Blessed Beyond Belief by God’s Amazing Grace

by Susan Sampson

So how did we come to be in Christ?

It has been a difficult but sweet journey these past few years as I have wrestled with this question, seeking the Lord’s wisdom and truth in His Word.  Laurie talked about the truth of God choosing us bringing consternation and internal conflict.  For me it brought a lot of tears as well.  By God’s grace I have come to see this truth as beautiful evidence of His amazing grace.

As I write this, I continue to struggle with the sin of pride.  I shared with my group how I could hear myself speaking to my son when I was trying to help him learn how to floss his teeth.  Have you seen the movie Narnia?  If so you know who the White Witch is.  I can hear her say to Edmund in her condescending voice, “pray, how did you come to enter my dominion?”  I was ready to go to bed.  I wanted peace and quiet.  The queen did not want to be disturbed.  Teaching a 12 year old how to floss was not on my agenda for the evening!

Apart from Christ, there is no good in me.  There is no good in any of us.  As much as we so badly want to think so.  As much as my pride and ego want to be worshipped and adored and thought of as good, the reality is there is no good!  Paul makes this so very clear.  “None is righteous, no, not one…no one does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:10b, 12b).  Later in chapter 7 he writes, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Rom. 7:18a). 

The flesh is worthless.  “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all” (Jn. 6:63).  Did this worthless flesh contribute in any way to where I stand now in Christ?  No!  It is all an act of God alone!  It is a free gift of salvation.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8).

So back to pride.  My flesh still always wants the glory.  It wants the credit.  It wants you to think I’m so great!  Yet this is why God’s grace is so amazing.  I didn’t chose Jesus, He chose me, a wretched sinner deserving of eternal wrath in hell.  Paul explains the truth, “no one seeks for God” (Rom. 3:11b).  I wasn’t seeking God.  I was running my hell bound race as the song says.  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:4-5). 

This truth crucifies our pride.  No one can boast.  As much as my old girl so desperately wants the credit for bringing myself to life, that glory belongs to Christ alone!  That is why we truly are blessed beyond belief.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.  In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:3-6).

Blessed beyond belief by God’s amazing grace.