Embracing A Gospel of Grace

Growing up in the Church, the word grace was common vocabulary.  We hear it used time and time again, and through that, our mind and heart become unresponsive to it.  As I have begun to read The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning, he has opened my eyes to the true beauty of grace and the gift that is truly is. Paul writes to the city of Ephesus, “because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is through grace you have been saved,” and later he states again, “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.”  The gospel and good news, we as followers of Jesus choose to believe, is a gospel of grace.

When we realize that we are truly saved through grace, our eyes are opened to the love of Jesus.  We are broken people that use and abuse Him daily, yet He looks past that and loves us.  Time and time I again I reject Jesus and spit in his face, yet he always says, “Father, forgive him, for he knows not what he is doing.”  This grace and forgiveness are foundational to our Savior’s character.  His love is unfathomable and we are undeserving, yet he be freely gives it to us knowing that we will continue to reject him.  That, my friends, is a true love we cannot comprehend.

  As broken and sinful humans, it is so easy to judge others according to their actions and deeds, but as we understand God’s grace we must realize that we have no right to bear the name judge.  We are no better than anyone else for we have all fallen short of his glory!  Yet, though we have fallen short, He does not care.  He looks past our failures and sins to see the true beauty within.  Manning says that “whatever past achievements might bring us honor, whatever past disgraces might make us blush, all have been crucified with Christ and exist no more except in the deep recesses of eternity, where ‘good is enhanced into glory and evil miraculously established as part of the greater good.’” 

We, as humans, are so quick to elevate ourselves for our actions and diminish others for theirs, but as Manning says both our honor and disgrace are crucified with Christ.  We must look past ourselves, for we do not earn Christ or his grace on our own accord.  Everything is a gift from God, Manning goes on to state that “life itself, eyes to see and hands to touch, a mind to shape ideas, and a heart to beat with love.  We have been given God in our souls and Christ in our flesh.  We have the power to believe where others deny, to hope where others despair, to love where others hurt.  This and so much more is a sheer gift; it is not reward for our faithfulness, our generous disposition, or our heroic life of prayer.”  Furthermore, St. Augustine believes that “if we but turn to God, that itself is a gift of God.”  Even our salvation is a gift from our redeemer.  We must realize that we are deeply loved by Jesus Christ and have done nothing to deserve it, for everything is a gift.

As I learn more of God’s grace I cannot help but worship him.  ALL of us are simply beggars at the door of God’s mercy.  We are infinitely blessed with such a compassionate and loving God.  We have been given a gift we do not deserve and a gift that so many choose to never open; and that fact breaks my heart.  We must be driven as followers and ambassadors for Christ to share that gift with everyone.  We have been given the best gift anyone can ever imagine and yet we hold it tight to our heart and do not share it.  God’s gift of grace has a never ending supply.  Christians, no longer should we hold tight to this gift but share it with all who will listen.  Share God’s grace with all so that our family may increase and more people can feel the power of TRUE LOVE.  Not only should we tell of this grace, but we must also show grace.  We are human and constantly make mistakes and fall short, yet it is not our job to condemn our brothers and sisters.  Live a life of grace for others.  We must encourage one another in our walk through the good and the bad.

In Romans, Paul writes, “but however much sin increased, grace was always greater; so that as sin’s reign brought death, so grace rules through saving justice that leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  We are so loved by God.  He is a redemptive God that continuously pours his grace onto us.  Sin has lost the battle and grace has won.  Grace leads us to salvation through Christ Jesus.  Many people have the thought that “I am not worthy of God’s love.  My past is too dark to be forgiven.”  Bottom line, none of us are worthy and that is why it is a gift – something we do not deserve.  He accepts us as we are; the question is…do we?  We need to focus on getting into the mindset of Christ for we are a new creation made alive in him.

Lastly, Manning states, “whatever we have done in the past, be it good or evil, great or small, is irrelevant to our stance before God today.  It is only now that we are in the presence of God.”  So, today come to the feet of our Lord and Savior, those who are weary and tried come to His feet.  Delight in His beautiful gift of Grace.