The Weekly Epistle 7/14/21

“Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.”

—Julia Harriette Johnston (1849 – 1919)

Grace so great as to be greater than all my sin? Is such a grace even possible? Well, the Apostle James clearly and succinctly answers this question when he says, “But he gives more grace.” (James 4:6) 

In your mind’s eye, picture an archaic balance scale. Place all of your sins upon the scale. Start with the beginning. Start with the smallest ones first. Start with the cookie you stole from the jar on top of the fridge. Then the test you cheated on in the ninth grade, place that on top of the cookie. On top of the cookie and the test, place every lustful thought you have ever had and every red light you’ve ever run. And just for good measure, all the other sin weighing you down, put that up there too. With the scale weighed down with the burden of your sin, watch what happens when the Lord places his grace upon the opposite side of the scale. Watch your burden lift as his grace counters the weight of your sin. 

God’s grace is greater! It has always been greater! It will always be greater! Why? Because “Yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured–There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.” Jesus took the burden of our sins upon himself, and in doing so, the scales of sin and righteousness listed in our favor. At the cross of Christ, the finite weight of our sin was countered by the infinite weight of God’s unmerited favor towards us.

Live out of His grace today!

Blessings, 
 
Pastor Dan