Recurring Grace

In the masterful exposition of Romans, grace is mentioned several times. Once in chapter 3, twice in chapter 4, six times in chapter 5, and three times in chapter 6. If we could draw a line between before and after salvation, and observe when we need grace the most, we will be surprised to find that it is not before, but after when we need it the most. That is why the mentions of the word increase towards chapter 5 and 6.

Earlier we need it, no doubt, because in the abundance of our sin, the grace of God abounded to save us. When we came to the Lord, we were insolvent, miserable, and grace favored us without asking anything in return. All this is the marvelous grace of God before salvation.

But it is amazing to discover that grace is even more abundant after we are saved. Romans tells us that "through faith we have access to this grace in which we stand" (5:2). That is, today, being already saved, we are in grace, and by it we stand firm. The goal of grace for us now, in our present condition, is that it "reigns through righteousness" (5:21), so that those who receive it abundantly "will reign in life" (5:17).

This should convince us that, if we are to live a normal Christian life, God's purpose is that we depend more on God's grace than on ourselves. Of course, put this way, it sounds like a truism; but it is not. If we were to count the things we do every day without depending on God's grace, we would be shocked. We would realize that grace is a mere slogan, a beautiful doctrine for meeting days; that we do almost everything by our own strength, cunning and ability, and not by divine resources.

The example of Christ depending on the Father for everything, as shown to us in John's gospel, seems almost unbelievable. How could a person like him be so "useless" in himself? How could he not make his own decisions, and draw on his own resources? How could he not speak, teach, do things without consulting the Father for each and every one of them?

This dependence on the Lord in everything is the attitude that Paul expects from us when he speaks so often of God's grace. To depend on God is to depend on God's grace, that is, on his resources, instructions, will and word. To do so would put us in an expectant situation of seeing miracles every day, living with the certainty that he would be involved even in the smallest things. We would open the door for the divine to enter into the realm of the domestic, the hectic everyday life. We would walk, at last, as if supported by an almighty hand, without needing to take hold of our own.

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