FOR BAD PEOPLE

Lots of us probably know the song “Amazing Grace”. But do we know what “grace” is? Could you explain it if someone asked?
One day when one Christian preacher was studying the meaning of God’s grace, he ran into the street and shouted to the first guy he saw, “Do you know grace?” Confused, the man replied, “Grace who?” The preacher then explained what he had learned: God has compassion on sin-sick people and freely offers them forgiveness and new life through trusting Jesus, even though they don’t deserve it. That’s grace!

I heard about a guy who had lived a hard life and died without understanding the message of God’s grace. A church leader had talked to him and encouraged him to come to church, but he always said, “I’m too bad.” He didn’t know that God’s grace is for the bad, the messy, the absolute worst!

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he bluntly described their pre-Christian lives as being “dead in… sins” (EPHESIANS 2:1). Then he used two hope-filled words: but God (V.4). Paul explains that even though we are dead and deserve judgement, God’s mercy and grace provide forgiveness and new life through Jesus. Salvation is through trusting Jesus, not through being good enough (VV.8-9). God’s grace means anyone—absolutely anyone—can be rescued and made new by Jesus, no matter what they have done.

Let’s help others to understand that God’s salvation is for bad, messed up people—and that includes all of us. That’s what makes God’s grace so amazing! JY

Thinking it over . . .

How would you explain what God’s grace is in your own words? How does it encourage you that you have been saved by Jesus’ works and not your own?