Romans 6:1-11
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Costly Grace
Costly Grace
Romans 5:6-
For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
In France the early 1800s, a man was released on parole from being sentenced to hard labor. Amidst poverty, He had been charged for stealing bread. When he consequently sought to escape, his sentence was extended to 19 years. Finally he was released on parole. The life for a released convict was extremely difficult. Having been marked by the penal system, he couldn’t find employment, shelter or any form of assistance. One night upon falling asleep on the porch of a church, a bishop saw him. Despite the man’s startled and rough appearance, the bishop invited inside. He and the nuns treated this man as an honored guest. they provided him with a meal and a bed to spend the night. He was desperate to make it on his own. As he lay in bed he determined that he would steal some silver from the church in order to make a new start.
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In the dark of the night as everyone was asleep, the man took the opportunity, grabbed the silver and slipped out under the cover of the darkness. It wasn’t long before the man was discovered and was returned back to the church by the local authorities. “We have your silver,” Stated the senior officer. After decades of serving hard time, the man was about to be incarcerated again. “we caught him red-handed. He had the nerve to say you gave it to him,” the officer continued.
“That is right,” the bishop replied to the officer. Then he turned to the man and endearingly said in front of the officers, “but my friend, you left so early. surely something slipped your mind. you forgot I gave these also. would you leave the best behind.” turning back to the officers, the bishop stated, “ Release him, this man has spoken true.”
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
The man was released and allowed to rest in the church again. As he sits alone in one of the rooms of the church, the man is conflicted by the grace he had been shown. He realized that he has had it all wrong. As he sits in the room, he reflects upon his life and his words are recorded as follows:
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Take an eye for an eye! Turn your heart into stone! This is all I have lived for! This is all I have known!
PARAPHRASE THE NEXT SECTION:::
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression 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 to the many. The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:12-
One word from him and I'd be back, beneath the lash, upon the rack. Instead he offers me my freedom. I feel my shame inside me like a knife. He told me that I have a soul, How does he know? What spirit comes to move my life? Is there another way to go?
I am reaching but I fall, and the night is closing in, as I stare into the void, to the whirlpool of my sin. I escape now from that world. I am nothing now! and another story must begin!
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Transformation reigns in this mans life. Several years later, we see him in a position of prominence. He becomes the mayor in a suburb of Paris. He becomes an honest man, an agent of grace.
Romans 5:18-
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
If you haven’t seen it, this is more or less what happens in the first 15 or so minutes of the 2012 rendition of Les Mis. In this movie, Jean VelJean, puts to death his old self and finds newness of life in Jesus Christ.
Today we will be reading out of . Romans is Paul’s only letter to a church which he has not yet visited. Romans is chalk full of doctrine. Paul uses this letter to not only discuss the essentials of faith, but also to encourage the Romans toward spiritual Growth. Join with me as we read :
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
THESIS - You see, We Need to die to sin! If we don’t die to sin, we are undermining the the grace God has given to us!
When paul asks the question “Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?” he asks it because some actually had that view. he swiftly
THESIS - You see, We Need to die to sin! If we don’t die to sin, we are undermining the the grace God has given to us!
We Need to die to sin! If we don’t die to sin, we are undermining the the grace God has given to us!
Shall we continue to sin so that grace may increase? MAY IT NEVER BE!
Back in the day of paul and believe it or not, even today, some people believe that we have liberty to sin because of what Christ has done for us on the cross. That is to say that we can do whatever we want, sinful as we can think, and we don’t have to worry about consequences.
In fact, its worse that that. Its simply missing half of the story! Shall we continue to sin so that grace may increase? MAY IT NEVER BE! If we walk in death when being offered newness of life, isnt that kinda cheap?
Now while Christ’s blood is able to cover any sin, those people’s belief is not looking at the entirety of scripture. This passage hits it on the head:
Shall we continue to sin so that grace may increase? MAY IT NEVER BE!
You see, there is a distinction, Jesus Paid it all so that you can live in freedom from sin - not freedom to sin.
If we walk in death when being offered newness of life, isnt that kinda cheap?
You see, the grace that christ extends to us is extremely costly. But if we try to make that grace cover even more sin, we are trying to cheapen the grace. Trust me, there is enough grace even for that, but should we try to bring down the cost which christ paid for our sins? Conversely, if we think outside of time, if we sin more, do we really want Christ to have to pay a greater price on our behalf? The Price has been paid, the grace is costly, lets to try to make it cheap.
You see its not like christ made a bulk purchase for us. As consumers, we understand the idea of bulk purchases. Is it a better deal to buy one roll of paper towels from the store or a 12 pack? How bout insurance? do you get a better deal having one car or two? how bout if you bundle a house on top of that? the unit price is cheaper if you buy more. This is not the case with Christ. God didn’t give him a multiple sin discount. Jesus Paid it all! He paid full price for every sin you and myself have commited. Shall we sin all the more? may it never be!
