Hymn 373, By Grace I’m
Saved, Grace Free and Boundless is our hymn of the week—How is it that we
have been set free from the bondage of sin, to live a life pleasing to God,
with love toward our neighbor? Only by the grace of God. Our salvation is a
free gift; our works could never begin to secure our salvation. But, through
the love of God poured out upon us in the person of His Son, Jesus, He has made
us His own. Tomorrow’s chief hymn is a jubilant recounting of the goodness of
God in graciously providing for our salvation.
Yes, there is something more lasting, more powerful,
and greater than your sin. It is the love and compassion Jesus has for us sinners.
While each of us were lost and steeped in sin, God our Father had a plan, a
plan which was in place way before the dawn of time.
What God did not become. He could not save. And so,
Christ came into the world as one of us. To save us. Jesus came into the world.
To be counted with sinners. To save sinners.
At the right time, God our heavenly Father would send
His only Son. Jesus would enter into our world, breaking into time and space.
He came to be your substitute. He would live the perfect life for you. He would
die the death that you deserve.
And there, at a cross, He would trade your sin, your
misery, your guilt and shame to exchange it for His perfection. And work out
what you and I could never, ever do!
Yes, Jesus has done for you better than what you could
ever do for yourself. When settling the issue with sin, Jesus acts alone. He
dealt with the issues of your brokenness Himself. Period. With no help from
anyone. The Father sends His own Son to the cross. Jesus bore your sin. He
carried it alone. – To the cross of Calvary. There He died for you.
There He wins salvation for the entire world. And on
the third day. He rose from the dead to prove to you that this freedom, this
forgiveness, this new life, has been credited to you.
God is completely responsible for your salvation. From
front to back! You don’t one-day wake up and decide to follow Jesus – Rather,
He plants the seed of faith in your heart in Holy Baptism by the power of His
Holy Spirit.
He then nourishes that faith by giving you His eternal
Word, which is able to make you wise unto salvation. This is what St. Paul
reminds us when he tells us “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.” - Ephesians 2:8-9
Help me Lord Jesus!
Lift High the Cross copyright ©
Ed Riojas, Higher Things
No comments:
Post a Comment