Peter Howard
The Gift of Grace
The music video that Peter references during the talk can be found here: Gaither Vocal Band – Sinner Saved by Grace
Mary Magdalene searched the market place for the perfect gift for her Lord. When she found what she was looking for, the price was very high, perhaps her life’s savings, but for her Lord, it still fell short of what she knew He had done for her. Jesus had shown her the true meaning of grace, and Mary wanted to demonstrate just what that meant to her. The alabaster bottle of perfume may have cost all that she had, but what Jesus had done for her would cost a great deal more.
Just like Mary, we all need God’s grace. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23) and we know that the wages of sin is death eternal (Rom 6:23). But the greatest news we could ever receive is that God’s grace is sufficient for us (2 Cor 12:9 ), and through the gift of God’s only Son, we have eternal life (John 3:16).
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9