Recently as I was meditating on God’s ways it came to me that His grace is like Spandex: it stretches with the lumps and bumps of our imperfections. Grace breathes. In fact, just thinking about it right now makes me breathe a little deeper. But alas, it isn’t long before the devil comes to snatch away my joy. Because of the sin-sick world we live in I know there is bound to be opposition to a grace-based sermon. And that makes me sad. But we have to preach it for it is the core message of the cross.
Harder still may be preaching it in our own Christian community. In a place where Licentiousness too often sneaks in to become Grace’s changeling, we have a tendency to turn back to the law: as a counter action to our sin problem, we want to reach for something that looks good and solid. But listen. What does the apostle Paul say in his letter to the Galatians? “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law then Christ is dead in vain.” God’s grace to stoop down and minister salvation to us humans is not only wonderful, it is sound theology. It is by His grace we are saved, and by it we live every day thereafter. If we should lose it, then we are lost.
God’s grace in Jesus Christ by His shed blood is the only sure footing we can offer a sinking world; and it is that firmer ground we who are slipping must regain. In Romans Paul says it is God’s goodness that leads us to repentance: He reaches out His hands. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”(Matt. 11:28-30) Grace is His yoke that fits snugly, yet comfortably, like Spandex. In scripture Jesus makes no apology for His grace and neither should we.
So throw out the lifeline of God’s grace, don’t throw it away.
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