The Unconditional Gift of Grace
Before the law was even established, God had already extended his grace to humanity. In fact, grace was offered before the creation of man itself. As 1 Peter 1:18-20 reminds us, “You were bought, not with something that ruins like gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ, who was like a pure and perfect lamb. Christ was chosen before the world was made, but he was shown to the world in these last times for your sake.”
A Provision Ahead of Time
Have you ever wondered why God would offer grace before we needed it? It’s a question that gets to the heart of God’s nature and his relationship with us. To understand this concept better, let’s consider a personal anecdote. Imagine receiving a charge card from your father, not because you had done anything to earn it, but simply because he knew that someday you might need it.
A Lesson in Forgiveness
I recall a time when I was given just such a card by my father. I had gone several months without needing it, but when I did, I really needed it. I had impulsively decided to visit a friend on another campus, six hours away, without asking my parents’ permission or taking any money. On the return trip, I got into an accident and had to call my father to bail me out. He listened to my tale, and after a long pause, he said, “Well, these things happen. That’s why I gave you the card. I hope you learned a lesson.”
A Father’s Wisdom
I certainly did learn a lesson that day. I realized that my father’s forgiveness wasn’t a response to my mistake, but rather a provision he had made ahead of time, just in case I needed it. He knew his son, and he knew that I would someday make a mistake. Similarly, God knows us, his children, and knows that we will need his grace.
God’s Foreknowledge
As Psalm 33:15 reminds us, “He made their hearts and understands everything they do.” God knows our weaknesses and our tendencies, and he has provided for us accordingly. He didn’t give us grace so that we would sin, but because he knows that we will need it. And he has made provision for us, just as my father did for me.
A Gift Beyond Measure
The gift of grace is a precious one, bought with the blood of Christ. It’s a gift that was offered before we needed it, because God knows us and loves us. Let us cherish this gift and recognize the depth of God’s love for us. As we walk through life, may we remember that God’s grace is always available to us, even when we make mistakes.
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