Not a single time did the Lord excuse a sinner because of their circumstances. He had grace but never excuse. He never said the words, “Oh, I am so sorry you were so abused, that explains why you’re sinfully acting out.” Or “No wonder you are doing that, look at all that has happened to you.” We don’t get a “get out of jail free pass” just because of our circumstances. We are held accountable for our sinful responses to life’s happenings.
Excuse: A Blame Game
It’s amazing that excuse is never the answer. Personally, I might give a pass to someone who was a poor thing, but God doesn’t. It’s not because He is mean or cruel; it is because He is Holy. Holiness can’t excuse. Yet Grace abounds where blame and excuses fail.
Look at the woman caught in the act of adultery. Jesus didn’t say, “I am sorry you were abused as a child. That explains everything. Hey guys, leave her alone!” What He did say was that He didn’t condemn her, but she was to go and sin no more.
Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
John 8:10-11 NLT
Jesus Had Grace Not Excuse
Christ had grace and mercy on her condition, but He’d accept no excuse for her sin. She chose to be sinful regardless of what had transpired in her life. All of us are accountable and will answer for our sins. Excuse and blame just attempt to misdirect the spotlight from the responsible party—which is ME.
We’re all held accountable for our sinful responses to life’s happenings. The wiles of the devil make us feel as if we have no choice, that we’re a victim of our situations. He schemes to make us feel, “It’s more than I can bear, God!” Then in the heat of our painful situations, he tempts us to feel that we are due our sinful choice because we have been so put upon. On that thought he pulls a slight of hand to convince us that we’re powerless to overcome the sin in this area. Oh, Satan uses all the ammunition he is given. He unleashes hell trying to lead us down the wide path of hell. And with our nibble upon that bait, we’re caught and captured to darkness.
Grace or Excuse
The Grace of the Father is such a huge gift. Jesus understands our frailty and is acquainted with our weaknesses. He Himself was tempted, while yet not sinning. I don’t want Christ to meet my excuse or blame, because I want to be impacted by the full weight of His Grace. Excuse and blame just divert my experiencing the fullness of His grace for which He paid.
For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
Hebrews 4:15 AMPC
The grace of God is greater than all my excuses. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a). And, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). Though our heavenly Father resists the pride of excuse and blame, we have ready access to His Grace. And with that Grace, He embraces us in our humility of receiving Grace.
