Friday, 1 November 2024

Romans part 31 - The Grace of God

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Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are set right as a gift of His grace, through the redemption that is in Messiah Yeshua.

Where would we be, but for the grace of God? Selah! Did you meditate on that thought like I just did? It's not original. I don't remember when or where I first heard it. Yet it is so profound. There is so much to write on this subject. Still, my original question deserves an answer. Where would we be, lost without grace, and not just lost, but lost in hell.

Grace is usually thought of as a New Testament concept. But, there is nothing new in the New Testament. The New Testament is a detailed explanation of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Hebrew word for "grace" is chesed. Most often it is translated in the Hebrew Scriptures as "lovingkindness" where it is mentioned no less than 250 times. The first time is by Lot, who uses it to express His thanksgiving at being saved (by grace) from Sodom and Gomorrah by the angels of the Lord.

We, ourselves, are "set right" by the gift of grace. Like every gift, it must be received if it is to be of value. We receive grace by faith in Messiah Yeshua. Lastly, this is called "redemption" because we obtain it without money. In ordinary transactions, there is something paid for something received. But we are redeemed in a one sided transaction. Yeshua's once-for-all-time sacrifice paid the price for us all. And all we have to do is receive it by faith. Jerry Miller calls it "Grace Beyond Reason" in his book by the same title. www.amazon.com/Grace-Beyond-Reason-Untapped-Intends/dp/1954533098 Yup, it is!