Amazing Grace – John Ritenbaugh cgg.org

God gives us grace so that we might stand before Him. Grace makes salvation possible. To say that grace is simply a “gift” is woefully inadequate. 1) It is the single most important aspect of our spiritual and eternal salvation, and 2) God’s giving of it to us is completely unmerited. Even though grace is the foundation for good works, the good works, by themselves, cannot earn us salvation.

Those who believe in God have a strong desire to be close to and live forever with Him. Yet sin separates man from God, all have sinned, and the wages of sin is death A hopeless dilemma?

God foresaw this and provided a Savior to release mankind from this paradox; the substitutionary sacrifice of His own Son, who, born as a man, lived a sinless life and died in our place to satisfy the justice of God that we might have the hope of eternal life. The substitute had to be a sinless human being, and of such importance that His vicarious death could pay the price for all mankind’s sins. All of the elements were gathered together in Jesus of Nazareth.

Do not think that grace is without cost. It is the most expensive gift you will ever receive. Not only did grace cost the life of Jesus, but it also costs us our lives if we are to receive it! Upon giving us grace, God expects us to give the rest of our lives in obedience to Him. Provided, our part in this process is comparatively small, but for us it is indeed a difficult path. Yet not impossible.

Words fail to convey the vast difference between what we present to God in ourselves and what He provides in return from the depths of His concern for us. Perhaps “amazing” will have to suffice until a better word is found.