The Grace Of God

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” [1]

Death has a much deeper meaning in the context above. This death is a result of human pride daring to doubt God and to live in opposition to God. The shock of it all is that after death each human being meets God. He does exist. His holiness is beyond comprehension.

“...Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return. When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. He bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” [2]

God in His incredible grace sent His own Son into the world. God in the flesh! Jesus Christ is the only being who wore human flesh and yet never sinned. He never lied or deceived. He did not threaten those who inflicted horrific suffering on Him. He placed every injustice into His Father’s hands. He bore my sins and your sins on the cross. He was betrayed for 30 pieces of silver... the price of a slave. He took the lashes of a whip across His back (also like a slave) for our healing.

We all fall short of God’s glory. [3] Our righteousness is like filthy rags compared to God’s. [4] Our only hope for salvation is to turn to the Shepherd and Overseer of souls. Embrace His grace! Acknowledge verbally to Him and to others that without the atoning sacrifice of Christ, “I am a lost soul and cannot be accepted by a holy God.”

And then, live as the Apostle Paul lived. He declared, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” [5]

[1] Proverbs 16:25
[2] 1 Peter 2:21-25
[3] Romans 3:23
[4] Isaiah 64:6
[5] 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 2:8