The Grace of God to this Sinner
“Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.. . ” Romans 5: 20.
This familiar verse tells us essentially that we can’t out sin grace. I’ve seen this to be true in my own life. I suffered for many years because of my own sin and also the sin of my parents. I acted foolishly in my marriage and toward my kids. And I suffered as a result. Click here if you’re interested in my story.
To read the rest of this passage for context, click here.
But the irony is it was the suffering occasioned by sin that caused me to need to Lord every day. I didn’t just seek Him in prayer and Bible study, but I did it earnestly. My prayers were heartfelt and intense. My Bible study was rich and fruitful.
It was my pain that drove me to God.
The Grace of God: The Lord is Near to the Brokenhearted
The Lord comforted and encouraged me in His presence on a regular basis. I was experiencing this truth: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit “Psalm 34: 18.
So, because of sin (mine and others) my faith was being developed. And I was coming to know the Lord as my Strength and Peace and Hope and Comfort. Were it not for my suffering brought on by sin, I highly doubt I would have experienced such rich, fruitful intimate times with the Lord.
God’s Presence in Suffering
And I would not have come to know Him in the ways I did. This is a good example of how “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”. Sin> Suffering> Presence of God.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted even if we are brokenhearted because of our own sin and even if it’s our own fault.
Why is God so gracious to sinners? I think a big reason is because He understands that sinned against people sin against people. Or maybe He knows we are acting in ways we’ve learned from our parents.
God Loves to Show Mercy
Sometimes we are not even aware we are sinning. Or maybe we are in such bondage to it that we can’t seem to get set free.
At bottom, God simply loves to show mercy. “For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all” Romans 11: 32.
To read a related to The Grace of God to this Sinner, see Afflicted but Not Crushed.