Abounding Grace: Belonging, Extravagant Grace

Sunday, we began to consider God’s abounding grace presented to us in what we call the Covenant of Grace. I presented it as a Covenant of Promise, because to enter it, God does not ask us to perform in any way. In fact, any performance that we would proffer God is offensive to his offer. This Sunday, we’ll continue our examination of this covenant, considering how it functions in Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments, as the basis for God’s relationship with his people whether in Israel or in the Church.

Paul says it beautifully, when he writes Titus, saying, “when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy,” Titus 3:4,5. Scripture maintains that since mankind failed to obey when he was able, God has provided for our obedience in the presence of our inability. That provision is a one-way covenant that God offers us through his Son, our Savior.

The goal of that covenant, both for the Jews under the Law, and the Church under the gospel, is adoption or Belonging. As Paul continues with Titus, saying, “so that being justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life,” Titus 3:7. Join us Sunday as we consider this important, life-changing truth.