By Grace

A devotional by Glenn Kreider

The Bible is one unified story of God’s work of creation and then redemption in response to human rebellion, what could be called re-creation. Written by numerous authors in several languages in various genres over a long period of time, it tells one single story of a gracious God’s plan for his creation, a plan that cannot be thwarted by angelic rebellion, by human revolution, by natural disasters, or by any other opposition. God’s plan is perfect and good, because it is the work of a perfect and good God.

The biblical story begins with the declaration that God created the heavens and the earth. Everything that exists is sourced in this Creator and his work of creation; only God is uncaused. Nothing is self-created, self-sustaining, or self-reliant. God is not only the source, but his gracious presence sustains all creation. 

We no longer live in the good world that God created. Because of the seduction of the serpent, and human desires to be like God, the first humans, created to live in harmony with one another and to care for God’s creation, ate the fruit of the tree that God had commanded them not to eat, and introduced death, despair, and destruction into creation. Sin’s entry into the world marred and tainted everything God had created. But God was not surprised by the actions of his creatures; in his great love and mercy he already had a plan to redeem what the enemy attempted to destroy. God will get the last word. Everything will in the end be made new, better than the original creation. That is the way God works. Grace is more powerful than anything that stands in its way.

In the person of Jesus, the Creator became a creature, he added full humanity to his full deity without losing any of those attributes of divinity. He lived a perfect life, was executed on a Roman cross, and was buried to provide forgiveness of sins to those who trust in him. On the third day he was raised from the dead to give those forgiven humans the hope of everlasting life. He then ascended into heaven with the promise that he would return to make all things new. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Every stage from justification through glorification is God’s work for us. 

Our hope is sure and certain because it is rooted in the character of a good and faithful God; he will complete the work that he started. By grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone we have hope. Although he no longer walks on the earth, our Savior has not abandoned us. He sent the Holy Spirit and he promised that he would return to this earth to live with us forever. Meanwhile, as we wait, we tell others the good news of eternal life with the God who loves us, available to all by grace through faith in Jesus.