Absolute Grace

During a conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated, what (if any), belief was unique to the Christian faith? A heated debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. “What's all the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. C. S. Lewis responded, “Oh, that's easy. It's grace.” All the people at the conference had to agree.

The idea of God's love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against the human psyche. Note, the Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Muslim code of law – all of these endeavour to offer a way to earn approval. Only Christianity shows us that God's love is unconditional, and His amazing love is evidenced through His amazing grace more than any other means.

God's grace is often hard for us to fathom, and maybe this is why Jesus talked about it so often. I'm convinced that the greatest inconsistency in the church today concerns the grace of God. Our souls must be intensely guarded in this one vital area. Every doctrine and every precept should come under the government of grace (in order to become operationally effective). If you detach a particular spiritual truth from grace, you cease to propagate the gospel. Grace is the main rule of our new and better covenant.

God's grace places everyone on a level playing field. No person is a cut above any other - whether Christian or not. By grace we were saved, and by grace we are being sustained. One of the biggest traps any of us can fall into is the belief that in some way we as Christians are better than the unbeliever. This arrogant and condescending attitude is denying the obvious truth that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23).

The further you move from the gospel of grace, the less capacity you will have to experience any of God’s wonderful attributes. Remember, according to the new covenant God cannot operate outside of grace toward you. Grace secures for you a supernatural, super-abundant life outside your own human experiences. You also acquire the ability to receive divine power that takes you beyond your natural limitations. What's more, it provides you with boundless opportunities to express fruits far exceeding your natural output. God's grace is truly awesome!

Grace is different than Justice and Mercy:

Justice is getting what we deserve.
Mercy is not getting what we deserve.
Grace is getting what we do not deserve.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the apostle Paul quotes the Lord directly and states, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” The original Greek simply says, “My grace is enough for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Paul knew he needed God's power and strength to accompany him permanently, but God knew that the best way for this to happen was for Paul to be kept in a place of weakness. When Paul was weak he was strong in Him!

In a time of crisis, too many of you still build walls to retain what little human strength you have instead of letting go and relying totally on the pure grace of God. You stubbornly refuse God's avenue of escape – His amazing grace! Note failing is no longer an issue because Jesus took care of that on the cross. Failing grace, however, remains the primary issue. To stay down after having failed is to fail the wonderful grace of God.

Let's examine this spiritual principle more closely… Jesus said. “My grace is more than enough for you, because My awesome power is perfected in human weakness.” The words “perfected” and “weakness” give us deeper insight into the true meaning of this verse. “Perfected” ('teleionetai') means to complete, finish, fulfil, accomplish, reach its natural end, and come to its successful conclusion or, to reach its goal. “Weakness” means human inadequacy, incompetence, inability, lack of strength, or being incapable of producing results. Notice, this weakness is not an infirmity, as it has nothing to do with diseases or lack of power. Therefore, what the Lord is saying is simply this; “My grace is more than enough for you, because My sovereign power comes to its successful conclusion in human inadequacy.”

Implying that the very purpose of grace is to allow the power of God to accomplish its predetermined aim (to reach its goal), and that is, to glory in human frailties. Can you see? God has an answer for every negative because there's sufficient grace for all! Yes, there is more than enough grace – grace for every weakness and imperfection you may have, and grace for every deficiency in your character. God's grace has a paramount mission and a great purpose in your life, and that is, to change every negative to a positive!

Now the scripture we read last week, Hebrews 4:15,16 suddenly makes more sense, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses (who does not show compassion toward human frailty), but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us come boldly to the throne room of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” His mercy covers the things you should not have done, and His grace empowers you to do what you should be doing – but do not have the strength or ability to perform.

The Greek phrase “in time of need” is in the immediate imperative and it implies 'in the nick of time’… “That we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in the nick of time.” This is grace just when and where you need it! At the very moment of attack or failure, you look to Him, and there is always enough grace. Grace to help you in the nick of time. There is no delay, it's right there – when and where you need it!

Remember, grace is dependent on the nature and intrinsic character of the one who bestows it. Our God desires, and has purposed, that His grace be the very mechanism that commands divine power to come to a successful conclusion in our weaknesses. Whatever your problem, the 'overcoming' grace of God has the answer! Grace is the means by which the power of God can be released in order to change your situation – right now! And there is always sufficient grace to go around.

Romans 5:17 boldly declares, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” Another translation says, “Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness rule and reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”

Chris Demetriou, 01/03/2009