Absolute Ideals and Absolute Grace

This title is inspired by Yancey’s book “The Jesus I never knew” and has really helped to open my mind a little to this thing called Grace. In his book Yancey points out that Jesus never lowers God’s standard in any of his teachings; his response to the young rich man, comments on divorce, money, all moral issues. Yancey points out that;

“Jesus never lowered God’s ideal. “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”, he said. “Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Not Tolstoy, not Francis of Assisi, not Mother Teresa, not anyone has completely fulfilled those commands.

Yet the same Jesus tenderly offered absolute Grace. Jesus forgave an adulteress, a thief on the cross, a disciple who had denied ever knowing him. Grace is absolute, inflexible, all-encompassing. It extends even to the people who nailed Jesus to the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” were among the last words Jesus spoke on earth.

Grace is for the desperate, the needy, the broken, those who cannot make it on their own. Grace is for us all.”

I would add that Grace is for us all even those who don’t yet see the need; those who only see the speck in their brother’s eye. Oh, how I need Grace! As we think about absolute ideals and absolute grace can you begin to see that these absolute ideals reveal to us the character and nature of God and give us something to strive for while revealing to us our overwhelming need for absolute grace?

I now more clearly see the chasm between what God is like and my truly broken nature and because of the absolute grace of God through Christ I will endeavor to bridge that gap joyfully; full knowing that I will never quite make it; recognizing full circle the grace and love of God for me, such a undeserving man.

Wow! Grace is truly amazing. I will close today with an excerpt from Spurgeon’s book “All of Grace”:

“"By grace are ye saved." Because God is gracious, therefore sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified, and saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them, that they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy, and grace of God. Tarry a moment, then, at the well-head. Behold the pure river of water of life, as it proceeds out of the throne of God and of the Lamb!

What an abyss is the grace of God! Who can measure its breadth? Who can fathom its depth? Like all the rest of the divine attributes, it is infinite. God is full of love, for "God is love." God is full of goodness; the very name "God" is short for "good." Unbounded goodness and love enter into the very essence of the Godhead. It is because "his mercy endureth for ever" that men are not destroyed; because "his compassions fail not" that sinners are brought to Him and forgiven.”

Amen and Amen – God thank you that your compassion fails not! Father as we think about Your grace help us to “tarry a moment” and help us contemplate Your pure river, Your love, and Your mercy!

Grace and Peace!