Several times recently I’ve received an e-mail which informs me that I’ve been awarded some incredible sum of money – perhaps 800,000 euros! Of course, ‘incredible’ is the right word, because these are all scams, to get some money from me. The first time I got such a message it seemed so genuine I almost believed it, and for some days went along with it – and wondered how I would live with such fabulous wealth...

I tell you this because – when Paul talks about the grace of God, (or the love of God, which is almost the same thing) – he often associates it with great riches, as he does in the passage we heard read. Do you believe him, or do you dismiss it as hyperbole, as too good to be true? What is it about God’s grace that makes it so wonderful, so extraordinary – so amazing?

The meaning of God’s grace, and why we need it.

What is the meaning of grace when used of God? The basic meaning of the word is favour – any other meanings are derived from that. But the favour we’re talking about is favour which is quite undeserved, quite unmerited – granted when there is absolutely no obligation to do so. The e-mails I received were not a response to anything I had done or attempted – they just came ‘out of the blue’. And so it is with God’s grace. But we shall not realise just how amazing his grace – his favour towards us – is, until we realise just how little we deserve it.

Are you familiar with the occasion Jesus was invited to a Pharisee’s house – his name was Simon – for a meal with Simon’s friends? Jesus was not shown much respect by Simon. So when a woman, a prostitute, entered and – to the disgust of the Pharisee – proceeded to weep near Jesus, the tears falling on his feet, which she wiped with her let-down hair, and anointed with the perfume she’d brought – Jesus told Simon and his guests a story about two men, who each owed a money-lender sums of money. One owed a small sum, the other a large one, but as neither could repay, he cancelled both debts. Jesus asked, Which of these men will love the money-lender more? When Simon correctly answered, The one who had the bigger debt cancelled, Jesus pointed out the lack of courtesy shown him – in contrast to the woman’s tears, kisses and perfume. I tell you, said Jesus, her many sins have been forgiven.. but he who has been forgiven little loves little. (Luke 7:36-50)

Just before the words we heard read, Paul had written, As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and.. the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of [God’s] wrath. (Eph 2:1-3)

Those words described John Newton (whose hymn we’ve just sung) who, despising the teaching of his godly mother, turned atheist and freethinker. He ridiculed Christians, blasphemed their Saviour, and lived a life of debauchery and foul speech. But those words also describe you and me – however outwardly religious or moral we may have been – when we proudly spurn the Saviour’s love and his offer of free forgiveness.

John Newton was driven by extremity, faced with imminent death, to consider afresh the gospel. Able to recall countless coincidences of rescue from peril, he now reckoned himself beyond God’s mercy, and fit only for hell. Perhaps you would shrink back in disgust from John’s immoral life? If we think ourselves morally superior to others – our own thoughts condemn us – because we’ve not seen our own pride, our selfish attitudes, our own sinfulness in the eyes of a holy God. Paul was like that – until Jesus stopped him on the Damascus road. Why should God have pity on a rebellious sinner? To forgive – to show mercy – is to show undeserved favour – utter grace.

That is why it is so amazing! God owes us nothing but his condemnation. He has no need to save any of us. He’s under no obligation. But, because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ... For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no-one can boast... (Eph 2:4,5,8)

Why has God shown us mercy? No answer can be given beyond the mystery of his love and his character of mercy, and the purpose Paul outlines, that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. There’s nothing for us to boast about – except God’s wonderful love for us.

Why God’s grace should move us to love him.

When we’ve realised our peril and our undeserving – we should realise all the more the length God went to save us from his own condemnation. His only Son identified himself with our demerits and bore the consequences – the just sentence upon our sin. We would surely be thankful to someone who rescued us from death – at the cost of his own life? What gratitude should we have to him who died – bearing the agony of separation from his Father – to rescue us from an eternal hell?

