“But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” (Romans 5:20)
Grace is a beautiful word. We sing about it, quote it in our sermons and embrace it in our lives as christians. But sometimes, grace doesn’t feel as comforting as it should. Sometimes, it feels downright undeserving.
Grace is extravagant. It’s a lavish gift given freely, not based on what we deserve, but on the love and mercy of God. And that’s where it can get uncomfortable, especially when we witness God’s grace extended to those we feel don’t deserve it. I am certain Jonah has one or two things to say about the grace God extended to the people of Nineveh. Left to him, they should all have been wiped out!
But God’s grace doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t ask for a person to be deserving before it’s offered. It simply flows. This is why no one is too far gone to be saved. In fact Paul said: “I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. (Romans 8:38-39)
God loved David so much that even when he committed one of the most heinous sins; adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of her husband, Uriah, God extended grace to him and forgave him. In 2 Samuel 12:13, when David confessed his sin, the prophet Nathan said to him, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” Not only did God forgive David, but He also established his throne, and from David’s lineage came our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Matthew 1:1).
Grace for the Worst Sinner
One of the hardest things for us to grasp is the concept of grace for those who have wronged us, or for those who have lived in open rebellion against God. Take the Apostle Paul, for example. Before his conversion, Paul not only persecuted Christians, he also approved of their deaths. Yet, God didn’t just forgive him, He called him to be an apostle to the Gentiles.
In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul reflects on this grace God extended to him when he said: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.” It’s shocking to think that someone who had actively harmed the church would become one of its greatest champions, but that’s the nature of grace.
The Prodigal Son
Jesus told the parable of a son who demanded his inheritance early and squandered it in reckless living. After hitting rock bottom, he returns to his father, expecting nothing but judgment. Instead, his father runs to him, embraces him, and throws a feast in his honor. The elder brother, who had faithfully stayed with his father, is angry at this display of grace.
The father responds, “We had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:32). The son didn’t earn his father’s love back through works; he simply came home, and grace was waiting for him. The older brother, like Jonah, reminds us of the feelings many have had at some point when we see grace extended to those we believe should be punished or held accountable for their wrongs. But God said to Jonah while he was sulking: “And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left and also many animals?” (Jonah 4:11)
Grace in Our Own Lives
If we are honest, sometimes we struggle to accept grace ourselves. We know our shortcomings, our sins, and our past mistakes. The idea that God can forgive us fully and freely can be difficult to accept. We may think, “I don’t deserve His grace. Can God even forgive me? I’ve failed too many times.” You see, grace is not about our worthiness; it’s about God’s goodness.
Grace is given freely, not because we deserve it, but because God’s love for us is immeasurable. It can feel uncomfortable to receive such a gift, especially when we know how undeserving we are, but it’s precisely the undeserved nature of grace that makes it so powerful. Ephesians 2:8-9
Grace for Our Enemies
Sometimes, the most difficult aspect of grace is offering it to others, especially those who have wronged us. It feels unjust. It feels like they don’t deserve it. But grace isn’t about fairness, it’s about forgiveness. When Jesus Christ taught us to pray, He was also teaching us to extend grace to people. He said “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matthew 6:12)
In Matthew 5:44, Jesus went a step further, saying, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Extending grace to those who hurt us feels unfair because it goes against our natural instinct for justice. But God calls us to show grace, just as He has shown grace to us.
Grace That Transforms
Grace is not just a free pass; it’s meant to transform us. When we truly understand the depth of God’s grace, it compels us to live differently. In Titus 2:11-12, Paul says, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
Grace teaches us to live in a way that honors God, not out of obligation, but out of gratitude for the grace we’ve received. It’s a amazing grace because it forgives, restores, and transforms, no matter how far we’ve gone or what we’ve done.
Grace Is Not a License to Live In Sin
Grace is not a license to keep on sinning, thinking “grace covers it.” Despite God’s deep love for David, He did not condone his sin. (2 Samuel 12:14).
Romans 6:1-2 says: “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
It’s important to note that these warnings, like those in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21 were written to believers, not unbelievers. Paul was addressing Christians who were tempted to live in sin while relying on grace. His message was clear: anyone living in persistent sin without repentance will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Grace transforms us, but it also calls us to a life of holiness, empowered by the Spirit to live above the flesh and reflect Christ’s love and purity.
Embracing the grace of God means embracing death to sin. It means being translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of our dear Lord Jesus Christ. As Colossians 1:13 says: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.”
It means offering your body as a living sacrifice, as Romans 12:1 urges us: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true and proper worship.”
It is also accepting God’s strength to live above the dictates of our flesh. Romans 8:13 says: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
As we grow and mature in Christ, let’s learn to extend grace to others and fully accept His grace in all things, so we can rise above sin and death.
