“It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land…” Luke 23:44
It was the great day of the Lord fallen on Jesus’ shoulders. That’s what Luke wants us to see in the darkness (Amos 8:9). This was much more than the noble death of an innocent man, but the wrath of God poured out; it was judgement day. Not just anyone’s judgment day, but everyone’s, yours and mine, with Jesus receiving the full brunt of sin’s reward.The grace we receive has never been free. Jesus died in the darkness, so we could live in the light.
Grace is not free to us as it has been bought by the blood of Jesus. Jesus paid the price of death so we can live and be reconciled with God.
Nothing is cost-free. If we don’t pay for what we have or receive, someone must purchase and pay for so we can receive for free! Jesus purchased our sins and paid for our sins with His bloody, painful and humiliating death on the cross so we can have eternity. By God’s grace and mercy and through repentance, our sins are forgiven!
Grace is the opposite of karma, which is all about getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we don’t deserve. We, Christians, believe what we deserve is death with no hope of resurrection; but by the grace of God, we have hope of resurrection. Jesus’ death on the cross gives us hope for resurrection. His death is the price for our resurrection if we trust and believe in Him.
Freedom is not free. Grace is not free. Nothing is cost-free. Someone must pay the price for us to receive something that we don’t initiate. God’s grace is given to us through Jesus’ payment of His death so we can have an everlasting life. The best strategy we can show appreciation to God for God’s grace through Jesus Christ is to serve Him with obedience. I am convinced.
What are your thoughts on God’s grace? How do you define it? Is it given to anyone without the requirement for trusting and believing in Jesus and for repentance?