Posted on 02/20/2017 5:25:39 AM PST by metmom
Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Romans 5:20).
God will lavish grace upon sinners who are truly repentant.
Did you ever sin so terribly that you felt, I really blew it this time. Theres no way God would want to forgive me now? Its easy sometimes to let our past sins be a constant burden to us, even after weve confessed and repented. Paul has comfort for those who feel this way, and that comfort is founded on the power and measure of Gods grace to us. Before his conversion, Paul (then known as Saul) persecuted the church mercilessly (see Acts 8:3 and 9:1-2). He was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor (1 Tim. 1:13; see also Gal. 1:13). If anyone could be beyond grace, it was Paul.
But God intervened and saved him (Acts 9:3-19). Why? For this reason, Paul says, I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life (1 Tim. 1:16). If God would forgive Paul, He will forgive anyone who will confess their sins and repent. If He would show abundant grace to a violent unbeliever, He will also shower grace upon His penitent children.
God is not stingy with grace. Paul celebrates Gods saving grace, which He freely bestowed on us (Eph 1:6), and the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us (vv. 7-8). Speaking of sustaining grace, Paul says, God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Cor. 9:8). Notice the words Paul uses: all grace, abound, all sufficiency, everything, abundance, every good deed. Gods grace is inexhaustible and is given so freely that words cannot express it fully.
Great sins require great grace, but God will give super-abundant grace to those who seek forgiveness, for where sin increased, grace abounded all the more (Rom. 5:20). Dont let your past sins weigh you down; learn to rest upon Gods super-abundant grace.
Suggestions for Prayer
Ask God to teach you to understand His grace more fully and help you forget what lies behind (Phil. 3:13).
For Further Study
Read Romans 6.
What is Pauls argument here? How are we to live now that we have received Gods grace?
Studying God’s Word ping
Bfl study
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