Romans 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
I welcome you all in the precious name of our Lord and
Saviour, Jesus Christ. Today, I want to share a message of hope, a message of
love, and a message of grace. In Ephesians 2:8-9, the apostle Paul boldly
proclaims, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no
one can boast." This scripture beautifully encapsulates the heart of
the Christian belief in salvation by grace.
Grace is the unmerited favour of God upon
believers, the love He has for sinners. It is His love and mercy given to us,
not because we have done anything to earn it, but because He desires to give
it. This grace is the gift that brings us salvation, the precious gift that
covers all our sins and draws us into the embrace of our loving Father.
Salvation by grace is a truth that resounds throughout the
scriptures. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, He paid the ultimate price for
our sins. It was not our good works, our piety, or our attempts at
righteousness that provoked this incredible act of love. It was, instead, God's
grace, His unabashed love for each one of us. "But God demonstrates his
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us"
(Romans 5:8).
Now, this truth does not diminish the value of good works.
The Bible encourages us to do good, to love others, to live righteously. Yet, we
understand our works do not earn us salvation. They are the fruit of our faith,
the evidence of the grace that God has poured into our hearts.
Many of us might struggle to fully grasp this concept of
grace. We live in a world where we are often rewarded based on our performance,
our achievements, and our good deeds. But the Kingdom of God operates
differently. It runs on the currency of grace.
The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 offers a
potent illustration of this divine grace. The younger son, who squandered his
inheritance on reckless living, did not deserve his father's forgiveness. Yet,
the father, filled with love, forgave him unconditionally and welcomed him home
with open arms. This is grace.
Dear ones, our Heavenly Father is the same. He waits for us
with open arms, ready to forgive, ready to shower His grace upon us. We are His
beloved children, and His grace is sufficient for us.
The Christian journey to salvation, therefore, is not one
burdened with striving to earn God's favour by our deeds. Instead, it is a
journey filled with joy, peace, and assurance, knowing that grace saves us
through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, my dear brothers and sisters, let us embrace
this gift of grace with all our hearts. Let us rejoice in the assurance that
our salvation is secure, not by our works, but by the grace of God. Let us live
our lives as a testament to this grace, letting it shine in our words, our
actions, and our love for others.