In Psalm 103:10, David wrote of God, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” There is no better description of the grace of God. God’s justness demands punishment for sin, but God’s mercy has stayed His hand from the immediate execution of our sentence. Instead, God sent Jesus to atone for every sin by giving His life on the cross. Though we were not deserving of the gift, Jesus took the punishment for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). Now that the punishment has been given, God can mercifully offer all people forgiveness for their sins through Jesus without abandoning His justness (Romans 3:21-26).
Though God loves us and has gone to great lengths to supply us with an opportunity to avoid eternal punishment, He will never force anyone to accept His grace. He has told us in the New Testament to repent and be baptized to have our sins forgiven by the authority of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38). He has informed us that our salvation from that time onward hinges on our continued faithfulness to Him (1 John 1:6-7). Those who want His grace, who desire salvation, who love God for all His blessings, will show that love in their obedient response to His commands (John 14:15). Those who continue in rebellion, however, nullify the grace of God that is, even now, extended for their eternal good (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
All should praise God that He has not dealt with us according to our sins at this time, but all should simultaneously understand that His judgment is not idle – we need to respond quickly, thankfully, and obediently to His offer of salvation, that we may avoid eternal separation from God.
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