Grace or Nothing
Scripture Reading — Luke 15:17-24
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.
The wayward son has a speech prepared that includes an offer to work to repay his debt. The father allows his son to confess his sin and accept the consequences of his sin. Owning up to our sin and the damage it causes is a vital part of true repentance.
But the father interrupts the son before he can make any offer of amends, before the son can try to work his way back into the father’s favor by offering himself as a hired hand.
For lost sinners, grace is the only possible option. It’s grace or nothing. There is simply nothing the son could ever do or say that could make up for the pain of his blatant rebellion. Likewise, there is nothing we can do to win back the favor of our Father. Our rebellion against our Father God is so scandalous that we can do nothing to earn his favor. The only thing we can do is receive the gift of complete forgiveness through Jesus and come home.
No matter how far you have wandered or how much you have squandered from the Father, it is safe to come home. Jesus has paid the price for your sin. He died, rose again, ascended into heaven, and is interceding for you and me before the Father. And God is eager to lavish the full measure of his grace on you. Have you received his grace?
Thank you, Father, for the free gift of our salvation, bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. We receive your grace and want to live as your children. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Rob Jansons
Rob Jansons is the pastor of New Hope Fellowship in Monroe, Washington, where he has served for almost twenty years. He and his wife, Sue, have been married since 1989 and have three daughters. Rob spends time each year in Calcutta, India, working with a Christian ministry to children living in slums. He enjoys hiking in the Pacific Northwest, camping with his family, reading, writing, and being a pastor.
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