The riches of grace

The riches of God's grace are seen throughout the Bible. In the beginning, Adam was given a garden to enjoy. He didn't have weeds to pull or wild animals to ward off. He didn't have to water or cultivate. He just had to enjoy all that God had created for him. This was a grace based creative order - requiring nothing of man except to receive all that God provided. After the fall, pain and effort would be his lot. The nature of humanity changed after the fall however God was and is still the God of grace.


It was the riches of His grace that made the way of redemption possible. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7) The very first animal sacrifice that provided a picture of protection and covering was enacted by God Himself. The very last sacrificial offering that would satisfy God for all time was when "the perfect lamb of God took away the sin of the world". Undergirding the blood that redeems, is grace that blesses.


Grace is most powerfully seen when people are seemingly outside of God's arena of blessing. In truth all are outside of His arena of blessing because "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". One great example is Ruth, a Moabite woman. the Moabites were outside of the covenant that was intended for Israel. The Moabites were descendants of an incestuous relationship between Lot and his oldest daughter. They were despised by Israel. Yet the story of Ruth is a story of incredible grace. Ruth adopted the faith of her mother - in - law, Naomi. Both of these women experienced the worst of situations. Both were widows. Both were vulnerable. Naomi had virtually given up all hope. In fact she decided to have a name change that reflected her belief about how she now saw God - "call me Mara, for God has dealt very bitterly with me." But Ruth's view of God was different. A convert to the God of Israel, she saw her future through a different set of glasses.


Upon Naomi's return to Bethlehem, Ruth immediately sought work in the fields. She collected or gleaned from the edges of fields (as entitled to do according to the law) until she "happened to come to the field belonging top Boaz who was of the family of Elimelech". (Naomi's husband's family) She received favour as Boaz offered her both protection and provision as long as she remained in his field. This is a picture of the believer receiving grace and then being exhorted to "stay in grace". She was given permission to trail the people harvesting. She was no longer on the edges; she was in the middle of the field. She was gathering what others had sown, cultivated and harvested. This again is a picture of grace at work. Interestingly she worked even harder. Grace empowers us to be more productive.


The benefits of grace were such that provision came to both Ruth and Naomi. Naomi saw the providence of God at work and rejoiced. Her faith was re ignited. Both were offered protection from Boaz. Grace is designed to fit the foreigner, the sojourner, the outsider. It is designed for you and I!!










This blog is based on a sermon by Ross Smith on 26/04/15 at The Vine Church, Logan City, Queensland, Australia. The full sermon can be accessed by podcast from www.thevine org.au/teaching