One of the most profound and intriguing truths about grace came to me through a message my then 17-year-old son Joey was led to give one Sunday morning. He told the story of Uzzah and the ark:
13:5 So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor `the brook' of Egypt even unto the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim.
13:6 And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, `that is', to Kiriath-jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God Jehovah that sitteth `above' the cherubim, that is called by the Name.
13:7 And they carried the ark of God upon a new cart, `and brought it' out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.
13:8 And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, even with songs, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.
13:9 And when they came unto the threshing-floor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.
13:10 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put forth his hand to the ark; and there he died before God.
13:11 And David was displeased, because Jehovah had broken forth upon Uzza; and he called that place Perez-uzza, unto this day.
Of course the problem was not that Uzzah had evil motives or intentionally did anything to be offensive to God or the king. The problem began in verse 7 when they put the ark on a cart instead of transporting it in the way God had instructed, on poles carried on the shoulders of the priests. Uzzah saw the ark begin to shake on the cart and, probably instinctively by reflex action, reached to prevent it from sliding and falling--and God struck him dead! The problem was disobedience of a direct order given by God. Uzzah may or may not have known about it, but David knew and the priests knew--sometimes innocent people suffer for our disobedient actions; no sin goes without consequence. What Joey said about it that impressed me so much was that "a man was attempting to handle the grace of God, when it is the grace of God that should handle a man. Man does not manipulate God's grace; but man should allow God's grace to lead and guide him."
A mistake similar to Uzzah's seems to have been a problem with the Romans. I suppose there is an incident in the earthly life of Christ that may have reinforced that idea.
7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
7:37 And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,
7:38 and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
7:39 Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.
7:40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Teacher, say on.
7:41 A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.
7:42 When they had not `wherewith' to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?
7:43 Simon answered and said, He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
7:44 And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.
7:45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
7:46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment.
7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, `the same' loveth little.
7:48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
7:49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that even forgiveth sins?
7:50 And he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.
It might seem as though Jesus was trying to say that people who keep accumulating sins can keep accumulating grace (by manipulating God) and therefore gain a greater love for God.
5:12 Therefore, as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin; and so death passed unto all men, for that all sinned:--
5:13 for until the law sin was in the world; but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
5:14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.
5:15 But not as the trespass, so also `is' the free gift. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound unto the many.
5:16 And not as through one that sinned, `so' is the gift: for the judgment `came' of one unto condemnation, but the free gift `came' of many trespasses unto justification.
5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, `even' Jesus Christ.
5:18 So then as through one trespass `the judgment came' unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness `the free gift came' unto all men to justification of life.
5:19 For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous.
5:20 And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
5:21 that, as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
6:2 God forbid. We who died to sin, how shall we any longer live therein?
Paul asks the question, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?" He answers his own question, "By no means!" According to Gib Martin and Larry Richards in their book The Book of Romans: the Smart Guide to the Bible Series (Nelson Books, 2007), "Some misinformed people were tempted to give up all self-control. They reasoned that since God forgave all sins, the more they sinned, the more grace God would give them. If one measure of grace was good, they figured they could get a double measure by being even more sinful" (78).
So there is perhaps this competition going on for who is going to get the most grace from God. Martin and Richards go on to say, "Paul's reply to his question is, 'Certainly not!' It is an exclamation of the highest degree in Jewish thought--not shock, but disgust. The phrase is used when truth is being trashed. When Paul speaks of being dead to sin, he is expressing how powerful God's righteousness can be for those who believe and walk in it. The righteousness God grants believers is so powerful, it can keep Christians from wanting to sin" (78). It allows the grace of God, as Joey said, to handle us. It makes us desire NOT to sin.
4:4 Ye adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world maketh himself an enemy of God.
4:5 Or think ye that the scripture speaketh in vain? Doth the spirit which he made to dwell in us long unto envying?
4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore `the scripture' saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
4:7 Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.
4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you.
Jesus is not looking at the world and watching His people, creating more and more grace as need arises. All grace was established when Jesus took our sins upon Himself on the cross of calvary--there is not a contest to store it up. Romans 3:10 says, "There is none righteous, no not one." We all stand dreadfully in need, but as Jesus spoke to Paul, "My grace is sufficient."
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for the gift of Your grace--a gift I never did anything to deserve, and a gift I really never knew how to ask for, but a gift You extended anyway, even as You looked out across the centuries from a bloody cross and saw my transgressions and iniquities. Nothing in my life has been hidden from You, and nothing in my life has been a surprise to You, yet You reached out to me from that cross with blood as potent today as on the day it was shed. I praise You, Lord! In all my life, Your grace is sufficient! Amen
6:1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
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