Ever Increasing Love Of God

The very things that kindle hatred within us often become the occasion through which the love and grace of God are revealed more abundantly. His love never diminishes; rather, it continues to increase even in the midst of human weakness and failure. This raises an important question for us to reflect upon: if God’s love remains constant and ever-growing, why does our love continue to fade? Instead of pondering this, we often become careless, presuming upon God’s grace and falling deeper into sin.

Paul sarcastically challenges such thinking when he asks, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1). True understanding of our growing hatred, frustration, and sinful condition can emerge only when we view them in the light of God’s grace and broaden our perspective beyond selfish desires toward a deeper concern for those who are oppressed and wounded because of sin.

Why Do We Sin?

We believe that the forgiveness of sins was accomplished through Christ two thousand years ago, and that this grace is available to all people, whether they are aware of it or not. If this is true, then the lives of those who understand this grace should reflect a noticeable difference compared to those who do not know it. Yet, in many situations, we see the opposite happening. Sometimes people who are unaware of God’s grace seem to live more responsibly and righteously than those who openly claim to know it.

So do some believers take God’s grace for granted? In many cases, the answer appears to be yes. Instead of allowing grace to transform their thinking and behavior, some misuse it as an excuse to continue in sin. Because they know they are not condemned, they begin to treat sin lightly, almost as though grace gives them permission to live however they want.

Others struggle differently. They feel trapped by an inner force that keeps leading them into actions they themselves do not want to do. Paul described this struggle in Romans 7 when he said that he often failed to do the good he desired and instead did the very things he hated. He concluded that it was “sin living within” him that was at work. Paul further explains that the real problem is living under the law, because the law gives power to sin (Romans 7:19–25; 1 Corinthians 15:56).

The conclusion, then, is that people continue to struggle with sin when they live under the burden of law rather than under the freedom of God’s grace. God’s grace is freely available to us each day, and it is greater than our failures. But grace is not meant to encourage sin; it is meant to transform our hearts and lead us into a new way of living.

How Could We Truly Understand The Grace?

When we view God’s grace only from the perspective of our own lives, we often become careless and continue in sin, not realizing that we are still living under the mindset of law rather than truly understanding grace. However, when we begin to see the same grace at work in the lives of those who offend or hurt us, we start to understand the true power and depth of God’s grace.

The life of Joseph illustrates this clearly. Joseph recognized the grace of God even in the lives of his brothers, who were jealous of him, plotted to kill him, and eventually sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels. Later, Joseph also witnessed that the same grace sustained Potiphar’s wife, even after she falsely accused him of a sin he had never committed.

Joseph viewed his circumstances differently from those who question God’s justice or accuse Him of unfairness. Rather than allowing bitterness to take root, Joseph came to a deeper understanding of the love of God and the greatness of His grace, which preserved him in order to fulfill His purpose instead of removing him from His plan. He realized that God’s grace is not reserved only for the righteous or deserving, but is also extended toward those who wrongfully act against us.

and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24 (NIV)

Job recognized that the grace of God was sustaining even those who wrongly accused him. Instead of constantly arguing with them or trying to defend himself before the world, he withdrew from them and spent time alone with God.

When people around us reject, misunderstand, or despise us, our first reaction is often to justify ourselves or become troubled by the injustice we experience. But an important question to consider is this: are we able to recognize the grace of God at work even in the lives of those who oppose us? Or do we remain consumed by frustration and self-defense?

Job’s life teaches us that turning away from bitterness and drawing closer to God changes our perspective. Rather than continually dwelling among unrighteous attitudes and conflicts, choosing fellowship with God opens our eyes to understand His love and grace more clearly and deeply.

From The Perspective Of Victims

While we recognize the grace of God at work in the lives of offenders, we must also understand the grace that sustains those who suffer because of them. Although Joseph is often seen as the victim of injustice, it is important to realize that God’s grace continually remained upon him until God fulfilled His purpose through Joseph’s life.

The Psalmist expresses this truth in a slightly different way:

They bruised his feet with shackles,
his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass,
till the word of the LORD proved him true.
Psalm 105:18-19 (NIV)

This kind of perspective toward those whom God uses often causes us to overlook the grace of God working in their lives. Instead, we focus only on their suffering and endurance. In reality, endurance is not merely the result of human strength or personal ability; it is the result of God’s sustaining grace.

When we fail to recognize God’s grace in this way, we begin trying to produce perseverance through our own efforts and human works. In doing so, we unknowingly set aside the grace of God and rely on ourselves rather than on His strength.

To understand this truth more deeply, we should reflect on the people who suffer because of our own sins and mistakes. Our actions may have brought pain, hardship, or disappointment into the lives of others, yet we often focus only on receiving forgiveness for ourselves without considering the impact our faults have had on them. Even so, God’s grace continues to sustain those who are affected by our failures.

When we begin to recognize God’s grace at work in the lives of those who suffer because of us, we gain a deeper understanding of the true meaning of His grace.We come to see that His grace is not limited to us alone, but extends equally to everyone involved. Sometimes, even our righteous actions can sometimes cause others to suffer because of jealousy and envy.

The life of Joseph is a clear example of this truth. Whether people suffer because of our wrongdoing or even because of the good in our lives, God’s grace sustains them impartially. This grace is not given based on what we deserve; rather, it is God’s loving provision that covers human guilt and weakness. As we grow in this awareness, we are drawn closer to God day by day. We begin to see His love more clearly, with greater humility, compassion, and gratitude.

Optimum Utilisation Of The Love Of God

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 (NIV)

The Word became flesh to show us that even in our human weakness we can glorify God. Jesus, filled with the love of His Father, obeyed Him in every way—even unto death on the cross. If the Son of God willingly obeyed the Father and laid down His life to save us, what then prevents us, who have been redeemed and reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, from obeying our Abba Father?

Whenever we disobey God, His love and mercy abound even more. Yet we must not misuse His grace; rather, we should allow His love to teach us obedience even through hardships. If our obedience is driven merely by fear of punishment, we remain under the law, which brought eternal death as the wages of sin. But the grace of God has delivered us from the consequences of failing to keep the law—not so that we may continue in disobedience, but so that through loving God we may learn true obedience.

Though we live in the flesh, God has made a wonderful provision by placing His Spirit within our hearts. The Spirit of God dwells in us purely by His grace, for we are not worthy in ourselves to contain His Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must learn to walk in a way that preserves His presence within us—not continually taking His grace for granted, but standing firmly in His truth and depending wholly upon Him.

Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 (ASV)

Finding grace to help us does not mean covering the sin exposed by the law, but completely overcoming it by relying on His grace. Paul declares this after experiencing and living by this grace:

“For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.”
Galatians 3:18 (NIV)

Therefore, our inheritance rests not upon the law, but upon the grace of God and our willingness to learn obedience through faith in Him. Long before the law was given, God revealed His grace to Abraham through His promise, showing that His relationship with His people has always been founded on His ever-increasing love and grace rather than mere adherence to any law.