The text that inspired yesterday’s post:
“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)
Once again, I had more to say, but didn’t want to make it any longer. And then a friend commented on the Facebook post and it brought to mind the part of my thinking that I did not include in the post. Since it relates AND since my devotional reading this morning was the next chapter of Romans …
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? … What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! … But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:1-2,15,22-23, New International Version)
To clarify, my friend did not ask if it was a good idea to sin more so that God’s super grace would be revealed more. Some have actually made that assertion. The Apostle Paul apparently anticipated that, so he wrote the words included in Romans 6.
But I think the contemplation for some people goes along these lines: Is it true that God’s grace is revealed more in the lives of those who have sinned most? In other words, does God get more glory for changing someone who has a much worse story? Is His grace revealed more powerfully in those for whom much grace is needed? (These are my words, not theirs)
In the words of Paul, “By no means!” Here’s the truth of the matter: God’s grace is superabundant in and of itself. It is not made any more so by our need of it. God’s grace and character are also abundantly revealed in His creation. He does not need our help to reveal His grace, but He wants to include us in the grand display of it.
We are not only forgiven of sin by His grace; it is only by His grace that we can live obediently and abundantly (John 10:10)! We do not MAKE His grace super; we only DEMONSTRATE it as we follow Him.
Question: What is one positive thing that God’s super grace is empowering you to do?
Leave a comment below. I’d love to be encouraged by your story.
