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Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace! (Ephesians 2:5)
Deep grace! Grace means “gift” or “blessing.”
In the middle of a discussion, did we stop the grace and start to argue, defend, or accuse? Afterward, did we feel drained, almost dirty?
Our grace was not deep enough.
Living in grace means that those we encounter should leave with a gift. From our reserve of grace to their need. Our thankfulness to their ungratefulness. Our gentleness to their anger. Our calm deliberation to their unreasonableness.
The best gift — the best grace — is given when it isn’t deserved.
That is how we received our salvation — forgiveness from God. I’ve noticed that those at the bottom of their despair, when finding grace, often have more grace for others. While those who have led a decent life haven’t experienced deep grace.
Do we have grace so deep that another person can’t empty our soul of it?
Deep grace means forsaking the idea of our being good. If we believe in Jesus without experiencing deep forgiveness, our faith becomes a mishmash of pride that infects otherwise great theology with judgment and hypocrisy.
I’m not saying that we must be prime examples of unregenerate living to fully experience Jesus. One pastor said, “I would rather be a testimony my entire life of following Jesus than have a testimony about a period of my life from which Jesus had to free me.”
The point is that we are saved at the cost of the blood of Jesus. The mark of a mature Christian is the ability to receive deep grace and then give it in abundance to others.
The grace of the American church isn’t deep now.
That is why we disagree so much. Deep grace carries an inhibition against judging others. Those who cried for release from pain can sympathize with those in pain. Those finding freedom of thought can sympathize with the close-minded.
Grace doesn’t accommodate sin, but it gives mercy toward the sins of others. Why else did Jesus die?
Deep grace comes from repentance. The blood of Jesus can humble both the desperate and the lifetime churchgoer — that moment when self-righteousness becomes nothing but filthy rags.
Grace will go as deep as our confession.