THERE is much said in the word of God on the subject of grace. It is a great mercy to us that it is so; for if it were all righteousness, and no grace, our portion would surely be eternal judgment.
There is a sweetness in the word grace, and the heart of the divinely-convicted soul drinks it in, and feels that, though it is far from comprehending the full extent of that precious word, yet it is the only word that really suits its case. It appropriates itself to the sinner’s case and condition, to his lost estate, and proposes nothing short of present and eternal salvation.
Not that God has let go His righteousness in order to exercise grace, but “grace reigning through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:2121That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21).) How wonderfully blessed is this! Grace and righteousness going hand in hand together for the sinner’s eternal blessing. Righteousness the basis, and grace upon that ground saving the lost.
Grace, the unmerited favor of God, reigns in a world of sin and death. On the ground of the death of Christ it goes forth into a scene of ruin, into a world of lost sinners, with a full salvation from God to man. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.” (Titus 2:1111For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:11).) Marvelous statement! It contemplates “all men” as sinners, lost and under God’s judgment, and appears to them bringing salvation.
Like a lifeboat going to a sinking ship, it brings salvation, and saves all who will avail themselves of it: if any refuse, they sink with the ship. Such must be the sad consequence if this “salvation of God” is rejected: it leaves the sinner in his sins, to sink — where? Into eternal perdition!
Beloved reader, refuse not this precious, saving grace of God, I beseech of you. It brings you salvation, not as the fruit of your own doings, but of the untold sufferings and death of the Son of God.
How precious is the thought, that salvation has been brought to us, and brought by the grace of God! It is brought to us where we are, and as we are; and whatever may be our condition, it saves us out of it, and henceforth we are saved. Wonderful word! “God hath saved us.” (2 Timothy 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9).) “For by grace are ye saved.” (Ephesians 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8).) “Woman, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:5050And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50).)
In fact it is grace from first to last. God is the God of all grace; by grace are we saved, being justified freely by His grace, restored by His grace, sustained by His grace, and in heaven to the glory of His grace.
“Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting day;
It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.”
E. A.