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One morning I was chatting with one of my coworkers, and I made the comment that I was “fresh out of grace this morning.” Unfortunately, I can’t remember the exact context; perhaps that would be “funnier” if I could. But it made me think about what my life would be like if I was indeed “fresh out of grace” (an idiom meaning my supply is completely exhausted—used up).
Even more ironic is the fact that immediately following that conversation I went to my desk and began a re-edit of our book Knowing the Truth About Eternal Security, which begins by declaring the grace of God! If that’s not a beautiful reminder that God’s grace is inexhaustible, I don’t know what is!
So here’s the thing. If I were truly “fresh out” of grace, I would be solely responsible for my own salvation. That means, among other things, I would be required to perfectly keep all the laws God gave in the Old Testament. Taking just the Ten Commandments as my benchmark, I would be in very big trouble on number nine alone (don’t bear false witness—lie). And I’m not even going to go into the other nine. How well do you think I would be able to meet the standard of perfection God requires for entry into heaven (“Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48; cf. Habakkuk 1:13)?
Can you see the big flashing lights spelling out “FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!”?
So what’s the alternative? In a word, grace. God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin. Grace that God provided for me while I was (and still am) a sinner. Grace that sent Jesus to the cross to take upon Himself the penalty I deserve for all those laws I have broken.
Grace that is a free gift from God: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Theologians might argue that it is “faith” not “grace” that is the “free gift” here, but I think we can safely contend it is both!
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:9-10).
Yes. That grace.
