Bible Basics: Grace (part 4)
In looking at grace so far, we have noted that a person cannot save himself or herself. If we want to go to Heaven, there is a big problem because we are lawbreakers who deserve condemnation. We all know that when someone breaks the law, there is a punishment that accompanies it. In our man-made law systems, we prioritize or differentiate between crimes. Running a red light does not carry the same penalty as drunk driving. When someone commits a “lesser” offence, it is called a misdemeanor. A more serious crime is often referred to as a felony. In God’s value system, however, all transgressions are fatal. James 2:10 states, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (NIV) This is why we have been speaking about salvation by grace.
Since we cannot save ourselves by our good deeds, we must turn to God and trust Him completely. For some people, this is a difficult challenge. We live in a world where we are constantly being let down by those around us. Our family might love us, but they will let us down sometimes. Our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, everyone will let us down. By the way, that is to be expected. Why? People are not perfect. They might love us with all they are, yet they will fail sometimes when it comes to loving us perfectly. This inability to consistently trust people leads many to wonder if they can trust God.
God is trustworthy and faithful! God reminds us in His Word, the Bible, that His love is a perfect love. Who else, except a perfect, all-loving God, would come and die for us? Who else would take our punishment on himself except God? Who else, but God, would love a world that so often hates Him? So, to a suspicious world, God reaches out and says I love you. God also does something that this world has a hard time wrapping its mind around: God loves us even though we are unlovable. At times, we might think that God loves us because we have a good sense of humor or because we treat people well. Maybe we think that because we give to the poor, God should love us. However, while God might applaud certain things we do, that is not why He loves us. God chooses to love each of us because of His loving nature. This concept is a huge one that is important for us to understand.
Ponder this: If God loves you because you are nice to your neighbors, what happens when you are not so nice? What happens when we have a bad day, a bad week, or even a bad month? God does not love us any more or less depending on our behavior. Remember, we are all sinners and law-breakers. We all deserve condemnation because of our sins and shortfalls. The beauty of grace is that God says, “I love you because of WHO I am, not because of WHO you are.” God shows us mercy during the darkest of times.
The next question, as we consider God's marvelous grace, is: How do I get this grace? Join me next week as we answer this important question. Keep looking up!