The Riches of His Grace

What started as a “quickly read a chapter before I go to bed” (you know what I’m talking about) turned into 10 verses read, a few verses highlighted, a few words underlined and then was going to be a quick Facebook-status-bible-verse-sharing moment. Now it’s a blog post. I was going to watch Netflix but God has another plan, and I’m certain it’s so much better. (Spoiler alert: it is)*

"In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight." Ephesians 1:5-8

I may have bitten off more than I can chew with so many verses, but I felt I couldn’t break it apart any more than I already have. In my quick reading there were a few words that stuck out to me (if you couldn’t tell by my underlining). There is so much to talk about within these few verses; I’m sure there are entire sermons, maybe even series’ on them. But this time, one thing stuck out to me.

Here’s the thing: lately the biggest thing that’s been on my mind in my spiritual life, the main wonder of God in my eyes, has been, and continues to be how unfathomably infinite he is. Just think about infinity for a minute. Really think about it. But don’t hurt yourself. It’s hard, I’d even say impossible, for us to understand the infinite, as we are finite beings; namely, we have a time limit. We have a patience limit. We have a forgiveness limit. And yes, we even have a love limit. But God the Almighty, our Infinite and Perfect Creator does not. The dictionary** defines the word infinite in three ways: immeasurably great, unmeasurable in duration of time, and unbounded or unlimited. God is all of that and more.

One of the main things that opened my eyes to yet another aspect of his beauty is this: In the same way God is infinitely powerful, he is infinitely loving. In the same way he is infinitely just, he is infinitely merciful. In the same way he is infinitely wrathful, he is infinitely graceful. And to me, that is infinitely beautiful.

The words I underlined in the verses above are all things in which God is infinite. His love. His grace. His forgiveness. His wisdom and insight.

While reading these verses in Ephesians tonight, I was especially hooked by the phrase “riches of his grace,” because I now understand what that truly means. We have forgiveness of our trespasses “according to the riches of his grace,” (v 8.) If God forgives us according to the riches of his grace, and the riches of his grace are endless, what does that mean for us? “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” Psalm 103:12

So what do I take away from this? God is infinitely Holy, He is infinitely just, and He is infinitely graceful. Because of this justice and grace, Jesus had to die on the cross for me. I am now forgiven of my trespasses, according to the riches of God’s grace. His grace that he lavished on me because of his infinite love for me. And because of all of that, and so much more (more than we can ever understand), he is infinitely worthy of praise, and deserved of glory forever and ever. And ever.

And ever.

*I added that statement after I wrote and reread the whole post.

**I used dictionary.com. One of my most-visited websites, I might add. Next to thesaurus.com. Okay and Netflix.