"But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
James 4:6
“But He giveth more grace.”
Our God is gracious! “He gives more grace.”
“‘Greater grace.’ Greater than what? ‘Greater grace in view of the greater requirement’ (Ropes)….” [1]
The Lord knows how much grace we need, and He is there with an abundant supply. Surely, He is a God of grace.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).
“Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud.”
It is a scary thought that God does not give grace to everyone. The Word is clear, God’s grace is not for the proud in heart. God can never be fooled, He knows who the proud are.
“Surely He scorneth the scorners: but He giveth grace unto the lowly” (Proverbs 3:34).
Rather than receiving God’s grace, the proud receive His scorn.
Question: Am I being resisted by God? He reserves His grace for humble people.
“But giveth grace unto the humble.”
When you think about it, you realize that it takes a great deal of humility for a sinner to admit he’s a sinner and to confess his sin to God. It’s a bowing of the knee, and the heart, to the Lord. It’s an acknowledgment of his or her sin. And it is an agreement with God about what He says about us and our sin. Jesus came to earth to save repentant sinners.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
“Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).
Oh, what a message! We are rich in grace because of the kindness of Jesus Christ.
“That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).
And it is comforting to note that our God continues to give grace to the humble believer.
Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord[2]
By Julia H. Johnston
1 Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
yonder on Calvary’s mount out-poured,
there where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.
Refrain:
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin.
2 Dark is the stain that we cannot hide,
what can avail to wash it away!
Look! there is flowing a crimson tide;
whiter than snow you may be today. [Refrain]
3 Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
freely bestowed on all who believe;
you that are longing to see his face,
will you this moment his grace receive? [Refrain]
[1] Ropes, as quoted by A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[2] “Marvelous Grace of Our Loving Lord,” Author: Julia H. Johnston (1911); Tune: MOODY (Towner). Copyright Status, Public Domain.