"Grace, grace - God's grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin!" This beautiful hymn lyric really sums up the message of the Gospel. Good News. That is what the term "Gospel" means. And grace that is greater than MY sin is good news for sure! Did you know that God's grace is good news for you, too? I bet you did. If not, I hope you do now!
But, I have another question for you. Did you know that the Good News of the grace of God in Christ Jesus is still just as good today as it was when you first believed? The feeling and understanding that come with first believing on the Lord Jesus for salvation from sin is wonderful! Lovely. Freeing. Like a weight has been lifted from your heart and mind. Martin Luther, after wrestling for many years with his own sin and doubt, always trying to earn the favor of God, was finally freed from his spiritual prison when the Lord showed him in the Word that Christ justifies those who put faith in Him. Do you remember when the shackles fell off you - when you first had faith in Jesus? I remember the freedom in my heart when I knew Jesus had cleansed me of my sin.
But there is something that happens to us as we live as Christians for a time. We tend to forget how much grace that God gave us in Christ. So, we stop believing that God's grace is sufficient to cover us. We try. We fail. We fall, and we beat ourselves up. We create ways to try to earn God's favor, only to feel defeated and unsuccessful. It is almost as though we believe that Jesus’s grace is greater than all our sin - great enough to save wretched, depraved sinners, but not great enough to keep saving us.
But that is not true. The Scriptures teach us that we were saved, are being saved, and will be saved. By grace we were saved from our sin - made new in Jesus; path changed eternally, hell to heaven; sins removed as far as the east is from the west. By grace we are being saved - sanctified; being conformed to the image of Jesus. By grace we will be saved - finally glorified in eternity with the Lord. ALL by GRACE. "Grace, grace - God's grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin!”
And so, we need to hear the Gospel. Not just when we are children. Not just in Confirmation. Not just before we profess faith in Jesus. Not just on Sundays even. Everyday. Our spiritual growth as Christians is not marked by how much we out-grow our need of the grace of God, but as Tulllian Tchividjian says, “Spiritual growth is marked by a growing realization of just how much grace you need.” Our souls need the grace of God. To save us initially from sin. To make us more like Jesus. To bring us eventually into full consummation with Him in heaven.
So, remind yourself of the Gospel in the morning. Tell your neighbor about the Gospel in the afternoon. Tell your spouse that you love her and God does, too. Teach your children about the grace of God. O follower of Jesus, lay your head down on your pillow at night knowing you are a recipient of His grace - “Grace that is greater than all your sin!” AND, you never out-grow your need to hear that Good News!
But, I have another question for you. Did you know that the Good News of the grace of God in Christ Jesus is still just as good today as it was when you first believed? The feeling and understanding that come with first believing on the Lord Jesus for salvation from sin is wonderful! Lovely. Freeing. Like a weight has been lifted from your heart and mind. Martin Luther, after wrestling for many years with his own sin and doubt, always trying to earn the favor of God, was finally freed from his spiritual prison when the Lord showed him in the Word that Christ justifies those who put faith in Him. Do you remember when the shackles fell off you - when you first had faith in Jesus? I remember the freedom in my heart when I knew Jesus had cleansed me of my sin.
But there is something that happens to us as we live as Christians for a time. We tend to forget how much grace that God gave us in Christ. So, we stop believing that God's grace is sufficient to cover us. We try. We fail. We fall, and we beat ourselves up. We create ways to try to earn God's favor, only to feel defeated and unsuccessful. It is almost as though we believe that Jesus’s grace is greater than all our sin - great enough to save wretched, depraved sinners, but not great enough to keep saving us.
But that is not true. The Scriptures teach us that we were saved, are being saved, and will be saved. By grace we were saved from our sin - made new in Jesus; path changed eternally, hell to heaven; sins removed as far as the east is from the west. By grace we are being saved - sanctified; being conformed to the image of Jesus. By grace we will be saved - finally glorified in eternity with the Lord. ALL by GRACE. "Grace, grace - God's grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin!”
And so, we need to hear the Gospel. Not just when we are children. Not just in Confirmation. Not just before we profess faith in Jesus. Not just on Sundays even. Everyday. Our spiritual growth as Christians is not marked by how much we out-grow our need of the grace of God, but as Tulllian Tchividjian says, “Spiritual growth is marked by a growing realization of just how much grace you need.” Our souls need the grace of God. To save us initially from sin. To make us more like Jesus. To bring us eventually into full consummation with Him in heaven.
So, remind yourself of the Gospel in the morning. Tell your neighbor about the Gospel in the afternoon. Tell your spouse that you love her and God does, too. Teach your children about the grace of God. O follower of Jesus, lay your head down on your pillow at night knowing you are a recipient of His grace - “Grace that is greater than all your sin!” AND, you never out-grow your need to hear that Good News!
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