When the so-called Prodigal Son came to his senses and turned for home and his father’s house – he knew he deserved nothing, I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men. ...But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him.. he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him... “Bring the best robe.. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet Bring the fattened calf.. Let’s have a feast.. ! (Luke 15:11-24)

That is grace.. amazing grace! God wants to restore us to become again his sons and daughters! To all the privileges of intimate fellowship in his family – to an assured future, beyond our imagination. Is it any wonder that we should spell out GRACE as Great Riches At Christ’s Expense?!

I have likened God’s action to that of someone who, ‘out of the blue’ wishes to grant to us riches beyond our wildest dreams, for no cause that lies in us. But that doesn’t begin to convey the greatness of his grace, for that sounds so impersonal, so remote. Far better to talk of God’s love for us..

God loves us, has chosen us, and will not let us down.

Most of us will have some experience of being in love – for us an overwhelming emotion of attachment and interest in the object of our affection – so that person is always in our thoughts – our feelings being such that only poets seem able to express our longings and desires. Love is as strong as death.. it burns like a blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love... (Song of Songs 8:6-7)

Human love is like that, but sadly, it can fade away.. or be transferred. But the love of God for those he has chosen is unrelenting, never fading, always faithful, despite our inconstancy, our unworthiness, our lack of passionate love for him.. (Deut 4:37; Psa 136; Hos 2:19-20; 3:1; 11:1,8; Jer 31:3,20,31-33; Lam 3:22-23)

To speak of God’s having chosen us – unconditionally – will raise all kinds of problems in our minds... that men have wrestled with down the ages. But if we are to be faithful to what his word tells us, we cannot avoid speaking of it. Jesus himself was quite clear. No-one knows the Father, except the Son, and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matt 11:27; 16:17; Luke 10:22; John 5:21) And to his disciples, You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. (John 15:16,19)

Paul too, often speaks of God’s initiative in saving us. We heard read, Because of his great love for us, God.. made us alive.. and raised us with Christ.. (Eph 2:4-6) Brothers loved by the Lord.. from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth. (2 Thess 2:13) God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Eph 1:4-6) In his letter to the Romans, Paul defends the faithfulness of God to his promises made to Israel, despite the majority of the Jews not having believed the gospel. He recalls the words of Elijah at a time of apostasy, Lord, they have killed your prophets.. I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me. And God’s reply, I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Paul comments, So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Rom 11:1-6; 1 Kgs 19:1-18)

Now it must immediately be said – this is only one side of things. Scripture makes it equally clear that, although God makes his sovereign choice of us, we must make our personal response of faith in our Saviour, and of commitment to him as our Lord. There are many places in the gospels where Jesus makes this clear. Let’s take just one or two of them.

There is the parable he told of the Pharisee and the tax-collector who went up to the temple to pray. One thanks God he is morally upright and religiously devoted; the other, knowing his unworthiness, just cries, God, have mercy on me, a sinner. (Lk 18:13) But it is he, Jesus says, who goes home right with God. Zacchaeus was just such a man, after he’d met with Jesus. When he promises to make restitution, Jesus says to him, Today salvation has come to this house.. (Lk 19:9) Men and women are saved by turning from wrong, with a trust in God that manifests itself in a changed life.

This last emphasis – that we are saved to be holy – comes out in the last words of our passage, For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph 2:10) We find this also in Paul’s words, The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age...(Titus 2:11-12)

Words of Jesus in which the two sides of salvation, God’s and man’s are interwoven, are found thus, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty... All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away... For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:35, 37, 40)

With this awareness of God’s grace, that has raised us up from spiritual death, and given us new life in Jesus – because he has set his love on us – must come too, an assurance of his keeping us through all the circumstances of life, until he brings us at last into his heavenly kingdom. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6) Already we are citizens of that heavenly kingdom – called to show God’s wonderful grace to others, as he has shown it to us! Now we need have no fear, for the Lord is with us at all times, and in his love will never let us go. (John 10:28; 17:24; Matt 28:20b)

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?... Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us... (Rom 8:31-37)

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.