I don't know about you, but with the more time that passes, the more I fall in love with the thought of grace. So, here are some of the beautiful truths that I've been able to explore in its study:
1. Grace saves us from additional deception.
"The sweet sound of amazing grace saves us from the necessity of self-deception. It keeps us from denying that though Christ was victorious, the battle with lust, greed, and pride still rages within us," writes Brennan Manning in his book "The Ragamuffin Gospel."
Grace absolutely demands that we throw out all of our old philosophies and ways of thinking that absolutely deceived us and weighed us down. And in that, it fixates us towards this newfound freedom in absolute truth.
2. Grace is inclusive.
"Here is a revelation as bright as the morning star: Jesus comes for sinners, for those as outcast as tax collectors and for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams," Manning writes. "He comes for corporate executives, street people, superstars, farmers, hookers, addicts, IRS agents, AIDS victims, and even used-car salesmen. Jesus not only talks with these people but dines with them — fully aware that His table fellowship with sinners will raise the eyebrows of religious bureaucrats who hold up the robes and insignia of their authority to justify their condemnation of the truth and their rejection of the gospel of grace."
It is my absolute hope that you will never, ever grow to be comfortable with this, that you will constantly try to figure this one out. And that's the beauty in it — it's scandalous, breath-taking. It is something that we will never fully grasp, but should still spend the rest of our time on this earth discovering, embracing and trying to institute in others. Along with this, grace demands us to stand in complete awe and mystery of Jesus.
Manning has written of this mystery: "Jesus sat down at table with anyone who wanted to be present, including those who were banished from decent homes. In the sharing of a meal they received consideration instead of the expected condemnation."
Again, this is such a scandal because Jesus takes those that deserve nothing but condemnation, but instead gives them consideration —outpouring love and grace upon grace. This is such a love that we can't even fathom.
3. Grace isn't about us.
Manning has said of the audible beauty of grace: "You are accepted. You are accepted, accepted by that which is greater than you, and the name of which you do not know. Do not ask for the name now; perhaps later you will do much. Do not seek for anything, do not perform anything, do not intend anything. Simply accept the fact that you are accepted."
Grace meets us in our philosophies (that anyone that can serve us must require something out of our own doing) and instead says this, "Throw away everything that you think you know to be truth. Do nothing. Be still and embrace what has already been done for you. And in that, know that you are accepted and loved by Someone that is far greater than your own understanding."
4. Grace hits us divinely.
"Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless life... It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage," writes Manning. Once we experience grace and are able to look back at it, we are also able to experience complete awe of the nature of grace. Because it bombards us beautifully when we need it the most, and even when we didn't know we needed it.
Now, this is not to say that I'm even coming close to grasping it in its entirety- in fact, I don't think I ever will. And that's just one of the countless beautiful aspects of this thing we call grace.
Study it, love it, embrace it and spread it.
Side note: I thoroughly recommend "The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning — a great read about the mystery of grace and where many quotes were pulled from.
