Thursday, July 19, 2007

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Words by Julia Johnston

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt – isn’t that great news? Christ’s blood on the cross paid for all our sin – it is ALL covered by His amazing grace.

The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:20-21

As believers in Jesus Christ, grace reigns in our lives. Our sin is covered by His grace, even though we live in a world of sin. Sin does threaten us with despair and loss. I so often grieve at the results of the fall – so much sin and death in the world, which we all experience each and every day. But grace points to the cross – where Jesus took all that sin on Himself in order to set us free.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. II Cor. 8:9

That sin in the world is also in us, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Our sin leaves a dark stain, and it’s impossible for it to be hidden from our loving God. No matter how hard we try, we fall short of His glory, and we could never work hard enough to earn His grace and our salvation.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9

And that is the beauty of grace. It is the gift of God. We can’t earn it, we simply believe in God and His son Jesus Christ, acknowledge our sin and accept His forgiveness.

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. Eph. 1:5-8

As this hymnwriter so aptly says, it is marvelous, infinite, matchless grace. And it’s freely bestowed on everyone who believes. Your sin can be covered by this free gift of grace, you can be made clean. When you ask God to forgive your sins and be your personal Savior, you will be a recipient of that marvelous, infinite, matchless grace.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. Titus 2:11

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Awesome post!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that hymn.

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt – isn’t that great news? YES!!! it really, really is!!