In Julia Johnston’s hymn “Grace
Greater Than Our Sin” she writes in the chorus “Marvelous Grace, Infinite
Grace” (those are the harmony part words), then in unison, “Grace that will
pardon and cleanse within.” Every day
people become overcome with despair at the depravity of their own sin. Such
guilt is manifest in many negative ways.
But there is a remedy and it is found in the theme of this song and the
words of the chorus. Grace and pardon
can change despair to a life filled with hope, victory, joy and everlasting
peace.
If you have ever been pulled over by
a police officer for some “minor” offense, and when we commit them they are
always “minor”, what are you hoping when the officer approaches your car? The most common response is that people hope the
officer will be gracious and just let them off with a warning. People don’t want a blot on their driving
record. After all, it wasn’t really
serious; it was just momentary slip of responsible driving. Don’t let my parents know; don’t let my wife
know; don’t let my insurance company know that I had this “minor” mistake
today. That is how people feel and they
really want the officer to extend them a little grace and pardon for their
behavior.
What about all the other “mistakes”
we make in life? What about our complete
failure to keep the two great commandments to love God supremely and love our
neighbor as ourselves? This kind of law
breaking isn’t just an occasional lapse; it is engrained in our nature. We are sinners and there is just punishment
for all our sins – death. Our sins are a real offense against a holy and pure
God. Whether they are “minor” to us or not, they are ugly to a holy God.
But God in grace sent His own Son to
die for our sins! In that horrible
death, Jesus Christ shed His blood and that pure blood can wash away sin. In that blood, and that blood alone, is the
full atonement for all sin and the sole means to find forgiveness. Forgiveness means that we will not be held
accountable for that sin forever. It
means that God has chosen in His power to not only forgive our sin, but He also
will forget our sin forever. By faith in
Jesus Christ we stand new and pure before God and it is a forever secured
position granted by God’s grace through His Son’s sacrifice. Indeed we can sing with joy the opening line
of Julia Johnston’s hymn, “Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, grace that
exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured – there
where the blood of the lamb was spilt!”
Rejoice today in God’s great forgiving grace. Live in the joy of His abundant grace.
You
may also enjoy this inspirational devotional book, The Gospel According to Molly,
available
here:
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