“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins…” (Galatians 1:3)
Grace sums up everything that makes it possible to be in a covenant of peace with God (Isa. 54:10). And true grace and peace can only come from God since grace implies that all men are dead in trespasses and sins, and nothing can possibly make us acceptable to a holy God except His mercy, which comes by way of His grace through the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross of Christ is the fountain from which the grace of God flows to unworthy sinners. God’s grace is the only reason sinners are saved from the guilt, penalty and consequences of their sin. Because God is gracious, loving, merciful and just, Jesus Christ came into this world and took upon Himself the nature of man and “gave himself for our sins.” He was pleased to lay down His life in order to redeem a multitude of sinners and deliver them from the wrath of God.
Oh, Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! God’s grace moves the sinner out of the sphere of darkness, death, rebellion and judgment, and into the realm of light, life, righteousness and blessing. Grace imputes the righteous merits of Jesus Christ to the sinner’s account so that he may be declared holy and righteous by God. God’s grace elects unworthy sinners to redemption in Christ; grace regenerates the sinner’s soul making the sinner a saint; grace creates faith in the sinner’s heart; grace rescues the sinner from the realm of damnation and brings him into the realm of salvation; grace adopts the sinner as a child of God; grace brings us into union with Christ; grace washes away the sinner’s sin in Christ’s blood and makes him white as snow; grace grants the redeemed sinner to share in Christ’s inheritance; grace brings us into peace with God; grace sustains, preserves, protects, and defends the redeemed sinner; grace conforms redeemed sinners into Christ’s image; grace justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies redeemed sinners; grace makes unworthy sinners the sheep of Christ’s pasture, the people of His hand; grace removes our condemnation and promises no separation from God’s love … Yes, Christ is God’s grace to unworthy sinners like you and me …
“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt, Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt … Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within … Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin!”
Have you received the grace of God? Has Christ translated you out of the realm of darkness into the realm of His marvelous light making you the object of God’s love and favor? If so, there’s only one appropriate response … PRAISE! God saves us, beloved, “to the praise of the glory of His grace” (Eph. 1:6). Bend the knee and let your thanksgiving arise to the throne of God’s grace … this day and always!