Marvellous Grace of Our Loving Lord

Psalm 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

By the grace of God we have NOT received what we deserve - punishment for sins - and yet we ARE given what we don't deserve - pardon through Jesus Christ.

We are exhorted to praise the Lord: Psalm 103:1-5 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Let us not look upon ourselves - but rather gaze upon and marvel at the graciousness of our Lord. The Lord has done marvellous works for us.

We have all fallen short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23. We are sinners before the presence of a holy and almighty God. Ezekiel 18:20 says, The soul that sinneth it shall die. Rom 6:23, For the wages of sin is death.

Sin is so grave - so serious. It is an offense before the almighty God. He has the power to cast you into eternal hell. David cried, Psalm 51:4, Against you, you only I have sinned. Sin is frequent. Psalm 7:11 - God is angry with the wicked every day. We fail daily. We think of the obstinacy of our sin – how hard is our heart! Despite the full knowledge that we are what we are doing is actually against the law of God - sometimes our heart is hardened. Man can be stubborn in his sin.

Given the gravity, frequency, and obstinacy of our sin against our Lord… Consider what then he could have done to us? We are due punishment. He could have punished us immediately, right here and right now. He could have poured his wrath on us, with the whole intensity of his power - yet he grants his mercies and grace. We can hear the gospel, before the presence of the holy God, and in the fellowship of the believers.

Though undeserving, by the grace of our God we can hear the words of the Gospel - the good news that he has not been angry with us. Though undeserving, hell-deserving sinners, yet he gives Grace to us. Psalm 103:10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

The almighty God chose to be merciful. He is a just God. Yet the punishment that we deserve has been poured out - not on us - but on Christ.

If we are in him, if you believe him as your Saviour and Lord, truly he becomes the just and the justifier of all who believe in him.

Consider: What the Lord HAS done for us. Rather than punishment, God has poured out his love towards us. He's showed his mercies to sinners like us. He opted to forgive - to withhold his wrath. He lavished us with Grace upon Grace. All this, despite knowing who we are, and how frequent we sin, and how gravely we sin, and how obsolete our heart is. Yet the Lord has showered his grace upon us. Lam. 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Our Lord has provided for our temporal needs - and our eternal needs. Psalm 103:10-12 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

If you are in Christ , the Lord has provided for your eternal needs - your salvation through Jesus Christ, your place in Heaven is sure. Our Lord is interceding for us. He has showered us with abundant blessings.

We deserve punishment for our sins, and yet God has given us pardon, redemption, salvation.
All this freely given to us by his grace.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.

2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Here is the Great Exchange! He took my sins and my sorrows, he made them his very own. He bore the burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone. How marvellous, how wonderful... is my Saviour's love - for you - for me.

Are you part of that greatest Exchange in history? While we don't deserve pardon and forgiveness, yet we can come to Jesus Christ.

May we be thankful to our Lord. It sums up up three Gs - Guilt - Grace – and Gratitude. Guilt, because you know how sinful you are before God. Grace, because of the Grace of Jesus Christ dying for you. Gratitude – is the response of our thankful heart to the Lord.

What's your purpose of your life? Realise God's gracious offer and call upon Him. May our life be a life of gratitude and thankfulness, a life of contentment, and of service. Truly, he is our life.