Salvation Through Grace

• What do the words of the hymn “Amazing Grace” mean to you?

• What would you say to someone who claimed that he or she “deserved” to go to heaven?

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Ephesians 1:7-8

You can’t talk about God’s grace without also talking about his justice and mercy. Justice means getting exactly what we deserve. Mercy means not getting the bad that we deserve. Grace means getting the good that we do not deserve.

Grace can never be earned. It can only be given. God gives us his grace because he loves us. There’s no other explanation for it. Not only do we not deserve it, but we deserve the exact opposite of it.

If a prisoner on death row is executed for a crime, that’s justice. If the prisoner is pardoned by the governor just before the execution, that’s mercy. If the prisoner is set free and given a house to live in for the rest of their life, that’s grace.

Let’s make a commitment as a family to spend some time thinking, talking, and praying about God’s grace. Let’s think about what God’s grace cost him, namely, his Son. Let’s talk about how his grace completely changes our future. After all, as sinners, we had no hope of spending eternity in heaven. And let’s pray to show God how grateful we are for his amazing grace.

PRAYER
Dear God, we praise you for being perfectly just, as well as merciful and gracious. You have changed our lives and given us a future that we don’t deserve. Let us never forget what your grace cost you. Thank you for loving us. Amen.