“Rich Grace, Much Need”

       “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

      “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven” (Luke 7:47).

    God’s pardon offered through the Lord Jesus Christ requires a bountiful bestowal of forgiveness to each of us, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “according to the riches of His grace.”  Such grace required the very life blood of God’s Son, revealing how great indeed was and is our need. Indeed, for each of us who trust in Christ, it can be said that “our sins which are many, are forgiven.”

     In a generation wherein time-honored standards of truth and righteousness are quickly passing into cultural oblivion, born again believers do well to ensure that we maintain our convictions in the personal sense.  We can do little to stem the unholy tide of the world.  We can do much to keep our own beliefs in accordance with the Word of God.  Failure to do so means that we will redefine righteousness and sin for ourselves, rationalizing and ignoring attitudes, actions, and words that do not stand the test of God’s will.  This results in our need for forgiveness without our recognizing it, leading to a conscience stained that cannot be cleansed because we fail to see our need.  “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” (Hebrews 10:22).

     Consistent exposure to the Bible causes consistent exposure of areas of unbelief and disobedience.  God offers lavish grace and mercy for such failing, but not if we do not recognize the need for it.  “Cleanse Thou me from secret faults” prayed the Psalmist, who also confessed, “Let Thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even Thy salvation, according to Thy Word”(Psalm 19:12; 119:41).  We need not fear exposure of sin because “there is forgiveness with Thee” (Psalm 130:4).  We should, however, greatly fear our native tendency to either justify ourselves, or to ignore or neglect the Scriptural light that defines for us life and death, good and evil, righteousness and sin.  Much grace is available.  Much recognition of our need for it is required. Much light awaits us in the Bible to ensure that both truths form and inform our journey along the path of righteousness.

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.”

(Psalm 119:8)