For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (NASB)
What is grace and truth? It is a person. A man who came so that the world would have life and life abundantly.
Salvation is an absolute scandal of grace and mercy. The worst of the worst are forgiven by the very best and awarded unmerited favor. Grace and mercy come for the sinner. And of all the sinners, we are the worst. It is easy for the very religious, those whom the world counts among the most faithful, to become more in step with the Sadducees and Pharisees than Christ. It takes constant conviction from the Holy Spirit to continue to walk in freedom and then to freely give forgiveness, mercy, and grace away.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Rom 5:20). In Luke 18:13 it says, “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” Christ calls the saints to stand up, beat their chests, and genuinely cry out for mercy. What precedes this sinner-saints cries for grace and mercy? In Luke 18:11-12 the religious stood aside and praised God because they had not cheated on their wives, stole, and not liars. But Christ was not impressed. It was the sinner-saint who could still see the cost of grace.
Lord, help us to be agents of the scandal. Help us to live out a scandal of grace. Help us to forgive radically, live mercifully, and spread the word so that others are set free.
What is grace and truth? It is a person. A man who came so that the world would have life and life abundantly.
Salvation is an absolute scandal of grace and mercy. The worst of the worst are forgiven by the very best and awarded unmerited favor. Grace and mercy come for the sinner. And of all the sinners, we are the worst. It is easy for the very religious, those whom the world counts among the most faithful, to become more in step with the Sadducees and Pharisees than Christ. It takes constant conviction from the Holy Spirit to continue to walk in freedom and then to freely give forgiveness, mercy, and grace away.
Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more (Rom 5:20). In Luke 18:13 it says, “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’” Christ calls the saints to stand up, beat their chests, and genuinely cry out for mercy. What precedes this sinner-saints cries for grace and mercy? In Luke 18:11-12 the religious stood aside and praised God because they had not cheated on their wives, stole, and not liars. But Christ was not impressed. It was the sinner-saint who could still see the cost of grace.
Lord, help us to be agents of the scandal. Help us to live out a scandal of grace. Help us to forgive radically, live mercifully, and spread the word so that others are set free.