EXCELLENCY OF GRACE

1. MERCY came before GRACE but was restricted by LAW to secure God’s COVENANT and establish Israel in the path of His MERCIES, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the MERCY SEAT, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ARK OF THE TESTIMONY, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel” [Exodus 25:22] The LAW did not make the people perfect and MERCY did not prevent punishment; the blood of animals sacrificed in pursuance of the LAW stood in the place of SCHOOLMASTER, to sustain MERCY till perfection should come by GRACE through FAITH in Jesus Christ, “Wherefore the LAW was our SCHOOLMASTER to bring us unto Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by FAITH. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” [Galatians 3:24-25] Israel laboured under rituals of the LAW seeking JUSTIFICATION under dispensation of MERCY, as some do today in pursuit of SALVATION, which things did not SAVE those who received them. In fulness of GRACE was manifest to all men in Jesus Christ, “For the GRACE OF GOD that BRINGETH SALVATION hath APPEARED TO ALL MEN. … Who GAVE HIMSELF FOR US, that he might REDEEM us from all iniquity, and PURIFY unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” [Titus 2:11-14]

2. MERCY was limited to Israel, GRACE is universal; it is the GIFT of God to ALL MEN, “For GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, that he gave his ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE” [John 3:16] I tell you, whereas MERCY was powerless to override condemnation of SIN, GRACE is much more abundant to overcome SIN, JUSTIFY and render us blameless before God, “For ALL HAVE SINNED, and come short of the glory of God; Being JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS” [Romans 3:23-24] A convicted murderer on death row, a monk in a cave in the Himalayas or newly born baby stand condemned before God without Christ. GRACE is the evidence of Christ’s death on the Cross in full payment of SIN, working out RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in those who BELIEVE, “For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of GRACE and of the GIFT OF RIGHTEOUNESS shall REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ.)” [Romans 5:17] GRACE is not a franchise owned by any man or religious organization, it is God’s free GIFT to you and all you have to do is BELIEVE and receive His offer of REDEMPTION in Jesus Christ, “Therefore IT IS OF FAITH, that it might be BY GRACE; to the end the PROMISE might be sure TO ALL the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also WHICH IS OF THE FAITH of Abraham; who is the father of us all” [Romans 4:16] 

3. EXCELLENCY OF GRACE is inseparable from God’s immutable PROMISE of EVERLASTING LIFE, “And this is the PROMISE that he hath PROMISED US, even ETERNAL LIFE” [1 John 2:25] The PROMISE was made before the foundation of this world was laid, Satan could not prevent it and was foreordained in Jesus Christ, “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding RICHES OF HIS GRACE in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For BY GRACE are ye SAVED THROUGH FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast” [Ephesians 2:7-9] GRACE is not reward of piety or payment for favours our ancestors did to God but His GIFT to ALL MEN including the worst offender through FAITH Jesus Christ, “… that the PROMISE by FAITH of Jesus Christ might be given to them that BELIEVE” [Galatians 3:22] As many as receive Jesus Christ as God manifest in FLESH and BELIEVE in His NAME as God’s identity are BORN AGAIN as SONS of God, “But as many as RECEIVED HIM, to them gave he POWER to become the SONS OF GOD, even to them that BELIEVE ON HIS NAME” [John 1:22] As SONS, we are HEIRS of God and JOINT-HEIRS with Jesus Christ. In Him, we have an inheritance beyond what is humanly conceivable, far and above principalities and powers in heavenly places, as it is written: “… EYE HATH NOT SEEN, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM” [1 Corinthians 2:9]

4. EXCELLENCY OF GRACE is the MYSTERY of God’s foreknowledge of SIN and preparation of a BODY to reconcile us to Himself in Jesus Christ, “Who verily was FOREORDAINED BEFORE the FOUNDATION of the WORLD, but was manifest in these last times for you” [1 Peter 1:20] GRACE is God in Jesus Christ reaching out to you to RECONCILE you to Himself and give you a new LIFE of PEACE and JOY forever more, “To wit, that GOD WAS IN CHRIST, RECONCILING THE WORLD UNTO HIMSELF, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” [2 Corinthians 5:19] Listen carefully, God who lovingly gave Himself for us on the Cross also set a DAY aside to JUDGE those who reject His offer of RECONCILIATION “… in the which he will JUDGE THE WORLD in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” [Acts 17:31] Friend, present global distress and palpable uncertainties are signs of God’s imminent JUDGMENT. Now, more than ever, I entreat you to receive GRACE, accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour to escape looming perdition, “HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him” [Hebrews 2:3]