Grace Operates in the Low Places

Discipleship, Evangelism, God's Grace, Salvation 3 Minutes

The Bible reveals that “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5b). In this passage, Peter is writing to believers, but the principle is true for everyone, saved or unsaved. Throughout Scripture, God is consistently presented as displaying grace (Ex 34:6; Psa 103:8; John 1:14). While God’s common grace shines on the just and unjust alike (Matt 5:45; Acts 14:16-17), He gives special grace to the humble (Jam 4:6). For the humble unbeliever, there is a saving grace that results in the free gift of eternal life. This gift is given at the moment we trust in Christ alone as Savior, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God’s greatest blessings come to those who know they need Him. Humility, in the biblical sense, is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking rightly about yourself in light of God’s Word (Rom 12:3). The proud say, “I can do it myself,” but the humble admit, “Only God can save me.” For the Lord, grace is the only way to be saved (Eph 2:8-9), and He does not negotiate with the proud. He is fixed on saving people on His terms, and His terms alone. The moment someone brings their works to the table, they nullify grace (Rom 11:6). Pride demands we contribute. Humility brings nothing, but receives that which is graciously offered. Eternal life is a gift for the guilty (Rom 5:6-8), not a reward for the deserving (Tit 3:5-7), and it is given only to those who, in humility, come to Jesus in faith (Luke 18:13-14; John 6:29).

The message of grace is offensive to the proud, but beautiful to the broken. The thief on the cross didn’t have time to clean up his act, but he had just enough time to humble himself and believe—and that was enough. Eternal life was his, not because he earned it, but because he received it. That’s grace, and grace operates in the low places. From God’s perspective, we are all in the low places, and only the humble recognize it. I pray you see yourself like the thief on the cross, guilty, condemned, and utterly helpless to save yourself, but crying out to the One who can and will save you, if you’ll simply trust in Him to do what you cannot. He will not fail you in that moment. His Word is always true, for “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Num 23:19a).

If you have not trusted in Christ as your Savior, don’t wait. Accept God’s free gift of eternal life today. Scripture states, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). Sin pays out a paycheck—death, both spiritual and eternal. But God, in His grace, offers a free gift: eternal life, not earned or deserved, but received by faith alone in Christ alone. We need only Christ to be saved. Nothing more. Faith is the inward conviction that Jesus is the Son of God (John 1:1, 14; Col 2:9), who paid the full price for sin through His death on the cross (Rom 5:8; 1 Cor 15:3), was buried and resurrected on the third day (1 Cor 15:4), demonstrating His victory over sin and death (Rom 6:9–10), and that He alone gives eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 3:16; 10:28; Acts 4:12; 16:31). Jesus is the object of our faith, and “He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36).

Dr. Steven R. Cook

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Published by Dr. Steven R. Cook

Dr. Steven R. Cook is a Christian educator. He is protestant, conservative, and dispensational. Studies in the original languages of Scripture, ancient history, and systematic theology have been the foundation for Steven’s teaching and writing ministry. He has written several Christian books, dozens of articles on Christian theology, and recorded more than seven hundred hours of audio and video sermons. Steven currently serves as professor of Bible and Theology at Tyndale Theological Seminary, and hosts weekly Bible studies at his home in Texas. Steven’s ministry activity is entirely voluntary (articles, blogs, podcasts, and video lessons), as he works a full time job as a Case Manager for a local nonprofit agency that helps the elderly and disabled in the community.

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