NOTHING BUT PURE GRACE

NOTHING BUT PURE GRACE

“As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him…the servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go” (Matthew 18:24, 27).

As you read the parable taught by Jesus, you wonder can this really be true. We say, “It doesn’t make any sense,” “Impossible,” “unbelievable”. Indeed, how could the master forgive that servant such mammoth, massive and colossal debt? At the time of the story the amount owed would have been close to $10 million. Today, we would have to talk in the Trillions of dollars—like the national debt of our country.

The question needs to be asked again to sink in. Why would the master do such a thing to wipe out the debt completely? Not because the destitute and penniless debtor deserved it but because the master had pity on him. This is NOTHING BUT PURE GRACE

Now bring this closer to home—to you personally. We say, “It doesn’t make any sense,” “Impossible,” “unbelievable”. But is this not what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me the sinner? The Lord of the Church Jesus looks at the ton­nage of sin that bends the shoulders of my soul. He looks at my abilities and sees nothing that can help me get rid of that horri­ble weight. He notices that no matter how hard I try, how many prayers I lift up, how many good deeds I do, I still fall short.

So, God springs into action as ONLY God can. He lifts those sins off me and puts them on the One who CAN carry them. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “The lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all,” (Isaiah 53:6). Take your Bibles out and read that verse again and highlight the word “him” in bold red color. When Isaiah says “him” he is pointing to Jesus, the sin­less Son of God. On Him God heaped, piled and stacked the sins of the world (yours and mine too) and through Him hurled them forever into the depths of the sea. With my sins paid by Jesus’ blood, I can stand debt free before God. This is NOTHING BUT PURE GRACE

It is told that the English pastor who penned the hymn “Rock of Ages” estimated that by the time a person reached the age of 20, he had sinned 630 million times. By the age of 50, he sup­posed the count had gone up to a billion and a half sins. Not sure what it will be at 70 or 80 years old, but am sure it has gone out of the roof. I am not a mathematician and therefore, I don't know how good that pastor’s math was. However, I am a theologian and do know how numerous my sins are and so do you. And we don't even know half of them. But thank God I also know that Jesus bore them all when God laid on Him the iniquity of us all. This is NOTHING BUT PURE GRA CE

John Newton an English poet and clergyman (1725–1807), wrote a Christian Hymn “Amazing Grace” and published it in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God, “Amazing Grace” is one of the most recognizable and loved songs in the English-speaking world.

No wonder people love this hymn, because after all this is NOTHING BUT PURE GRACE. Here are a couple of stanzas to cause you to reflect and give thanks to the Lord, Jesus Christ who took upon His shoulders the sins of humanity:

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear,
And Grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

The blessings of Grace received is not because we deserve it, but because God Himself is gracious, compassionate and merciful. He doesn’t wish anyone to get to hell, but all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the TRUTH (1Timothy 2:4)

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ makes this Grace freely available every time the Word is read and proclaimed. It is Grace upon Grace that is freely offered at Redeemer. Here, hearts are touched by this GRACE so that sinners leave un-burdened, un-shackled and un-weighted by sins, its shame and consequences and their hearts are over flowing with this pure and lovely sweet GRACE; but hearts filled with GRACE upon GRACE. THIS IS NOTHING BUT PURE GRACE!!!

In Christ’s love and in His service,

Rev. Nabil S. Nour Pastor and Foot Washer Phil. 1:6