God’s Glorious Grace

Sunday, March 03, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

Ephesians 1:4–6

The entry of sin into the world did not take God by surprise. There was only one prohibition He had given to Adam—not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Yet even with only one rule in place, obedience was more than Adam could manage, and he sinned. Since that day, every person born into the world has been born with a sinful nature. That nature alienates us from God, and despite His love for us, His justice and holiness demand that the price for sin be paid. The only hope that we have for Heaven is to receive what we do not deserve through grace.

That is why Jesus came into the world. In love, He paid the price for our sins so that salvation could be offered. Just as Adam brought sin into the world and affected everyone who followed, Jesus brought grace into the world, which is for all who will believe. “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many”(Romans 5:15).

So many people are trying to earn their salvation. They hope that the things they do or avoid doing will somehow improve their standing with God. But our only hope is His grace. The best that we can do falls short of His perfect righteousness.

Today's Growth Principle: 

It is only through God’s glorious grace that we can receive salvation from the penalty of sin.