Hyperabundant Grace

Scotty Smith:  A Prayer about the Much-More-ness of the Gospel

For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Rom. 5:15-17

Most holy and gracious Father, today my heart is filled with fresh gratitude for the hyper-abundance of grace which you’ve lavished upon us in Jesus. Through the failure of the first Adam, we were born spiritually dead; and we lived as willing subjects, co-conspirators, members in good standing in the reign of death. But now, through the work of the second Adam, Jesus, you’ve raised us to newness of life; and we now live as objects of your affection and subjects in Jesus’ kingdom—the reign of grace! No contrast could be greater. No transformation is more revolutionary. We extol, bless and praise your name today for the gospel of your grace!

As dead as we were in our sins and trespasses, we are much, much more alive in Jesus’ forgiveness and righteousness. As distant and disconnected as we were from you because of Adam’s sin and our own sin, we are much, much more at peace and intimate with you because of what Jesus has done for us. As narcissistic and navel-gazing as we were through our connection to the first Adam, we are becoming much, much more God-centered, loving, and caring through our union with Jesus. O, the peace, the freedom and the joy the gospel brings!

Most generous and loving Father, no one is more for us than you. You didn’t spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will you not also, along with Jesus, graciously give us all things? You have predestined, called, justified and glorified in Christ (Rom. 8:30). There is now no condemnation hanging over us (Rom. 8:1), and we will never experience any separation from your love (Rom. 8:31-35). You have sent your Spirit into our hearts as a permanent resident and he is perpetually preaching the gospel to our hearts, freeing us to cry with joy, “Abba, Father.”

The saints in heaven are certainly more happy than us, but they are not more loved or secure. There’s not one difficult thing, not one hard providence, not one unexpected or unwelcomed event… there’s no heart break or heartache in which you are not currently working for our good and your glory (Rom. 8:28).

Indeed, Father, as grave and great as our condition was through sin and death, the “much-more-ness” of the gospel has trumped it a million times over. So very Amen we pray with astonishment, wonder, and overflowing gratitude, in Jesus’ name.