Grace? What's the Big Deal?

I have a friend who teases me about grace. Not the girl…the undeserved favor from God. He jokingly says there is too much emphasis on grace.

Is there?

No.

Is grace really a big deal?

YES.

There is good reason to put “much emphasis” on grace. Martin Luther had this to say about it:

“One is not righteous who does much, but the one who, without work, believes much in Christ. The law says, 'Do this,' and it is never done. Grace says, 'Believe in this,' and everything is already done.”

You see grace from God IS a big deal.

It’s the best, the greatest, and most perfect deal.

It’s a deal always kept by its Originator.

It is free.

It cost God His Son.

As Luther said, you and I are not righteous-even if we do good things. We may do good things, but there are times we do things so bad we try to keep it secret. Read Luther’s words again, there is only ONE righteous. Believe Jesus is the Righteous One of God and grace is yours…and mine.

Most of us cannot get over “Do this.” Our finite minds tell us nothing is free. You have to DO something to gain favor with God. That is the first wonderful thing about it. Grace tells us it’s already done.

Yesterday, an epiphany about grace was given to me. We both like epiphanies. Sudden insight into what is truth joined with a deeper understanding of truth brings us both joy. This epiphany about grace is very good. So good you should read about it.

First a scripture from Romans 11:6:

“…And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

You and I must remember the grace of God is not based on anything we can do (called works). Repeating a fact already stated:  Grace tells us it’s already done…repeat that-done!

Maybe you are wondering by now, “Hmm, I’ve heard about grace. But never given it much thought before. Maybe I should find out what it is.”

Grace is undeserved favor…from God. Another way to say it is written in the first book of the Bible-Genesis. There we are told grace is "favor in the eyes of the Lord." There is more. God gives us HIS love and favor and we do not deserve it. Let me ask both of us a question “What is the love and favor of God like?”

You and I don’t deserve the love and favor of God. We are by nature and from birth, bad people…don’t take offense…the Bible says sinners. God gives us grace anyway. He FREELY gives grace to all…and all who will receive it-get it. No charges, no hidden conditions, no requirements just believe.

That is the BEST deal in the universe-forever!

Now for the final part of yesterday’s epiphany…a quote taken from the book Future Grace, by John Piper.*

“The purpose of our salvation is for God to lavish the riches of His grace on us. Another purpose (A second) is that it will take Him forever to do it. (Underline mine) That is a mighty thought. God made us alive and secured us in Christ so that he could make us the beneficiaries of everlasting kindness from infinite riches of grace. This is not because we are worthy. Quite on the contrary, it is to show the infinite measure of HIS worth. Grace would not be grace if it were a response to the resources in us. Grace is grace because it highlights God’s own overflowing resources of kindness. Grace is eternal because it will take that long for God to expend inexhaustible stores of goodness on us.”

Perhaps this helps both of us understand the significance…the BIG DEAL…that grace really is. The more we examine it, the bigger, and better it becomes…and, just think… it’s inexhaustible.

Nothing is better.

Sit down, consider the free gift of grace and feel the fresh breeze from heaven.

*Piper, John. Future Grace. Multnomah Books, New York. 1995.