24/03/2021

Mat 23 v 13-24; Rom 5 v 12-21; Ps 54 v 1-7; Num 15 v 1-17 v 13
The free gift of grace

“For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Rom 5 v 17)

God’s abundant grace is available to everyone who is willing to acknowledge that they have sinned against Him and repent from their wicked ways. Why wouldn’t you accept the fact that we are born in sin as a result of Adam’s disobedience?

Just look at our history and the current state of mankind, while being very honest with yourself. Do you think man is inherently good? Do you think there is no such thing as evil and if you do, do we have the capacity to discern between right and wrong, without a moral compass?

In Matthew Jesus addresses the pharisees and scribes, accusing them of “shutting off the kingdom of heaven from the people...” (vers 13) [paraphrase], while preventing those who are willing to accept God’s grace to enter, even though they, themselves are unwilling to submit.

The Lord says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and we can take Him on His word. Due to the sin of one man, all have sinned “so then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men” (Rom 5 v 18).

Think of the sacrifice Christ made and how He took all our transgressions, all our sins and wickedness on Him. He even became sin for our sake and God was pleased with bruising him
(Is 53 v 10). There is no other worldview where God chooses to become one of us, suffering with us and for us, offering grace to those who choose to accept it.

Firstly, this saving grace is a free gift from God Himself and secondly, we have the free will to surrender to Him. Wouldn’t you want to serve a God who loved us so much that He became a man and gave His life as ransom so that we can receive eternal life.

Let us give thanks and worship the living God who was and is, and is to come. His lovingkindness is everlasting, from generation to generation. To Him, all the honour, power and glory. Forever and ever. Amen.

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB, Life Application Study Bible, unless stated otherwise. Copyright by “The Lockman Foundation“