Sovereign Grace

Exodus 33:19

           

            “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy to whom I sill show mercy.”

            None of those to whom God shows himself gracious deserve the free grace of God; for God’s grace is God’s giving an individual that which he does not deserve. The same is true of God’s mercy; none deserve God’s mercy; for God’s mercy is God’s not giving an individual that which he does deserve. Neither the grace nor mercy of God can be deserved, for both are reserved for the undeserving, that is neither is merited by its recipient, for it is “not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:9). The grace of God is defined as; the unmerited favor of God. The free favor of God is “not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” (II Timothy 1:9).

            God’s special mercy and grace are reserved for those who are his children by election; those who were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, (Ephesians 1:4). God’s common mercy and grace, is displayed toward the world in general by the fact that sinners are not immediately cast into eternal fire as were the angels that sinned, (II Peter 2:4). God is sovereign in the dispensation of his gifts; he gives his mercy and his grace to whom he will. “Why doest thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.” (Job 33:13)

            Moses had asked “I beseech thee, show me thy glory; to which the Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness to pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee;”. God’s goodness is displayed in the objects of his grace and mercy. They are they who deserve eternal judgment and ruin; but God shows his goodness in accomplishing the “good pleasure of his goodness” (II Thessalonians 1:11) upon them. And God shows his goodness by proclaiming the name of the Lord. By proclaiming the name of the Lord; God means to declare his nature, his will, and purpose, God means to reveal himself to men, by his word, in the scriptures. But principally God reveals himself in our Lord Jesus Christ, through the gospel (John 1:18). God’s goodness is revealed in that he pardons convicted criminals; and gives them “all things that pertain to life and godliness, (II Peter 1:4), and God shows his goodness in that he gives them “all spiritual blessedness in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3), “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.”(Ephesians 1:5).

Some may object, saying that God is unjust in such proceedings as to show common mercy to some and his special mercy to others. That accusation is without basis, for God exercises his justice upon all and every man without exception. Some receive their just reward in their own person. Others God deals with according to his justice in their surety. God’s justice was exercised upon the surety of the New Testament, Jesus Christ.  Our Lord Jesus stood in the stead of his elect under the justice of God; and as surety of the elect paid all they owed to divine law and justice, (Hebrews 7:22). The parable of the householder in Matthew thirteen is demonstrative of the goodness of God in his dealings with men. Some of the labors had been hired early in the morning and had worked all the day while others had been hired just before time to cease the day’s labor. As the householder paid his employees; those who had been hired early complained that they had received no more that those who were hired much later. The householder replied “Friend I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is and go thy way: I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do as I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, (are you angry) because I am good?” (Matthew 13:1-15) Those who are dealt with in common mercies and grace receive their reward according to divine justice, being sinners they receive the reward of their iniquity; for the “wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6:23) everlasting punishment in the lake of fire. Those who are dealt with in special mercy and grace, are freely given life eternal, for the “gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. For scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.” (Romans 9:16-18). Concerning the elect, God’s sovereign grace and mercy is magnified through their salvation. Concerning the wicked, the majesty of God’s unswerving justice is magnified through their damnation. Therefore the salvation of the elect is by the sovereign grace and mercy of God. The damnation of the wicked is of their own sin.

Reader; are you willing to be justified by the righteousness of another? Would you face the law and justice of God without the Rock of Ages; the eternal surety of the people of God? Would you stand at the judgment in the Mediator of the everlasting covenant of grace? Will you have an advocate in the final and great Assize. Flee from the wrath to come, now is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation, trust the Lord Jesus Christ as your complete and total salvation. If peradventure God will give you one saving view of the Lord Jesus Christ as yours to trust; then lay hold on eternal life in Jesus of Nazareth, whom God has declared both Lord and Christ by the resurrection from the dead, (Acts 2:36).

A.J. Ison