Grace of God
Pastor Viju Mathai
Latest posts by Pastor Viju Mathai (see all)
- Discernment vs. Judgment – V (God’s Guidelines for Discerning) - April 4, 2016
- Discernment vs. Judgment -IV (How do we Discern) - April 4, 2016
- Discernment vs. Judgment -III (Diakrino, Dokimazo) - April 4, 2016
Romans 5:21 – so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The fullness of God’s grace is beyond human appreciation, comprehension or full knowledge. The riches of His goodness cannot be expressed or described by mortal tongue. We can only attempt to describe it, and our best efforts will be a puny approximation. We can admire the beauty of divine grace, but we cannot really explore its depths. At best we can only stand in awe at what we see, and exclaim with the Apostle Paul:
Romans 11:33-36 – 33. Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34.”Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35. “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” 36. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Anyone who attempts to talk about God’s grace must begin, again with Paul, by confessing personal inadequacy or incompetence for the task (2 Cor. 3:5 – Our competence comes from God). We are at best clay pots, entrusted with a priceless treasure (2 Cor. 4:7). Yet God can enable even clay pots to speak his word and glorify his name. “Our competence is from God” (2 Cor. 3:5). “We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. 4:5). The “surpassing greatness of the power” is from God and not from us (2 Cor. 4:7).