This is Amazing Grace
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
I love the season of waiting for Easter because it seems to keep the gospel at the forefront of my mind. The gospel is the good news for all people and tells the story of sin and restoration.
When God created the world, He created people to be with him. Adam and Eve lived with God in the Garden of Eden, and things were good. But then sin entered the picture. Adam and Eve were tempted by a serpent (Satan) and disobeyed God, and in doing so brought sin and death into the world. They distanced themselves from God so that God, being full perfect as He is, could no longer be with them as He was before. God sent Adam and Eve away from the Garden and into the world.
That could have been a very short, sad story, but God had a better plan. Even as He told Adam and Eve of the struggles that would be theirs now they they had sinned, He made a promise: there would one day be someone who would crush the serpent and defeat sin once and for all.
That person is Jesus. And after hundreds of years and many attempts to try and make things right, God sent His only Son to come to earth, live as a human, and die an undeserved death. Jesus, even though He never sinned, was crucified, died, and was buried. But He didn’t stay buried! After three days, He rose again, defeating sin and death forever.
Why would He do such a thing? Give up His position in Heaven and die a horrible death? Because He loves you. And me. And everyone in the world, whether they know Him or not.
Romans 5:8 makes it perfectly clear: we did nothing to deserve rescuing, and yet while we were still sinning, God loved us enough to send His Son to pay our debt, to die in our place and face the wrath that only we deserved.
This is what makes Christianity so beautiful to me! What other religion has a God who humbles and sacrifices Himself out of love? What other religion is based on undeserved grace?
I can’t help but think of Phil Wickam’s song “This Is Amazing Grace” when I consider this reality. I pray that you’d take a minute to listen to the song and praise God for the good news of the gospel and for His amazing grace!
“This is amazing grace, This is unfailing love. That You would take my place, That You would bear my cross. You laid down Your life, That I would be set free. Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that You’ve done for me”