During Pastor’s Corner, we’ve been introducing how to know and apply our great salvation, so that each Christian can enjoy depth of worship, motivation for holiness and obedience, joy in walking with Jesus, effective ministry, and boldness for witnessing. Truly, the Christian life is rooted in learning the fundamentals of the Gospel over and over again.
Where should we begin in talking about the great salvation found in Jesus Christ? God’s grace is the answer.
Grace can be defined as God’s loving benefits to sinners who deserve only judgment. What we must note is that grace is rooted in God’s character, not in our behavior. Thus, Grace is not something anyone earns through good behavior; nor is it something anyone loses through poor behavior. God gives grace to people because of who He is; because, He is gracious!
Take the people of Israel as described in Micah chapter 7. In the opening verses, Micah paints a very bleak picture.
“The godly person has perished from the land,
And there is no upright person among men. …
The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. …
Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend.
From her who lies in your bosom guard your lips.”
Not a single person was godly or upright before God. You could trust no one to do what was right, not even your neighbor, your close friend; not even your wife! If any group of people deserved God’s judgment, it was these.
And yet, what do we read that about God in verse 18?
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity
And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession?
He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in unchanging love.
God will be gracious to sinful Israel, not because they deserve it, but because that is who He is. God is a gracious God; that is His character, and He cannot undo that. So, even though people may deserve judgment because of their sin, God is still a gracious God. Salvation starts with Him and His unchanging character. Grace is never something gained or earned – whether it be through good behavior, good appearance, or good abilities. Grace is always a gift, and always comes from God because He is gracious!
The more we discover of this great salvation in Jesus Christ, the more we discover the depths and riches of God’s grace! Praise Him for His grace!