Sin versus Grace

Sin versus Grace

the battle within. sin versus grace.
Do you ever choose in the battle within what’s wrong even when you know what’s right? That’s way too familiar for all of us. Even Paul wrote: I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7:19-20, NLT)

Do we have any hope? Not on our own. But by God’s grace we do.

So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:3b-4, NLT)

Last week I wrote that Kurt Bubna‘s story reminded me of Moses. This week I will add another Bible character into the list. Namely, Jonah. How come? When the going got rough, Kurt went south. He did everything but what God had asked him to do. Just like Jonah.

Kurt writes in his new book Epic Grace, Chronicles of Recovering Idiot about how he rationalized his sin and excused his stupidity. That’s exactly what happens. That’s the process of slow fade. We make our sin sound legitimate. A bit by bit we walk farther and faster away from God. But even then God does not give up on us.

God’s epic grace follows us wherever we go.
God’s epic grace pursues us persistently.
God’s epic grace finds us and loves us wherever we are.
And helps us to do what he has planned for us to do.

Kurt testifies for the power of grace and assures  “If God can do this with a guy like me, he can do it with anyone. Even you”.

There really isn’t anything you could have done or left undone that God could not forgive you. No matter how stupid we have been, there is always hope in Christ. Because sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands downAll sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life – a life that goes on and on and on, world without end”. (Romans 8: 20-21, MSG, emphasis added)

 

Gracious God,
Forgive us for messing up.
Forgive us for rationalizing our sin.
Forgive for walking away from you.
But, Lord, we don’t have anywhere else to go.
Only you have the words of life.
Only you can deal with our sin.
Pour out grace upon grace
and wash us clean.
Pour out life upon life
and make us truly alive.
Pour out love upon love
and empower us to do your will.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Have you experienced the power of grace in your life?

Image courtesy of Diorama Studios. Linking up today with Wisdom Wednesday, Unite the Bloggersphereand #tellhisstory.

This post is part of #EpicGraceWednesdays. I am blogging through Kurt Bubna’s Epic Grace. Join me every Wednesday!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review (or any review for that matter). The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

4 thoughts on “Sin versus Grace

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

RSS
Follow by Email