Before sin entered the world, man had communion with God; however, when Adam and Eve transgressed God’s law by eating of the forbidden tree, then sin, shame, and separation from God resulted (Gen. 3). Sin separates man from God (Isa. 59:2). Sadly, all choose to sin against God and fall short of His glory (Rom. 3:23). Sin means we deserve death, but God can give us eternal life in His Son (Rom. 6:23).
God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16). Habakkuk looked at how God used the wicked nation of Babylon to punish His people. The prophet questioned how God could let this continue since God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness” (Hab. 1:13). God’s holiness means He cannot compromise His nature to sanction sin. There are some things God cannot do because of His perfect nature; for example, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Thus, in dealing with man’s sins, God cannot compromise His righteousness.
God is also gracious and merciful (Psa. 103:8). His holiness demands payment for sin, but His gracious mercy means He will go to incalculable lengths to provide a way of salvation for sinners (Jn. 3:16). These lengths are seen in His Son Jesus Christ. Since it would be a violation of the character of God to justify a sinner without penalty for the sin, God sent His Son so He can remain just and be the justifier of those who respond in faith to Jesus (Rom. 3:26). Appeasement had to be made for man’s sin. Remission of sins could not occur without the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22). The blood of bulls and goats could not take away sin (Heb. 10:4). No sinful human could die as a substitute for man’s sins either—for that death would be deserved (Rom. 1:32; 6:23).
Jesus the Son of God took on flesh and lived the life of a human (Jn. 1:14; Phil. 2:7). He came to be the perfect sacrifice, the lamb of God (Jn. 1:29). He was tempted in all points as we are, yet He is without sin (Heb. 4:15). Because of the payment of Christ’s blood, God extends the offer for us to be “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24).
In today’s religious world, perversions of the grace of God are promulgated. Many teach it is dispensed without obedience to the will of God. However, we should not allow ourselves to be intimidated nor driven away from teaching on the grace of God merely because some have perverted it. Paul called what he received from Jesus and preached to others “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). In the great book of Romans, the apostle expounded God’s wonderful grace in the justification that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. At the beginning of that letter, Paul said of Jesus, “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name” (Rom. 1:5). At the end, he wrote, “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith (Rom. 16:25-26). God’s grace is dispensed when man obeys the faith—the gospel. Study 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 and Romans 6:1-17 regarding obedience to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
We were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), but by God’s grace we have been saved through faith so that we cannot boast of earning salvation (Eph. 2:8-9). God’s grace brings salvation and teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age (Titus 2:11,12). Will you choose to enter and continue in the grace of God?
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