PART THREE: THE GRACE OF GOD

There is in that question, "Shall we sin that grace may abound?," something rich, though. That is, grace has come to undeserving people. Grace has come to those who deserve the wrath of God. Grace has come to sinners. Grace has not come to the righteous but the unrighteous. Grace is not ultimately related to human doing, whether evil or good. It is related to God's mercy, God's kindness, God's love for people in Christ. Grace does indeed abound in spite of our sinfulness, no matter how great our sin is. Grace never ends, never stops. God is One who is abounding in steadfast love and mercy toward His people. Their sins do not disqualify them. In fact, it is their sinfulness that is the need which God's love in Christ addresses. They cannot prepare themselves through righteousness to receive that grace; grace alone provides true righteousness. "Just as I am without one plea" is the only way we are to come to God's grace in Christ. God's grace serves us as sinners, cleans us up as sinners, enables us to be free of sin's power and influence. Jesus said, "I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many." Grace does not ask to be served but to serve. Grace is Christ's blood, His ransom for sin. Grace is all the promises or blessings that flow from the cross of Christ. Christ is the help of the helpless, the hope of the hopeless. If we are failures, sinful wretches, we qualify as those Christ died for. Christ did not come for the righteous but the unrighteous. Those who are healthy don't need a physician. But Christ is the great physician which means that no one is healthy. Everyone is sick and in need of Him. Grace makes people aware that they are sick and grace makes them well. Grace teaches our hearts to fear and Grace our fear relieves. Christ is one among us who washes our feet and, thus, teaches us to wash each other's feet.