The expression that says, "There but for the grace of God, go I", is rooted in a profound revelation that without Him, "there is none righteous, no not one !" Of late i have come to realize that any criticism directed at "hyper-grace" is saying that "Where sin abounds, the Grace of God has its limits !" Poking our loving, merciful, compassionate, yes and even Righteous Heavenly Father, in the eye, is not something i would ever want to be guilty of ! Heaven forbid !!
With that considered, i would like to share with you another great article penned by our brother, Ted Brason. (No "pun" intended) I pray that your heart will be as stirred as mine is, toward others who deserve our own love and forgiveness.
Where Sin Abounds...GRACE
"Herein is the extremity of God's love gift: mankind was rotten to the core when Christ died their death. If God could love us that much when we were ungodly and guilty, how much more are we free to realize his love now that we are deemed innocent by his blood? Our hostility towards God did not reduce his love for us. He saw EQUAL value in us when He exchanged the life of His Son for ours. Now that the act of reconciliation is complete, His life in us saves us from the guttermost to the uttermost." (Romans 5:8-10)
If you ever want a better understanding and revelation of the extremity of God's love and grace, spend some time among the guttermost. I have spent the past two years of my life sleeping, eating and living next to many of society's "rottenest" individuals, by the standards of the law, some of whom have committed the most heinous and vile acts mankind is capable of. They are the prisoners of darkness, locked in the lifestyles of some the worst evils and perversions imaginable. The truth is, however, that Christ died even for these. God's love and grace reaches out even to the worst offenders here.
Society hasn't seen any evil today that wasn't fully manifested over two-thousand years ago when Christ died. The world had reached a climax of evil - it couldn't have been any worse when God exchanged the life of His son for ours. (So much for the theory that society is getting worse!) There is no evil or sin that mankind has committed, or is capable of committing, that isn't completely covered and forgiven under the blood of the Lamb.
As I encounter those around me here and learn of some of these horrific crimes, and as I see first-hand the evil that the human heart is capable of producing, I can't help but remember that, despite all of it, Christ still died, and I am left in awe over His far-reaching, amazing grace. God sees equal value in the life of the most violent and perverse individual as he does in the life of His only son, Jesus Christ. This can and should blow our minds! If he loved mankind in his guttermost, rottenest state, how much more are we free to encounter and realize His love in a state of complete innocence and blamelessness - as we are now? If this doesn't change the way we see the world, nothing will!
Think about this: how easy would it be for you to die for a loved one? How about a friend? How about a total stranger? Now, think about giving your life up for your worst enemy. Could you die for someone who killed your husband or raped your wife, or child? This is the extremity of the Father's love for mankind. Even in our hatred and hostility towards God, He still loved us.
God's love cannot be overestimated and overstated. It cannot be candy-coated because it is already sweeter than anything we have ever tasted. We can never be accused of hyping up God's love because we can't even come close to understanding and describing the fullness of it. In fact, the Word tells us that it will take all of eternity for God to enlighten us to the kindness that was shown to us in Christ. All we can do is receive it by faith, and as we become full on the sweet wine of His love, it will naturally spill out of us onto others. This is the gospel - as simple as it gets. Most people would cringe at the idea of being in such close proximity to those who have committed such horrible sins and evils, but guess who Jesus hung out with? I am grateful, not to be exposed to the evils, but to be exposed to the grace that goes along with it. (Where sin abounds, grace abounds, much more.")
Ted Brason
All glory and honor and praise to our Elohim !
Amen
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