Grace. 2 Cor. 5.20 - 6.2

In the movie “The Last Emperor”, the young child anointed as the last emperor of China lives a magical life of luxury with a thousand eunuch
servants at his command. “What happens when you do wrong?” his brother asks. “When I do wrong, someone else is punished,” the boy emperor replies. To demonstrate, he breaks a jar, and one of the servants is beaten.

In Christian theology, Jesus reversed that ancient pattern: when the servants erred, the King was punished. Grace is free only because the giver himself has borne the cost.

Grace. Grace is difficult to comprehend, though this movie vignette sure does capture the heart of God’s grace. His heart of mercy is extended to us, though we certainly do not deserve it. There are just shades of gray between mercy and grace—

grace, ‘the enjoyment of divine favor’, and

mercy, ‘the compassion extended to someone instead of severity’

With grace, as we already know, it is God who takes the initiative. Oh, how our world thirsts for grace, though it has no comprehension of such. And in truth, while the ‘world can do almost anything as well as or better than the church . . . there is only one thing the world cannot do. It cannot offer grace.”1 It takes grace for mankind to get right with God, for mankind to be reconciled to God.

And so Paul writes: We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you,

now is the time of God’s favor,

now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor. 5.20 – 6.2

Okay, I get it…be reconciled to God…get right with God…He has made the way for us to do that, and now’s the time! But—what is Paul’s warning about not receiving God’s grace in vain? Hmmm . . . If something is used 'in vain' or done ‘in vain’, it is wasted, of no consequence, or to no avail. In essence, when we fail to accept God’s grace, when we fail to accept what Jesus did for us, we let his death be in vain, ignoring its divine
eternal value. God’s grace is free to us, but it cost God a lot--his Son. Being free, there is nothing we can do to earn God’s saving grace – “For by grace you have been saved by faith. Not of works, lest any man should boast,” Paul wrote.2

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we are free to be our true selves.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we are not bound by legalism.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we then discover God’s great love.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we are freed from judgment.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we realize that he is in control.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we can let him be in control.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we release our burdens to him.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we know our sins are forgiven.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we are not trying to be ‘good’.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we know that only he makes us good.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, we step into his purposes for us.

When we learn to walk in God’s grace, it is a beautiful thing!

Let us not receive his precious grace in vain, my dear ones.

Christine