Amazing Grace
The topic for this month’s discussion is God’s Amazing Grace. Amazing grace is undeserved mercy. When we look back at our lives, we can think of the many times we deserved to face consequences for our actions but people showed grace by overlooking our faults. How did that feel? Now let’s look at God’s amazing grace – we have hurt Him deliberately so many times, but He is gracious enough to forgive us. He didn’t have to but He showed us that amazing grace.
Reading John 8:1-11, I have always wondered why the Pharisees and Sadducees brought only the woman. Doesn’t it take two to commit adultery? Where is the man? Some who say he was stoned, or he ran away. These are assumptions.
Pharisees were not interested in justice but they wanted to trap Jesus and find out what his answer would be. According to the Law of Moses (Leviticus 20:10 ), she should be put to death. If Jesus didn’t uphold the death penalty, then he was not following the Law. On the other hand, if He granted the punishment, then he was not showing compassion. Either way, these slick thinkers thought they had trapped Jesus.
No one knows what Jesus was writing on the ground with his finger. But when he lifted his head, he told all those standing around him… “He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”. Then he continued writing. What happened when He lifted his head the second time? Everyone had disappeared. The only two that were left was Jesus and the adulteress woman. Jesus asked her, “What happened to all those accusers? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord”. They themselves were convicted of their innumerable sins in their lives. They could not cast the stone at the woman. Just imagine, if one of the accusers had decided that he is worthy enough to cast the stone…what do you think would have happened? Perhaps those standing around him may have exposed his sins. Or may be Jesus would have listed all his sins. No one was willing to be exposed. Without examining their heart, they were quick to expose the sins of the woman. Can any one of us boldly say “I am without sin, I will cast the stone”. No. We are all sinners. Yet, how often we are ready to cast that stone. We are so quick to judge, so quick to condemn. Let this be a reminder “he who is without sin, let him cast the first stone”. Let this phrase resonate in our ears every time we think of casting the stone. None of us qualify to cast that stone. In our previous discussion, one of the examples was about judging a gay person. We are quick to condemn them, claiming that is the worst sin. But we fail to look at our lives. In so many ways we displease God and they are sins too. Let’s be willing to show the same mercy that God showed us when He sent HIS only beloved Son to die on the cross for our filthy life. Instead of judging, let’s pray for them. We are so quick to reveal others wrongdoings, and keep a track record of all their sins. We need to change our ways. We read in Psalms 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west, so far have I removed all your transgressions”. How often do we receive His grace and forgiveness, and then repeatedly fall back into the same trap? God’s mercy and His amazing grace are always extended towards us but we tend to exploit His grace convincing ourselves that “God is gracious, He will forgive us”. We are always eager to receive that grace repeatedly but hesitate extending that grace to others. Time to do a heart check!!!!
We read in John 3:17 For God did not send His son to condemn the world but the world through Him might be saved. What does he tell the woman? “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more”.
God’s amazing grace connects us all. His grace does not see our status in life, the color of our skin, or our cultural background. His grace extends to us all equally. Are you showing that grace? A prisoner commits the most gruesome crime; the President grants him pardon…that is unmerited grace. When all hope is
lost, and Jesus comes to the rescue, that is grace. We read in Romans 3: 23,24 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, And are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”. When we accept this unmerited grace, our heart is filled with gratitude and the joy of that gratitude explodes resulting in pleasing God.
All these people enjoyed God’s grace consistently because they were obedient and were in total submission to God’s will. Please read the given reference.
Noah— Genesis 6:8;
Abraham—Genesis 12:1-3;
Lot—Genesis 19:17-20
Moses—Exodus 33:12-16;
David— Psalm 51; 1-11
We can see this distinct grace from the life of Jesus in the New Testament
Jesus tells about grace – Luke 15: 11–32
The Parable of the Prodigal Son is the story is of a son who returns home in total disgrace but is welcomed with wide open arms by his father. Wow!!! that is grace.
Jesus shows grace – John 8:1–11 He tells the adulterous woman “go, sin no more”
Paul also writes about grace – Ephesians 2:1–10 . Verse 8 says, “For by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God.”
The lowly are said to be favored with grace (Prov. 3: 34, I Pet. 5: 5). God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble
Paul experienced God’s grace (I Cor. 15: 10). By the grace of God I am what I am.
Forget all these people – what did Jesus say …look at his submission
Jesus, Jn. 4: 34, “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.
Here’s a little nugget to help you in your walk with our Lord, so claim it!!!!
II Corinthians 12:9 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.