Friday, May 20, 2005

Experience Grace!

How does one “experience grace”? It sounds like an advertisement for a new ride at Great America, or a new game for your Xbox. However, the neatest thing about this billing is that there is no charge, no subscription fee, no origination fee or recurring maintenance fees. Christ has freely given us the opportunity to have the experience!
To experience grace is to experience salvation. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). The act of grace provides salvation and also effects salvation when received by faith in Jesus Christ.
To experience salvation is to experience the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through his great grace he has extended grace to us in the offering of himself as a substitute for the penalty of sin. The message of Easter is the power of salvation, Christ’s death, burial and resurrection! The cross commenced it, the grave contained it, but the resurrection confessed the power of the Gospel and conferred to us deliverance from the bondage of sin and death! Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
The “experience” of grace continues in our lives until the day we stand in his presence! His grace is our guide, our inspiration, our hope! God, “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:9).
Experience His grace again and anew today!