Grace abounded all the more
Paul on grace greater than sin
Paul makes a statement that should astonish anyone who has failed: where sin increased, grace abounded all the more. However great the sin, grace is greater. There is no failure so large that grace cannot exceed it; sin does not get the last word, grace does. Wherever sin has piled up, grace piles higher.
For a leader who has failed — and every leader does — this is the ground of hope. The temptation after a serious failure is to believe it is beyond grace, that this sin is too much, that you have finally exhausted God's mercy. Paul says the opposite: where sin increased, grace super-abounded. This is not a license to sin, which Paul immediately rejects; it is an assurance for the fallen that grace is always greater than the failure. Paul, who called himself the chief of sinners, became the chief example of grace.
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this cause I obtained mercy.”
— Paul, the chief of sinners shown mercy — 1 Timothy 1:15 (WEB)
No failure is so large that grace cannot exceed it. Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more — sin does not get the last word.
“where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly.”
Paul, the self-described chief of sinners, became the chief example of grace. A leader formed here refuses to believe his failure is beyond grace. The inner work is trusting grace to be greater than the worst he has done.
Anchor your hope after failure in grace that exceeds the sin. Extend that same assurance to others who have fallen. Refuse the lie that any failure has outrun God’s mercy.
Leaders conclude a particular failure is too great for grace and live in condemnation. The blind spot is measuring sin as larger than the grace that abounds all the more.
Name a failure you believe is beyond grace. This week, receive, and rest in, the truth that grace abounds all the more.
The temptation after serious failure is to believe it is beyond grace — that this sin is too much, that you have exhausted God's mercy. Paul says where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.
Is there a failure you believe is beyond grace, when Scripture says grace abounds where sin increased?