Grace – Given Redemption At Christ’s Expense (1)

I have often heard that the acronym, G.R.A.C.E.,stands for God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. I feel that this is really awesome as it is a constant reminder of how much God loves us, His children. He has given us His riches at the expense of His beloved Son, Jesus. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9 NIV)

As I was meditating on what to write for today’s post, the acronym G.R.A.C.E. took on a more personal meaning for me. To me, G.R.A.C.E. speaks of me as a wretched sinner being Given Redemption At Christ’s Expense. Redemption is GIVEN because I have not done and can never do anything to earn it; it is God’s gift to all who will receive it. 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; (Romans 3:23,24 NAS Bible)

What is redemption? WordReference.com English Dictionary defines redemption as repurchase, buyback, the act of purchasing back something previously sold. It is also defined as salvation. Not only have I been given salvation at Christ’s expense, blessings that previously belonged to me have been bought back at Christ’s expense!

Galatians 3:13,14 sum it up beautifully: 13-14Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham's blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it. (The Message)

What is my part? I only need to believe! The New Kings James bible says in verse 14 “that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith”

Is Grace Amazing to You?

One of the most beloved hymns of all time, Amazing Grace, starts with " Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me..."

When I was in college, my friend would joke that every time she sang that hymn, she would change the sentence "that saved a wretch like me" to "that saved a wretch like YOU". As she sang that, she would look at her clueless friend gleefully and give the poor girl a painful jibe in the elbow.

I used to laugh at her antic and her ingenuity at changing that particular sentence of the hymn. Now in retrospect, it has struck me that to my friend at that time, there was nothing amazing about grace because she never felt that the word "wretch" described her in any way at all.

It has finally dawned on me that only those who really know how wretched they are will truly understand why grace is so amazing and how sweet that word sounds.

Amazing Grace Lyrics
John Newton (1725-1807)Stanza 6 anon.

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.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

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.