Grace
The Thread of Grace
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and
we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
full of grace and truth.
NKJV
The teachings of grace flow through the pages of the Bible, a silver thread paralleling the scarlet thread of blood that provides the mechanism of our salvation. Nowhere are the concepts of grace laid forth as well as in the book of Romans. Paul spends eleven chapters explaining to us how grace works in the salvation process and why mankind needs the benefits of grace. Then, although the language changes, the balance of Romans deals with the application of grace in the daily lives of the believer.
John and Peter both tell us Jesus walked this earth to be our example (1 John 2:6; 1 Peter 2:21; cf Heb 12:1-3). The goal of spiritual maturity is to become more Christ-like. If Jesus is God, and if a major attribute of God is grace, than grace should be one of our major attributes. This conclusion and what it should mean in our daily lives goes well beyond most Christians’ normal concept of God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Most Christians stop at salvation when they think of grace. But this is contrary to the teachings of the Bible.
Humans are too preoccupied with their own natural attributes. We look at the marvels we have constructed, the tools we have invented, and the scheme we have hatched and think to ourselves “how great we are.” We become like Nebuchadnezzar and want people to bow to our statues and creations. We forget how we received this vast wealth of skills, intellect, and materials. In other words, we forget God.
But, praise be to God, He does not forget us. Even the worst sinners of the world are the beneficiaries of God’s grace.
