Amazing Grace

It’s more than a hymn – it’s the love of God revealed to each and everyone of us.

Amazing GRACE how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found; was blind but now I see.

GRACE – unmerited favor; God’s unconditional goodness and love coming to us as a free gift! We so often get the idea that God only loves us or shows us favor when we are doing well and measuring up to a certain religious standard. Not so, that wouldn’t be grace! God’s love and grace are always extended to us – that’s what makes it GRACE! That’s what makes it so AMAZING!

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” II Peter 3:18

Those words were written by Peter, the man who denied the Lord three times on the night of his betrayal. The same man who stepped out of the boat to walk on water and began to sink when he looked at the waves and lost sight of Jesus.

This Peter was the same man who stood up on the day of Pentecost and preached to the crowds, unashamed and unafraid of what might be done to him. He was thrown in jail for preaching Jesus and then was threatened by the religious leaders.

“ But to keep this thing from spreading, we will warn them never again to speak to anyone about the name of Jesus.” ¹⁸ So they called the two apostles back in and told them they must never, for any reason, teach anything about the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ Peter and John answered, “Do you think God wants us to obey you or to obey him? ²⁰ We cannot keep quiet about what we have seen and heard.”…²⁹ Lord, listen to their threats! We are your servants. So make us brave enough to speak your message. ³⁰ Show your mighty power, as we heal people and work miracles and wonders in the name of your holy Servant Jesus.” Acts 4:17-20, 29-30 CEV

The message of grace is the theme of the New Testament. The birth of Christ, the message of reconciliation that He preached, His death and resurrection, and the message that the apostles took to all the world was the message of grace.

“ And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. ⁶ And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.

⁷ In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace. ⁸ God gave us that grace fully and freely. With full wisdom and understanding ⁹ he let us know his secret plan. This was what God wanted, and he planned to do it through Christ.” Ephesians 2:5-9 ERV

Amazing grace! May we grow in grace each day. God’s plan for our salvation was conceived before the world was even formed. How amazing is that?