Mikael Thomsen
The biblical truth, which makes God's grace amazing, is that while we deserved to be subjected to the terrible wrath of God because of our crimes against Him, God decided, in his unconditional, self-sacrificing love for mankind, to execute his punishment on His only begotten son.
This way, God's justice could be satisfied, while at the same time granting sinful man mercy. Through our response of repentance from sin and faith in the saving work of Christ on the Cross, God imputes unto us His own righteousness, forgiving us and hurling all our iniquities into the depths of the sea, making us new creations in Christ.
Understanding the amazing nature of God's grace firstly requires an understanding of man's depravity and guilt in breaking God's law; that man in his sins deserves to be punished and sentenced to an eternity in hell and that God is just in doing so. The book of Romans chapter 5 describes the purpose of the Law, which is to increase the trespass, making God's grace increase all the more.
Secondly, this perspective provides us with an understanding that man can do nothing to save himself. Isaiah makes it clear that all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. We can present nothing to God that would make us worthy of Him. The only thing that can grant us worth is the blood that was shed on the cross 2000 years ago. This is the Gospel. This is the good news; that while we where still sinners, Christ died for us. When the mystery of the cross is revealed to us by the working of the Holy Spirit, God's grace becomes truly amazing!
It is truly amazing that He would deliver wretched, undeserving sinners such as you and I, by crushing the most perfect and valuable being in the entire universe; the precious son of God. Who can fathom the greatness of such grace? If it doesn't take your breath away, you are yet to discover the wisdom of God in the Cross. As Charles Spurgeon wrote: "Abide hard by the Cross and search the mystery of His wounds". The Cross alone is the greatest mystery, the most profound revelation, the core meaning of our existence and the power of God to save the lost.
One of the basic fruits of salvation is this deep felt revelation of the amazing nature of God's sovereign grace. Like the Apostle Paul, your desire becomes to boast in the cross alone. My prayer is that as you read these words, God will challenge you to pursue a fresh revelation of His amazing grace; that His cross will become the focal point of all your boasting and that you would never be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is God's power to save the lost.
Scripture passages: Rom. 5:9; Acts 2:38; Rom. 4:5; Micah 7:19; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 1:28; 1 John 3:4; Matt. 23:33; Rom. 5:20; Is. 64:6; Col. 1:20; Rom. 5:8; Is. 53:10; Rom. 1:16; Gal. 6:14
