Grace

Grace

by David Brenneman 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured–

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!

Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–

Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross. 

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!

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive? 

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!

Author: Julia H. Johnston (1910)

Grace Greater Than All Our Sin 

Oh the wake up reminders.  Waking up to being reminded of the grace of God.  Of the truth of God that takes our sins and casts them as far away as the east is from the west. 

But you don't know what I have done! The thoughts that I have had! The things that I did! The words that I have said!  There's too much for God to ever forgive me!  

My Dear Reader, all that you are aware of and all that you're not aware of, in regards to your sins...Jesus took upon Himself and on the judgment decree concerning you stamped "paid in full"...if indeed you have Him as your personal Lord and Savior. Trusting in what He did on that cross to pay for your sins gets you that summary judgment wiped clean. But you my Friend must choose to accept that free gift and you must trust God with doing what He promised you. 

But...but...no buts...Once you come to Christ for salvation you're now a child of God, with all the rights and privileges that go with it. Forgiveness being one of the greatest. Grace...God's Riches At Christ's Expense.  God's unmerited favor. Unmerited meaning there is nothing you did to earn it, nothing you ever need to do to gain more of it. Your deeds do not add to your being saved.  There are no works to do. 

What works you DO do are out of appreciation for all He's done to save you. 

But I feel...so...terrible!  Yes, sin has that effect on people.  It's a normal reaction to realizing He's a Holy God and we are not holy in and of ourselves. 

I have no need by way of reminders that I need His grace and His mercy.  His mercy is not doing to us what we often deserve. 

"In common usage, mercy and grace are often used interchangeably. They do not mean the same thing, but they are integrally related and may be considered two sides of the same coin in salvation. When God saves a person, He extends both mercy and grace. Mercy is forgiving the sinner and withholding the punishment that is justly deserved. Grace is heaping undeserved blessings upon the sinner. In salvation, God does not show one without the other. In Christ, the believer experiences both mercy and grace." -from 'Got Questions' post. 

Now if sin ISN'T bothering you after coming to Christ, then there indeed is a significant problem. Sin is going to happen in the life of Believers because we still battle that part of us until either we die or Jesus returns to take us to be with Him. Forgiveness is but a prayer away. Turning from it back to a life that honors Jesus. 

You and I are going to get knocked down by sin.  If indeed we came to Christ for salvation, the Spirit is within us, empowering us towards the Godly work He had in mind for us as well as making us more like Christ. We will be as distracted as a squirrel and a dog at times when it comes to sin. 

It's why it's important not to go it alone in living for Jesus. 

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,

Bearing on Calv’ry my sin and disgrace;

Such love constrains me to answer His call,

Follow His leading and give Him my all.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy Name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

Author: Thomas O. Chisholm (1917) 

Living for Jesus 

We are in constant daily need for reminders of His love for us and our need for His transforming power in us.  We need to realize we can't do life apart from Jesus.  We can't fight sin when the cross proved that it took the power of God to defeat it.  To defeat it daily in your life requires us to keep in touch with the one who can deal with it. Sin is going to remind you of all it offers.  It's going to be appealing. Remind sin that it's not worth it and that Jesus defeated it. 

Grace greater than all our sin it exceeds our sin and our guilt. It's there for all who have called upon Jesus to save them. 

So no matter how your sin looks to you, if indeed you are in Christ, turn from it, turn to Jesus and ask forgiveness for it. Remind yourself that in Christ you are a new creation. Old things passed away, new things have come. 

The Bible says that Jesus, right now, is seated at the right hand of His Father, interceding on our behalf. He is our mediator.  When we are saved by Jesus, the Father looks at us and only sees Jesus. 

Oh the grace of God.  I woke up needing His reminder myself.  He says that someone out there needs reminding too.  I have often felt that there ought to be, that there MUST be a punishment for when I sin. Jesus says that in Him I am forgiven...that once I ask Him to forgive me...to let it go. Get back to walking with Him....my Dear Reader He says the same thing to you.