GRACE ERASER


Why do people believe more in the power of man’s sin than they do in the power of God’s grace? How can a Christ-follower be surprised at God’s grace? I am convinced that there is nothing that God’s grace can’t erase. When I look at my own life, and consider all that God has done in me, I am even more convinced that there is nothing that God’s grace can’t erase.

If you have made any effort to live a clean life you quickly come to this conclusion —my sin is a problem. It's a nuisance. It will not go away. While it is true that people always sin by choice, it is also true that sin sinks its claws deep into your character, and becomes your master. On your own, you are helpless. Sin utterly destroys your life through its presence, through its power, and through the penalty you will ultimately pay. However, God’s Word proclaims that His grace eliminates sin. “And the result of God's gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man's sin. For Adam's sin led to condemnation, but God's free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.” (Romans 5:16)

Yes, sin has consequences—it ultimately leads to eternal separation from God. However, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the penalty has been paid. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

Grace also has erased the power of your sin. Think about the misery that exists in our world, virtually all human suffering is the result of someone's sin. Death came into the world through Adam's sin. It is the addictive power of sin that keeps you from living a happy productive life. The Bible promises that sin will not have dominion over you — it has lost its power.

Grace has erased the presence of your sin. “As people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant” (Romans 5:20). God's grace drowns out the presence of your sin. When you experience God's grace, it overpowers the presence of the sin in your life, and eliminates it.

I heard a preacher say once, “Because of God's grace, I sin all I want!” Hesitating for a few moments for the words to sink in, then he said, “In fact, because of God's grace, I sin more than I want.” God's grace in your life drives you to live holy. There is nothing that His grace can't erase.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The 80-20 Rule

In 1906, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto created a mathematical formula to describe the unequal distribution of wealth in his country, observing that twenty percent of the people owned eighty percent of the wealth. The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.   Although this rule was first applied in Italy when Pareto was looking at the dispersal of wealth, it has since become a rule of thumb for many businesses.   It has been said that 20% of your workforce does 80% of the work, or 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients.   I think this law comes into play in our lives as well.   Life is 20% what happens to you and 80% what you make of it. There are tons of stories about people who come out of difficult situations — gang life, in and out of jail, drug addiction, broken families, abuse – yet still seem to rise to the top.   And of course, there are many stories of those who have been given...
Read more

Control Yourself

When it comes to our life, we have nothing to say about our birth and little say about our death, but in between these two events most of the decisions are ours to be made. Are you letting life and circumstances control you, or are you controlling your own life and destiny with God’s help. Don't let life pass you by when you have the God-given ability to make things happen. I've heard it said: You can't control the length of your life, but you can control its use. You can't control your facial appearance, but you can control its expression. You can't control the weather, but you can control the moral atmosphere that surrounds you. You can't control the distance of your head above the ground, but you can control the height of the contents in your head. You can't control the other fellow's annoying faults, but you can see to it that you do not develop similar faults. Why worry about things you cannot cont...
Read more

Bounce Back

As a 7th grader in junior high school, I was devastated when I was cut from the starting 8th grade football team and sent to the second team.   I felt disappointed, embarrassed and dejected.   Latter that week, I spoke with my grandfather who passed on these words of wisdom, “It’s not how far you fall, but how high you bounce back that matters.”   I took those words to heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 25:11, “Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.” I valued his wise words and committed to doing my best for this second string team, instead of pouting and complaining over my sense of failure. I committed to working hard, giving my all to bounce back. It served me well as I entered high school and played on two state championship teams. I learned that day that what happens to me in life doesn’t count as much as how I react to those things.   I had a choice the day I was cut from the team—I could wallow in misery and quit the team, or I ...
Read more