God’s grace is greater than all our sin:  His grace does not encourage us to sin.  His grace does not excuse our sin.  His grace educates our minds and hearts in regards to that which our Heavenly Father hates and that which he deems to be good, wise, and pleasing.  God’s grace does excite our hearts and gives us a holy passion to glorify and enjoy our Heavenly Father.

As believers we have all the forgiveness we will ever need. Christ’s gracious and sacrificial work on the cross is one and done. He paid for all the sins of all the elect for all of their lives. There remains no more sin for which to pay. No more blood is needed from Christ. No penance or probation or partnership is needed from us. Upon Calvary’s cross he cried, “It is finished,” and he did not over-estimate the scope of his success.

As believers, we have all the positional righteousness we will ever need. Jesus was a perfect saint. He obeyed all the Law; perfectly he did so, both inwardly and externally. Christ committed not one sin of commission or omission; he was the flawless worshiper. Consequently, he became our gracious substitute, surrogate, or proxy. His obedience was credited to our account. His robe of righteousness was permanently draped about our shoulders. Therefore, because of Jesus Christ and only because of Jesus Christ, the Heavenly Father looks upon us today and already proclaims, “Behold my beloved sons and daughters in whom I am well pleased.”

However, as the day begins for us, beloved of God, we have not yet performed all the practical works of righteousness put on our daily agenda by our Lord. Our gracious God has graciously decreed to have us think holy thoughts and do holy deeds. The grace of God continues to work for us, on us, in us, and through us. Today, because God’s grace is greater than all our sin …

• His grace does not encourage us to sin.
• His grace does not excuse our sin.
• His grace educates our minds and hearts in regards to that which our Heavenly Father hates and that which he deems to be good, wise, and pleasing.
• God’s grace does excite our hearts and gives us a holy passion to glorify and enjoy our Heavenly Father.

Is this not that being taught by the Apostle Paul:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:1-4).

Today, as Christians, we are the Father’s beloved children. We can never be anything else. Our adoption is irrevocable.

Therefore, we are to be imitators of God, walking in love after the model of Jesus Christ. Our attitudes and actions are to be fragrant offerings to our Heavenly Father; internally and externally, we are to practice morality and purity. This is how we are to live since we are proper saints. In all that we think and do today, we get the responsibility and privilege of giving thanks and living holy lives that express our gratitude to our great God. And for this we need more, fresh, Gospel, grace.

May our prayer of supplication be, “More grace my Father! For your grace neither encourages my sin nor excuses it away, but it educates my mind and heart, and excites within me a holy passion for you and your will.”

May our prayer of thanksgiving be, “Thank you for your grace … grace that is greater than all my sin.

Joseph A. Franks IV is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is Pastor of Palmetto Hills Presbyterian Church in Simpsonville, South Carolina. This article first appeared on his blog, and is used with permission.