The grace Christ gives us is extremely costly! He paid every cent!
Why do we feel entitled to grace? I cant tell you how many times I have heard my generation say, “I wish he would show me some grace.” It is sad that we expect grace, especially in the christian community. We show up late to work - “where is my grace?” We accidently something of a friend calculator - “where is my grace?” We wreck the car, “why wont my insurance show me some grace?” We put off an assignment till the last minute. its due at 11:59, but you miss the deadline. “the professor better give me some grace!”
Don’t you see? Grace is costly! If you show up to work late, you are costing your employer productivity. If you break your friends calculator, he now has to go spend the money on a new calculator, and possibly then take the time to learn how to use the new one. If you wreck you car, insurance will have to pay for the repairs. If you turn in an assignment late, that delays when the professor can grade your assignment. Grace is not inherently free. It is exceptionally costly.
The walk of a christian is also costly. This costly walk demands our life from us. “how shall we who died to sin still live in it?” We have been burred with Christ through baptism into death! Did you know that is what baptism is about? You put off your old self and put on newness in christ. Baptism shows symbolically what christ is doing in your life. You don’t have to be perfect, or anywhere close, in order to be baptized. Baptism just shows that your old self is dead. it is buried with christ. Your old was are left behind. they are dead! and when you raise out of the water it symbolic of you raising into newness of life just as christs resurrected from the dead.
You have the choice. You can either live to die - as so many people do without christ - or you can die in order to live. Christianity shows us that there are only two options. If you are born once you will die twice, but if you are born twice, you will die once. you see, we are all born from our mother, but only some will be born a second time. That is, to have newness of life in christ Jesus. To be born spiritually. Furthermore, we all must face a physical death, but the question is whether we will have to face a spiritual death as well. But if we are born twice, we will only die once!
Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 6
so we too might walk in dnewness of life
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
The Greek expression translated “a new life” is better rendered “a new sphere which is life.”
we must live in that new sphere, which definitely is life. are you really living till you have died to live?
Have you heard the term YOLO? You only live once. You probably have seen it on facebook or twitter or whatever you kids are doing these days.
“Just spent my annual salary on a car, YOLO”
“Going bungee Jumping, YOLO”
“Going swimming with sharks, YOLO”
“Going driving on I35, YOLO”
“
In all seriousness though, this YOLO mentality is dangerous. it stems from the idea that one should live like today is their last day. Teens have done incredibly dangerous things all in the name of YOLO. The YOLO concept permeates the culture of the younger generations. Teens are having contests of who can go longest without food — i recently heard of a girl who was hospitalized due to extreme dehydration from doing this. This mentality leads to reckless abandon. It even leads to the “I need it now” mentality. No wonder teens experiment with drugs, damage their bodies for the sake of “Beauty.” No wonder why pornography and sex is running rampant! They want their pleasure now!
But you see, YOLO is a false statement in Christianity. YOLO is based on the presupposition that once you die, you are gone, so you might as well enjoy life now. That is not true for Christians. we are promised a new body and a new life upon death.
I’m not talking in the reincarnation sense that Buddhists and Hindus believe. The Bible says that God will create a new heaven and new earth. We will have new bodies in this new earth and work will not be work, pain will diminish, sin will be no more. There will be greater pleasures in this new heaven and new earth than what we have here on earth. So why should we live like we are dying if we are promised even greater pleasures in the life to come? What may look to be boring, or like too many rules to the outside world is a means to even greater pleasure for the believer.
“Going to get drunk, YOLO”
The believer must die to his old ways, the ways of the world to experience this newness of life. Let me tell you, I don’t think there is a greater joy in this life than to interact with the one who created the universe. the one who put the stars in the sky. the one who created you and me.
“firs
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Romans 6 reveals that baptism isn’t what makes one dead to sin and alive in God. Only the Spirit of God can do that. The plea in this passage is to live up to the idea of baptized life.
Word Pictures in the New Testament Romans 6:11
complete proof that Paul does not mean that baptism makes one dead to sin and alive to God. That is a spiritual operation “in Christ Jesus” and only pictured by baptism. This is a plea to live up to the ideal of the baptized life.
Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with!
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
New life in Christ follows death to sin as certainly as Christ’s resurrection followed his crucifixion
The cost of grace is high!
But for some reason many people don’t want this costly grace. They try to settle with a cheaper option. They seek to half live the christian life. And unfortunately to half do something does not cut it. Isn't it amazing the transformation that occurs when someone cleans half the trash out of their weed infested yard? No, not really. it still is trashy and weed infested! we need to be all in!
