Grace: God's Redemption At Christ's Expense

1. The Author Of Grace. The Author of Grace is God, i.e. the YHWH (Jehovah) of Moses and Mt. Sinai who, at the time of His conversation with Moses, introduced Himself as the ‘I Am!” Can there be any gift or treasure more illustrious and precious as the Grace of God when God Himself has solemnly promised: “My grace is sufficient for thee.” (?) [2Cor12:9].

   The Apostle Paul writes: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” [2Cor12:9-10]. 

   God clearly is the Author of divine Grace, as affirmed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Philemon: “Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” [Philemon1:3]..

2. The Gift of Redemption. The Apostle Peter writes:   

   “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” [1Peter1:18-19].

   The Apostle Paul writes: 

   “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” [Rom3:24; Eph1:7].

    P.S. Merriam-Webster defines ‘Redemption’ as ‘freedom from guilt or blame for having done something wrong.’  (Gk. ‘Apolutrōsis’:  ‘ransom in full’, ‘salvation’, ‘deliverance’).

3. The Price involved. In terms of the well-worn mantra that “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch!” (TANSTAAFL) it stands to reason that there, of necessity, has had to be a price, i.e. the precious blood of Christ [1Peter1:18-19] to be paid to insure the redemption of mankind. The Bible affirms:

- "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” [Romans3:24]. 

- “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.” [Romans5:15].

- ”For if by one man's offence [ADAM] death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” [Romans5:17].

- “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” [Romans5:21]. 

- “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” [Hebrews2:9].

4. The First Adam vs. the Last Adam. It has pleased God to, in terms of the First Adam-Last Adam doctrine,  redeem mankind by the sacrifice, resurrection and righteousness of Jesus Christ, His ‘Paschal Lamb’ of choice:

   “Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come … For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive … And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [JESUS] was made a quickening spirit.” [Romans5:14; 1Cor15:22,45].

5. The Gift of God. God’s gift of Eternal Life is forced on none yet offered to all irrespective of race, colour, gender, age, socio-economic status, political affiliation or current religious persuasion (the atheist included): Why not accept it today?  The Bible says:  “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  [Romans6:23].

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