Undeserved Grace - article by Joel Hempel
I know you know about undeserved grace. In our church body – as in many other denominations – we talk a lot about our being saved by God’s grace through Spirit-generated faith, and that it has nothing to do with our own effort (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But recently, I have been thinking about underserved grace in the face of my repetitious, unchristian thinking and behavior. I know I am taking a risk in sharing this with you, but I am trusting that I’m not the only sinner in the congregation.
Sometimes I get so fed up with myself. I’ve been a Christian for 78 years. And still, after decades of formal training in understanding Scripture, proclaiming God’s Law and Gospel, counseling others on how to live the faith, and apologizing to my wife, family, and friends, I continue to mess up – repeatedly! What’s wrong with me? Maybe you can relate.
Recently, I have found reassurance in Jesus’ words to Peter in Matthew 18:21-22. It’s probably a safe bet that most of us don’t have to count on as many as 7 X 70 statements of forgiveness from any one person – with maybe the exception of our spouse (if married). I haven’t kept count, but I’m sure I have exceeded 490 offenses against Marcia in our 55 years of marriage.
But I would suggest that God's forgiveness is more important than forgiveness from our closest dear ones. Every night as I lay in bed and confess my sins to God, I think, “How long can He keep this up? How many times can I say, “I’m sorry,” before God says, “That’s it! You’re at your limit”?
It’s a scary thought to consider that there may be a limit to God’s grace.
There is a limit to God’s love. He gives people a lifetime to recognize his Son Jesus as their Savior. His mercy is extended repeatedly hoping that everyone will repent of their resistance and receive his forgiveness and grace. But in the end, if people hold fast to their stubbornness, he will let them go.
But when it comes to his patience with Christians, it is limitless. That is half of the meaning of the Matthew 18:21-22 passage. That is what makes God’s grace so completely foreign to our experience. 7 X 70 is symbolic for endless. How many times should we forgive others? Quit counting and just do it. To forgive without counting is to live like Jesus.
The only reason you and I can go to sleep at night after confessing our sins is because God’s grace covers our lifetime. There is no reason to attempt to hide our sins from God. We can openly confess because He has openly declared, “You are forgiven – today, for all that is in your past, and into eternity.”
