There’s a point off the coast of South Africa where two oceans meet. The warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic. One sea, two distinct oceans.
I’ve often thought that God’s grace is the point where two of his distinct attributes meet – His holiness and His love.
On one hand, the holiness of God exposes sin. The word of God is “sharp and piercing” and it discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We can fool each other but we can’t fool God. The truth is revealed.
On the other hand, the love of God has given us Jesus – a high priest who sympathizes with our weakness and allows us to come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in our time of need.
We put these two truths together and we have grace. They meet at the cross and become ours through faith.
Once we have come to faith we no longer need law. It can no longer help us.
We enter a new covenant. A covenant of truth and grace.
Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
- Mark Saunders