Dietrich Bonhoeffer got it. He was a German Pastor, a Theologian, and due to his faith became a Martyr at the hand of Hitler. He persevered in his faith even amidst persecution. Did you know that Hitler persecuted the church. Yup. He required all church leaders to bow down to him and admit that they are first loyal to Hitler. For the christian, we know that we must first be loyal to christ. Bonhoeffer wrote many books. He served as a seminary professor until Hitler’s regime had the seminary shut down. He went on to be a pastor. until he was ultimately imprisoned and executed. Bonhoeffer understood costly grace! His book on discipleship discusses the dichotomy of cheap grace and costly grace. He writes -
Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession… Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace with out Jesus Christ, living and incarnate”
So the option lies before each of us. do we take cheap grace — a grace we bestow upon ourselves— or do we take costly grace? Costly grace may require that we give our life to christ, but it is the only way we can find freedom!
You see-
knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin.
Romans 6:6-7
You see,
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
Christ’s death for sin becomes our death to sin
Christ paid such a great price for this grace! And yet, he offers it to you freely. The reward is so great! Your cost is nothing compared to what Christ has already paid. You can have newness of life with Christ Jesus! Did I mention that this newness of life is eternal? Though your physical body may die, you will live on with christ. The choice is set before you. If you take the costly grace, you have death then life eternal, but if you take the cheap grace, you have life, if you can even call it that, an then death.
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
“To obey the cravings of sin is to be alive to sin; but not to obey the cravings of sin or succumb to its will, this is to die to sin.”6
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
Christ’s death for sin becomes our death to sin.
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
The Greek expression translated “a new life” is better rendered “a new sphere which is life.”
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
New life in Christ follows death to sin as certainly as Christ’s resurrection followed his crucifixion
The phrase -
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
“Might be done away with” translates a form of the Greek verb katargeō, which speaks of being “reduced to a condition of absolute impotence and inaction, as if it were dead.”
Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 151.
The New American Commentary: Romans (1) Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ (6:1–14)
to live one must die
Word Studies in the New Testament Chapter 6
body belonging to, or ruled by, the power of sin
If we live in the likeness of christs resurrection, our body of sin might be done away with.
We must live in likeness of Christ!
I also find it very intriguing that up to this point in Romans, there has only been one imperative verb used. Whenever we see an imperative verb, we must take careful consideration to follow what it says. is the first imperative in the book of Romans. In that passage, Paul asks another one of these “what then” questions -
New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 3
What then? If asome 1did not believe, their 2unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 aMay it never be! Rather, let God be found true
What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true.
What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”
What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written,
“That You may be justified in Your words,
And prevail when You are judged.”
If you ever want to do an interesting study through the book of romans, dig deep into the questions paul asks and answers as “May it never be!” the content is rich! Especially when you consider the imperatives that follow the questions he is addressing.
In Romans 3, “Let God be found” is the imperative verb; it is paul’s call to action to the believers. When you come across an imperative verb
In Romans 6, we find the second imperative in the book of Romans.
Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Here, “Consider” is the imperative verb. Paul is calling us to action. He commands us to consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God. If we consider ourselves dead to sin, we will not entertain it. when temptation comes and we are faced with the choice to sin or to be obedient, we should consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God!
Consider in vs 11 is 2nd imperative in romans.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
Word Pictures in the New Testament Romans 6:11
complete proof that Paul does not mean that baptism makes one dead to sin and alive to God. That is a spiritual operation “in Christ Jesus” and only pictured by baptism. This is a plea to live up to the ideal of the baptized life.
Im not preaching perfectionism. If you have heard me say that Christians are perfect, you have heard me wrong.
MAY IT NEVER
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
however that verse does not give us liberty to sin intentionally.
if we back up a few verses we read
This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
Let me ask you the question. Have you died to live, putting away the old self to walk in newness of life in christ Jesus. Or are you living to die - if you can even call that living.
Will you live once to die twice, or die once and live twice?
Will you live once to die twice, or die once and live twice?
We Need to die to sin! If we don’t die to sin, we are undermining the the grace God has given to us!
That’s like me giving my car to one of you in need and you never driving it.
In fact, its worse that that. Its simply missing half of the story! Shall we continue to sin so that grace may increase? MAY IT NEVER BE! If we walk in death when being offered newness of life, isnt that kinda cheap?
You see, the grace that christ extends to us is extremely costly. But if we try to make that grace cover even more sin, we are trying to cheapen the grace. Trust me, there is enough grace even for that, but should we try to bring down the cost which christ paid for our sins? Conversely, if we think outside of time, if we sin more, do we really want Christ to have to pay a greater price on our behalf? The Price has been paid, the grace is costly, lets to try to make it cheap.
The walk of a christian is also costly. This costly walk demands our life from us. We have been burred with Christ through baptism into death! Our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with! The cost of grace is high!
