Bible Reading: Nehemiah 6: Titus 2:9-17
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” – Titus 2:11 (KJV).
But for the grace of God, no man would be saved. The fallen state of man made it impossible for man to save himself. There was nothing anyone could do to redeem the fallen man. God in his infinite love and mercy stepped in to save the lost man. Salvation is purely by grace, not of works thus leaving no room for anyone to boast. Man on his part did nothing to merit salvation; all he deserved was death, wrath and condemnation.
Justice demanded wrath and eternal destruction in hell, the price was beyond what man could afford, eternity will be too short and inadequate to fully pay for the penalty of sin. In this frustrating and hopeless state of man, God stepped in to show love and mercy. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” – John 3:16 (KJV). What a great love the father bestowed on man that he could give so great a gift to sinners that rejected him. God, the law giver, took the place of man, the law breaker in order to bring salvation. This is amazing grace. If we are required to do some work to make up for the fall and satisfy the demands of divine justice that would not be grace but work. The law could not save man because the law demanded human merit; grace saved us on the merit of grace. Salvation is purely at Christ’s expense.
Salvation is not completely free, it is free only for man, the sinner, but it cost God his only begotten son. It is free for the sinner because God had to pay the price. It was such a costly price, the very life of his only begotten son.
Man is called to freely receive salvation by faith in the finished work of Christ, this is amazing grace. Grace brought salvation from sin’s penalty, grace brings salvation from sins power and grace will bring salvation from sin’s presence.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you for your amazing grace.
Rev. Vincent Diolu