Grace Upon Grace

Has a teacher ever told you after you did something you weren’t supposed to, “I’ll give you grace this time, but next time there will be consequences.” My teachers used to say that to me all the time. Maybe I was talking while they were teaching, or late to class and didn’t get a tardy slip. Most of the time, the reason a teacher says this is because you’ve done something to earn their favor. Maybe you never interrupt their teaching, or you’re never late to class, so they give you “grace” to show that they know you are a good kid. 

God’s grace is not like that. The definition of grace is “unmerited favor.” This means that there is absolutely nothing you can do to deserve it. Grace is like another chance. God’s grace is continuous. He doesn’t pour out grace on us because we are holy enough, good enough, righteous enough, smart enough, pretty enough, or kind enough. He pours His grace out on us because he loves us. Unlimited grace. 

I remember the rush of college applications last year, as I was preparing for college. With all of the applications, we also had to apply for merit based scholarships. There are countless merit scholarships to be found, from city to county to state to nation wide. It was stressful. Every scholarship was designed differently, but for every single one, I had to prove somehow that I was the best candidate for the scholarship. I had to put down all the clubs and sports I had participated in, and list the many awards I had received, as well as show the leadership positions I had been in throughout all of high school. I remember writing on a google doc all of the clubs, sports, awards, and leadership positions in categories and thinking, “This isn’t going to be enough.” 

Imagine if God’s grace was based on our merit, our accomplishments. Imagine if we had to say a prayer describing all the ways we have been faithful to Him before we receive forgiveness. How horrible would that be? Thank God that we can never do enough or be enough to earn grace, salvation, and forgiveness. The only thing that allows our pardon from sin is Jesus’ death on the cross. He paid for your sin and mine. He took all the shame and guilt, so that you and I never have to carry it. Thank Him for His grace today. Repent for the areas of your life that you’ve tried to work your way to favor with God. Then, choose to embrace the grace that is freely given to you.  

John 1:16 says, “for from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.”

In the Old Testament, there was a room in the temple where God’s presence resided called the “Holy of Holies.” Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies to talk to God. This occurred once a year. The priest would go in and make atonement for his and the people’s sin and make a sacrifice to God. Then the priest would talk to the people as an intercessor between them and God. The reason “normal” people could not enter the Holy of Holies was because they treated sin as a very serious issue. When Jesus died on the cross, all sin was placed on Him. God, in all of His perfection, became sin for us. All of our sin was transferred onto Jesus, so that Jesus’ righteousness could be transferred onto us. He took our sin, and gave us His righteousness. How cool is that? Now, we can go directly to God. Sin cannot separate us from Him any longer. 

Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

It is easy to re-enter a mindset of slavery to sin, but the truth is, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, resurrection, and the abundance of grace he has for us, we can be victorious over sin. Don’t fall into Satan’s trap of guilt and condemnation. Christ died to set you and I free, so let’s live that way, in the fullness of his grace. His grace upon grace.