But for some reason many people don’t want this costly grace. They try to settle with a cheaper option. They seek to half live the christian life. And unfortunately to half do something does not cut it.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer got it. He was a German Pastor, a Theologian, and due to his faith became a Martyr at the hand of Hitler. He wrote many books. His volume on discipleship discusses the dichotomy of cheap grace and costly grace. He writes -
Cheap Grace
Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession… Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace with out Jesus Christ, living and incarnate”
So the option lies before each of us. do we take cheap grace — a grace we bestow upon ourselves— or do we take costly grace? Costly grace may require that we give our life to christ, but it is the only way we can find freedom! You see, Christ paid such a great price for this grace! And yet, he offers it to you freely. The reward is so great! Your cost is nothing compared to what Christ has already paid. You can have newness of life with Christ Jesus! Did I mention that this newness of life is eternal? Though your physical body may die, you will live on with christ. The choice is set before you. If you take the costly grace, you have death then life eternal, but if you take the cheap grace, you have life, if you can even call it that, an then death.
So what will you choose? will you choose death or life?
As we pick back up in the movie of Les Mis, Jean VelJean lives in his newness of life constantly putting to death his old self. Unfortunately, the world still remembers the old Jean VelJean. Officer Jaber is a man who embodies Justice and the Law. Jaber ruthelessly persues Jean VelJean. Despite Jaber constanly seeking Jean VelJean’s life, when Jaber is captured by rebel forces trying to overthrow the french government, Jean VelJean frees him and lets him go. Jaber is met with grace and reaches a crisis of faith. In one of the final scenes, Jaber has the monologue as he walks along the banister of a bridge:
How I can now allow this man
To hold dominion over me
This desperate man whom I have hunted
He gave me my life
He gave me freedom
I should have perished by his hands
It was his right
It was my right to die as well
Instead I live
And my thoughts fly apart
Can this man be believed?
Shall his sins be forgiven?
Shall his crimes be reprieved?
And must I now begin to doubt
Who never doubted all these years?
My heart is stone and still it trembles
The world I have known is lost in shadow
Is he from heaven or from hell?
And does he know
That granting me my life today
This man has killed me even so?
I am reaching, but I fall
And the stars are black and cold
As I stare into the void
Of a world that cannot hold
I'll escape now from that world
From the world of Jean Valjean
There is nowhere I can turn
There is no way to go on!
Jaber then unwilling to walk in grace jumps to his death. He knew his was was wrong, but he was unwilling to change to the way of Jean ValJean. He is unwilling to accept grace. Though his life was spared, he takes it anyway.
CONCLUSION
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
How depressingly outrageous, his life is spared, so he kills himself eternally turning his back on this grace. Let me ask you today, are you a Jaber or a Jean ValJean? Grace is being extended to you today, are you going to walk in it or turn your back on it. You life has been spared, will you live a new life, dying to the old self, or will you walk in death, never parting with the old? Will you live once to die twice, or die once and live twice? Will you live to die or die to live?
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Lets Pray -
In the dark of the night as everyone was asleep, the man took the opportunity, grabbed the silver and slipped out under the cover of the night. It wasn’t long before the man was discovered and was returned back to the church by the local authorities. “We have your silver,” Stated the senior officer. After decades of serving hard time, the man was about to be incarcerated again. “we caught him red-handed. He had the nerve to say you gave it to him,” the officer continued.
“That is right,” the bishop replied to the officer. Then he turned to the man and endearingly said in front of the officers, “but my friend, you left so early. surely something slipped your mind. you forgot I gave these also. would you leave the best behind.” turning back to the officers, the bishop stated, “ Release him, this man has spoken true.”
The man was released and allowed to rest in the church again. As he sits alone in one of the rooms of the church, the man is conflicted by the grace he had been shown. He realized that he has had it all wrong. As he sits in the room, he reflects upon his life and his words are recorded as follows:
As he sits alone in one of the rooms of the church, the man is conflicted by the grace he had been shown. he realized that he has had it all wrong. As he sits in the room, his words are recorded as follows:
Take an eye for an eye! Turn your heart into stone! This is all I have lived for! This is all I have known!
One word from him and I'd be back, beneath the lash, upon the rack. Instead he offers me my freedom. I feel my shame inside me like a knife. He told me that I have a soul, How does he know? What spirit comes to move my life? Is there another way to go?
I am reaching but I fall, and the night is closing in, as I stare into the void, to the whirlpool of my sin. I escape now from that world. I am nothing now! and another story must begin!
Transformation reigns in this mans life. Several years later, we see him in a position of prominence. He has become the mayor in a suburb of Paris. He becomes an honest man, an agent of grace.
If you haven’t seen it, this is more or less what happens in the first 15 or so minutes of the 2012 rendition of Les Mis. In this movie, Jean VelJean, puts to death his old self and finds newness of life in Jesus Christ. The rest of the story goes on to show how despite his newness of life, his past sins causes him a price to be paid.
Transformation i