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You Are Redeemed: Receiving the Grace Jesus Has Already Given You
by Catherine Steiner
The greatest gift we could ever receive came to us as a baby. The child lying in the manger came for the cross—to take our sin upon Himself, pay the price we could never pay, and conquer death through His resurrection. Jesus came to reconcile us to God and offer us new life with Him, beginning right where we are today.
Yet many of us know the story of Christmas and still live as though we must earn redemption.
Hester Ann Roe Rogers had a huge heart for the Lord. Her love for Jesus ran deep, and she desperately wanted to please Him. But her beliefs influenced her to the extent that she wrestled with guilt and an intense fear that she could never be worthy of God. It took her years to finally discover that salvation is a free gift of grace through Jesus Christ. Christ had already done everything necessary for her salvation. She did not need to earn His grace; she needed to receive it.
Hester’s struggle may have taken place centuries ago, but it remains remarkably familiar. Throughout my years of serving women through ministry, I’ve seen many women who are still straining to earn their way to heaven. Their beliefs tell them they have to work harder, do more, and perform better. They may know that Jesus died for their sins, yet they struggle to fully embrace what that means: Through Christ, they are reconciled to God and invited into a relationship rooted in grace rather than fear and condemnation.
I get it. The messages I heard growing up at church and at home were heavy with judgment. The faith I was taught was grounded more in rules than grace, and if I broke the rules, there would be punishment. Prayers were rote and void of any connection to the heart. Although I heard Bible stories, I did not understand how they connected to the overarching truth of God’s Word—that He loved me and offered freedom from guilt and shame. Instead, guilt and shame were my constant companions. When our faith life is burdened in this way, we can easily become self-reliant, so intent on proving we are good enough that our focus is turned inward on ourselves rather than fixing our eyes on Jesus.
God loves us so much that He pursues us, just as He did Hester. And just as He did me. Because I felt unworthy, I was living my life in survival mode, working hard and giving no attention to my spiritual life. Bit by bit God placed people in my life who invited me to a Bible study, introduced me to a strong Bible-based church, prayed with me, and introduced me to Bible teachers who helped me understand God’s Word and see that Jesus wanted a relationship with me. As broken as I was, I wasn’t too broken for Jesus. In fact, I’m exactly the kind of person Jesus went to the cross for!
Receiving grace changed more than what I believed about eternity. It changed how I live today. Instead of working harder to prove that I am worthy of God’s love, I have found greater balance in my life. I pray over each day’s work and commit it to God, seeking His glory and the good of others. Hester experienced a similar freedom. She learned to cast her cares upon Jesus, enjoy communion with Him, and replace striving with praising God and sharing Christ’s love with others. That is the freedom Jesus purchased for us.
Friend, do you know about Jesus, or do you know Him and the love He wants to lavish on you?
What voices have convinced you that His grace is not enough? What beliefs do you need to uproot?
Scripture tells us that those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and His gift of righteousness will reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17), and that “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, NIV).
Forgiveness and redemption are gifts we receive when we place our faith in Jesus Christ. You do not have to work your way into God’s love. Jesus has already paid the price you could never pay. His grace is not something you achieve; it is something you receive. You are forgiven. You are loved. You are redeemed.
Watch the story of Hester Ann Roe Rogers on 365 Christian Women.
Catherine Steiner Her mission is to help people live out their God-given purpose with clarity, courage, and collaboration, leading to greater Kingdom impact." Word doc instead has "With a background spanning technology, nonprofit leadership, and entrepreneurship, Catherine brings a unique blend of experience to her work."
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