THE FACE OF GRACE

«For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him» (2 Corinthians 5:21).

“THE FACE OF GRACE,» writes Keith Heinrich, «is the face of forgiveness. In  other words: ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more’ » (John 8:11). Keith saw that «face» one morning in church, in the mothers’ pew. Two mothers were there enjoying each other’s babies while happily chatting. One of them taught at the local Adventist academy; the other was a young student who had just graduated from the Academy. Their babies had been born a few weeks apart. The thing is the young mother had gotten pregnant during the school year, but she was able to graduate. What happened?

Keith himself says that, as he watched the two mothers playing with their babies, he remembered his academy days. Back in those days, if a student got pregnant during the school year, it could mean only one thing: expulsion. But now, something unusual had obviously taken place. When faculty and staff found out about her pregnancy in the month of November, the leaders in charge allowed the young lady to complete the school year and graduate with her class.

The decision had clearly «gone against» the student handbook; however; as Keith watched that young mother playing with her baby, he could not help but wonder what would have become of her if the established punishment had been applied. Would she have been in church that Sabbath, raising her baby «in the training and instruction of the Lord» (Ephesians 6:4, NIV)?

Truth be told: when grace shows its face, as it happened in that institution that school year, some people get scared. They wonder, «What will become of the church if we set aside the rules?»

Keith Heinrich replies, «Grace never sets aside the rules. Nor does it even tamper with, modify, or lower the standards. Instead, the God of grace, in honor of the rules, . . . pays the penalty Himself for all the broken rules, and gives us ever another chance to be free, by Him, in Him.»

Keith says that on that Sabbath, instead of listening to the sermon, he saw it in the joy of those two mothers, and in God’s grace, which is the face of forgiveness. What is the «face» of grace? It is this: «God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God» (2 Corinthians 5:21, NIV). And what is His message? «Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.»

Father in heaven, I praise You for Your incomparable grace: that Christ was treated as I deserved, so that I could be treated as He deserves.

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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate