GRACE

posted June 8, 2017
author Ingrid Wijngaarde 

What is grace to me?
Grace is pardon, absolution for sinners. The Bible starts to tel us on the first pages that sin brings forth death. Sin is nothing less than the transgression of the laws of God (and that is more than the ten commandments - those are just the basic rules, lawyers speak of 'a framework law'). 

Grace is pardon for transgressors and this establishes readily the relationship between law and grace. I readily understand that wanting to live in grace apart from the law is an impossibility. 

Knowing and being aware of the fact that God is a graceous God, who pardons easily, is liberating. Because I know where to go: to a trustworthy and rigtheous God, who forgives my sins if I sincerely ask Him to.
But I understand readily why Paul says that grace does not annul the law - it is my disobedience that annuls the law, namely in the meaning that the law has no admonition for me anymore.
Likewise, I understand readily why James says: show me your faith in your works - the works of obedience, because he adds: who breaks one, breaks all. 

The grace of God is not only liberating, but it gives the power to overcome. Namely, when I think of how much Jesus paid for grace. That awareness gives an extra motivation do do my utmost to fulfill what His love asks from me.
Every day, every hour I can thank God that I have lived another day according to His principles, pleasing unto Him - that I overcame myself and the world, by faith, through faith. 

This is grace to me.

Many confuse God's patience with us with His grace for us. That gives them the motive to do what they wish, "because I can go to God and He is graceous". But that is cheap grace and an offense to the Most High. 

The more I see the end coming, the more I am aware that God's patience with this world must come to an end. We humans would have given up a long time ago. That awareness prompts me to consider, 'where do you stand, Ingrid? and it urges me in awe en humility to go to Him and ask for power to overcome myself and my weak tendensies.

receiving that power, is also grace!