Quote: Grace, Who You Are

Grace is not simply a “hiding” — or even a mere forgiveness of your sinfulness. Grace is not just a cover up — as if God, the great Santa Claus in the sky, is covering his eyes from your wrongdoings — acting as if they don’t exist. He’s not choosing to put you on the “nice” list when you deserve the “naughty” list. Grace does not hide God’s eyes from your sinfulness. That’s what we’ve been taught — but the true Gospel is far better.

Grace actually eradicates sinfulness itself. It’s not a cover up — instead, it’s an absolute removal of your old heart…On the Cross, your sinfulness itself was destroyed in His death. Your old sinful self was co-crucified together with Christ. Grace mystically transformed your identity from a sinner to a saint. There’s no mixture left.

Grace does not merely “cut you slack ” while leaving you with indwelling sinfulness. Grace fully nailed that indwelling sinfulness to the tree — your entire old corrupt nature was abolished as a free gift (Romans 6; Galatians 2:20).

What I am saying is that there is nothing left for you to do, but simply be who you are — that perfect new you who is one spirit with the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:17). Now your chief end is to glorify God, simply by enjoying Him forever. As John Piper often says, “God is most glorified in you when you are most satisfied in Him.

— John Crowder