“But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded …” (Romans 5:20, Amplified Bible)
What are you really good at?
I know that sentence was not grammatically correct, but it just sounds goofy to say, “At what are you really good?” So, apparently, what I am really good at is rule breaking.
That’s actually true in more ways than one. I’m really good at sinning. And so are you. Are you offended by that? Shall we talk about the sin of self-justification?
Oh, I’m good at avoiding the biggies. I haven’t killed anyone recently. I haven’t shoplifted in years. (I hope sarcasm isn’t a sin, or I’m in trouble this morning.)
My point is that, if we are defining our sinfulness by measuring ourselves against a list of “bad things to avoid,” we have a faulty measure because there is no complete and comprehensive list.
A better measure is the dead-center-bull’s-eye of God’s perfection and glory. Are we hitting that with every word, every action, and every attitude?
If you need to pause and think about that, let me help you out: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, New International Version)
Every one of us (“all”) has missed the target. So, we are stuck, right? WRONG!
Look at our focus verse for the day again. Where sin … abounded, grace… superabounded! That means that even though we are really good at sinning (one might call us super sinners), His super grace is more than enough to supersede our super sin.
So, that means we are all just old dirty rotten sinners saved by great, right? WRONG!
Did you know that the New Testament never uses the word “sinner” to describe a person who has experienced the transforming grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ? His super grace transforms sinners into “saints” (the Apostle Paul’s favorite word for Christ-followers).
I want you to see Romans 3:23 again in its context: “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:22-24, NIV)
So, will we ever LOSE our skill for sinning? Not likely. But because of His super grace we can choose not to USE our skill for sinning. And the more we grow in Him, we can more and more lose our WILL for sinning.
Question: What is keeping you from being a walking advertisement for the super grace of God?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your perspective and to know how to pray for and encourage you.
