Hallmarks of Grace
"The law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 5:20-21)
There are millions of souls in hell today that could testify that “where sin abounds, judgment abounds.” Just ask the lust-driven residents of Sodom and Gomorrah, or Pharaoh’s soldiers floating face down in the Red Sea, or count the graves in the wilderness of Jews who didn’t believe. Judgment is the deserved response to sin -- and the Bible doesn’t lack for examples of people who got what they deserved. To make matters worse, God adds “gas to the fire” by giving His law to increase sin’s production and make men even more susceptible to judgment.
But God’s grace is a different matter. It isn’t given because it’s deserved and it isn’t given out of necessity. A sinner has nothing God wants or needs. God’s grace is the sole property of God, to give or withhold for His good pleasure -- sovereignly dispensed and freely received.
Three hallmarks of God’s grace in the above text: First, grace is found where sin is found. The perfect have no need of grace and the religious have no desire for it. Only sinners meet this condition -- the very thing that disqualifies from God’s presence qualifies for God’s grace.
Secondly, where sin abounds grace abounds all the more. In other words, God is more willing to forgive a sinner than a sinner is willing to sin, more desirous to kiss the prodigal son than to listen to his repentant speech [Compare Luke 15:17-19 with vv. 21-22--gh]. If men sin by the hundreds, God gives grace by the millions.
Thirdly, and more importantly, grace reigns through righteousness -- it’s designed to conquer sin as an opponent. The reigning power of grace is found in what it causes the child of God to believe -- the Father’s love toward Him never changes, even when he sins. Nothing else will conquer indwelling sin. The Law won’t -- knowing that God hates your sin has no power to vanquish it (1 Cor. 15:56); repentance won’t -- sorrow over the past is not enough to sustain against present temptations. You must believe God calls you His son, not when things are going well, but when you’re at rock bottom. Romans 9:26- "and it shall be that in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people, there they shall be called sons of the living God.'"
Dear believer, If God hasn’t given up on you all these years, what makes you believe that He will start today?
-- Mark Lacour
