AMAZING GRACE by Gary Wilkerson
The grace that Jesus says He pours out upon us is unparalleled in the history of all mankind. The word “grace” has become almost as common as the word “prayer” in the Bible. We all go, “Oh, yes, I believe in grace. Sure, of course.” We sing the hymn Amazing Grace and emphasize the second word, agreeing that grace is wonderful, a thing we all enjoy.
But wait! That’s not all that grace is! It is so much more than we could ever imagine. Why are our hearts not exuberant with worship or enamored with grace? Because, to us, grace has become minimalized, acceptable. It has become normal, average, something we are content with.
As I talk about this revolutionary, unmerited grace, this gift from God that changes your heart and produces fruit in you, many of you are saying, “Grace . . . yes . . . but!” If you are one of these, you are dangling in the realm of legalism. You are escaping the realm of grace and becoming trapped into trying to do it yourself.
See what Paul says about this to the Galatian church in Galatians 3:1-3 (ESV): “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? . . . Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
Sadly, many of us say, “Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace on the cross. That grace has cleansed me and given me a clean slate. Thank You for my fresh start . . . now I can do it myself.”
The problem is, you cannot do it yourself. Many are offended by grace because grace says we can’t do it on our own; every time we try, we fail miserably.
Do you want to be free today? Then just say, “I’m a failure on my own; I cannot keep the law of God by myself. Thank God for His grace!”
But wait! That’s not all that grace is! It is so much more than we could ever imagine. Why are our hearts not exuberant with worship or enamored with grace? Because, to us, grace has become minimalized, acceptable. It has become normal, average, something we are content with.
As I talk about this revolutionary, unmerited grace, this gift from God that changes your heart and produces fruit in you, many of you are saying, “Grace . . . yes . . . but!” If you are one of these, you are dangling in the realm of legalism. You are escaping the realm of grace and becoming trapped into trying to do it yourself.
See what Paul says about this to the Galatian church in Galatians 3:1-3 (ESV): “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? . . . Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
Sadly, many of us say, “Thank You, Jesus, for Your grace on the cross. That grace has cleansed me and given me a clean slate. Thank You for my fresh start . . . now I can do it myself.”
The problem is, you cannot do it yourself. Many are offended by grace because grace says we can’t do it on our own; every time we try, we fail miserably.
Do you want to be free today? Then just say, “I’m a failure on my own; I cannot keep the law of God by myself. Thank God for His grace!”