Sola Gratia (By Grace Alone)

“By the grace of God I am what I am!”
1 Cor 15:10

“You talk way too much about grace.” I still remember how dumb-founded I was when a friend and former member of our church tossed those words in my face. “Too much about grace?” I thought! “How is that possible?” I didn’t understand it then. I still don’t understand it today. For when I look at my life, and what God has done for me in Christ. Grace is all I see!

Think about it! What was I before God saved me. I was “dead in trespasses and sins in which I used to live” as Ephesians 2:1 says. I was “without God and without hope in this world” (Ephesians 2:12). There was no reason for God to love me. And certainly no reason for Him to save me. I was a rebel. Hostile in mind against Him (Romans 8:17), by my every action deserving death.

But God,” Ephesians 2: 4 says, “Because of His great love” for me – chose to give me life, instead! He chose to send His Son to live in my place, to earn for me a perfect righteousness, and to die in my place under the weight of my sin. He chose to send His Spirit to awaken my dead heart, to bring His sweet Gospel my way and to give me ears to hear it. He moved upon my heart with faith and repentance so I could turn from my sin and believe. He did that! He did it all – and all by grace! How can I ever make too much of grace?

Certainly, I would understand, if all God had done was merely provide a way for me to save myself; or if He had merely set an example that I could follow; or given me a set of instructions for how I could live my best life now, then I would have something to boast in, and there would not be so much in grace. If God had done nothing more than make an offer which I in my own power was able to accept or reject – then sure, let’s not make too much about grace. But I was dead when God came to me. I was blind, and He made me to see. I was lost, and He went looking and found me. I was an outcast, and he took the initiative to take me in. I had nothing, and he gave me all. Not because I had earned it, or deserved it. Not even because he foresaw something I would do. But as an act of pure, undeserved mercy given to me based on the finished work of His Son. A mercy He chose to give me, even before the worlds began.

And now I can never, no never make too much of the grace rescued me!

Soli Gratia, Soli Dei Gloria (By Grace Alone, for God’s Glory Alone)

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