Ephesians 1:7 NKJV
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.
One of the most amazing things about the grace of God is the power it carries to forgive. Through the riches of his grace we are redeemed through the blood of Christ and our sins have forgiven.
The bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. That means that there was only one direction we were destined to go and that is the way of death, that being the wages for the sinful life we live. But God in his mercies extended his grace towards us. His grace is unmerited favor, we did not deserve it and neither had we asked for it but in his own mercy, he paid the price and extended to us grace.
Reminds me of a story I once read about the late Billy Graham;
When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town, he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his guilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court. The judge asked, “Guilty, or not guilty?” When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, “That’ll be ten dollars—a dollar for every mile you went over the limit.” Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. “You have violated the law,” he said. “The fine must be paid, but I am going to pay it for you.” He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! “That,” said Billy Graham, “is how God treats repentant sinners!”
That’s the power of grace to forgive, not only does God forgive us, but he treats us as though we had never sinned in the first place. As one preacher put it, “Grace is not being given what you deserve and it’s also being given what you don’t deserve!”
God knowing that we are human knows that we will make mistakes from time to time and that is why his grace is extended so much so that he says that when we sin and we go back to him and ask for forgiveness, he is faithful to forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Reflective Thoughts
Do you believe that ALL your sins have been forgiven and you are now the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus?
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What are some things you know you did not deserve but God still gave them to you anyway?
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Are you quick to extend forgiveness to others the same way God is quick to extend it to you?
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