Too Much Grace?!
- Jeff Kent
- Sep 14
- 2 min read
Many parents have the tendency to “spoil” their children. This can be done in several ways from withholding discipline to giving them everything they ask for. Parents need to strike a good balance with their kids in these things so they become neither pampered and dependent nor bitter and resentful. It’s not an easy task.
God, of course, is the perfect Father. So we should take note of how He deals with His children. Take giving for example. Just consider how much God has blessed you. Your life itself is a gift from God. From there we can consider family, health, abilities, job, wealth, home, et al. These are all truly marvelous gifts from our Father.
Now consider some of the spiritual blessings. Paul writes of these in our text and is making no attempt to enumerate them all. Would it even be possible for him to do so? These blessings are “in the heavenly places in Christ.” This means that though we enjoy them here and now they are of a spiritual nature and preserved by God safe from this world’s grasping hands. They are “in Christ,” secured by Christ and only available through Christ by being part of His body.
“He chose us in Him” - deliberate act on God’s part
“before the foundation of the world” - speaks of God’s purpose for humanity and plan to accomplish it
“we would be holy and blameless before Him” - Seriously?! True grace
“adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself” - part of His family with privileges
“redemption through His blood” - a terrible price paid and by Whom?
“forgiveness of our trespasses” - Totally gone! More grace.
“an inheritance” - Are you kidding? Is this for real?
Paul writes that Christians have been given these things “according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.” Is God spoiling us? Or is He telling us both how much He loves us and how truly dependent we are on Him? Hmmm?
Too much grace? Evidently God doesn’t think so.
><> Jeff
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