Why Can't I See Grace?

This week's message continues our series in Overwhelming Grace and traces grace all the way back to the beginning in Genesis when God created the heavens and the earth; He formed men and women in His own image, blessed them and gave them purpose, all out of grace. He gave Adam and Eve real freedom, including the freedom to love Him or turn away, because love that is forced is not love at all. Then came the serpent's question, "Has God really said?" and the fall in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve chose their own way, their eyes were opened to good and evil, and they hid from God in shame. God did not change; He came looking for them anyway, calling out "Where are you?" not in anger but in compassion, already moving toward them in compassion and rescue. Every one of us faces the same pattern of the fall and need to be careful what we hear, what we see, what we feel, and who we blame for these things keep us from experiencing grace. The good news is that God never stopped pursuing us. He clothed Adam and Eve with the skin of a sacrifice, pointing forward to Jesus, the Lamb who was pierced for our transgressions, so that through one act of righteousness, all who receive God's abundant grace can reign in life through Him.