forgiveness

 

 

 

What is Grace?

 

Grace is…

 

A free gift – forgiveness and salvation. These are given when you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, confess and repent of your sins

 

Adoption – Into the family of God, we have become children of God, co-heirs with Christ.

 

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”

1 John 3:1 (ESV)

 

Redemption – The incredible power of God to redeem even the worst situation.

 

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

 

Sanctification – The work of the Holy Spirit within us to make us more like Jesus

 

“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”

Ephesians 1:13 (ESV)

 

When God was in a place to die for us, as Katniss was, He did it. Not because we had a good relationship with Him, as our relationship with Him was broken by our sin. God sent His Son to die for our sins even when we were acting out against Him.

 

In other words, Jesus stood up and volunteered to die for us even when we were His enemy.

 

And Still there is so much more to God’s grace.

 

Why Grace

 

Why Grace? To bring us back into right relationship with Him. When we sin, it hinders our relationship with God- Like putting a wedge between us and Him. When we live in sin and have no repentance/forgiveness our relationship with God is broken. Through the atoning work of Jesus on the cross and grace, God brings us back into right relationship with Him. All we bring to is a little faith.

 

And grace upon grace- we are not only forgiven we no longer wear the rags of our sin, we are now clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.

 

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,”

Isaiah 61:10

I occasionally join the following link up parties! You should join me, I would love to see you at one or two!

Monday –
Bloggers for the Kingdom @ #KingdomBloggers Anita Ojeda @ Inspire me Monday
Random-osity @ The Good The Random The Fun Mary-andering Creatively @ #LMM LinkUP

Tuesday –
Trekking Thru @ Trekking Thru the Week Mary Geisen @#TellHisStory
Insta Encouragement @ Weakly Christian link-up Anchored Abode @ AnchoredtruthTuesday Kelly Balarie @ Purposeful Faith

Wednesday-
Worth Beyond Rubies @ Weekly Wednesday
Welcome Heart @ Let’s Have Coffee Soaring with Him @ #Recharge Wednesdays

Thursday – Debbie Kitterman @ #Tune in Thursday Be Thee Inspired @ #destinationinspiration Lori Schumaker @ #momentsofhope Unshakable Joy @ I Heart Verse Link Party

Friday – Counting My Blessings @ Faith N Friends
Embracing the Unexpected @ #graceandtruthlinkup Crystal Twaddell @ #FreashMarketFriday