I was recently asked about how parents should respond when their child is found to have sinned. Should they respond with forgiveness, with teaching, or with tough love as we have been instructed to use in many cases where we have tried to correct? In my response, I based it on the way I believe the Lord responded to many people during His significant events documented in the New Testament. 

Have you ever considered how you reflect grace when responding to those you love, especially when they fail to meet your expectations or, possibly, dramatically missed the mark? Can we view their failures as opportunities for growth, much as a sculptor views a block of marble, not for what it appears to be, but for the masterpiece hidden within?

In the following discussion, we will seek to understand and appreciate the concept of Grace for the Fallen. We will explore how grace, much like an abundant waterfall, pours out, cleansing and renewing those who allow themselves to experience its mighty flow. We will delve into how our reactions as parents, as friends, as people of faith can mirror the boundless forgiveness and love that God showers upon us, even in our most egregious failings. Recall, the focus isn’t on the wrongdoing, but on the individual’s restoration and the rebuilding of relationships built on faith and love.

The fact that we refer to it as the “New” Testament should indicate that there is a better way than the responses used in the past by early followers of God, before Jesus gave us His life-changing gospel about the Way, Truth, and Life and teachings about the Kingdom of God and its approaching event. I also recall that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. 

Although my response may have sounded like a cliché when I said that we should respond as Jesus did, I genuinely meant it. I mentioned that Jesus is said to have died for us while we were still sinners, paying for our sins, and that we cannot work or earn our salvation. All of these facts help us understand how we should respond when our children fail to follow our teachings and what we have taught them from the Bible. As adults, we know what it means to fall away from what we know to be right more than our children do. It hurts them to disappoint us and God. Condemning them and making them feel more guilty is like delivering a devastating death sentence, devasting. When they confess their transgressions, sharing their sins against what we have taught or what God’s commandments are, they are actually confessing to us. Isn’t this what the church is all about? 1 

Being there for one another to listen and assist our brothers and sisters in returning to a relationship with God? We pray, help, and comfort those who are remorseful, burdened with guilt, and in need of the comforting embrace of Jesus. Our children desire our love and support first, so that we can assure them of Jesus’ grace of the penalty of our sin for all of us, whether we are a son or daughter, a spouse, a parent, a friend, a co-worker, or even an enemy.2 

As I write this brief introduction, my desire is to illustrate the abundant grace that my Irish friend refers to as being “lavished on us,” as he interprets the writings of the Apostle Paul.3 It reminds me of an image of an ice cream cone with layers of ice cream, and then chocolate syrup being poured on top, running down the sides and covering the delicious favorite treat. Knowing that the best is yet to come, anticipating the taste of that indulgent chocolate syrup. That’s the image of Jesus extending His mercy and grace to us, over and over again, as the scripture says, continuously forgiving us and cleansing us.4 

Ultimately, as children, what we want is for our parents and God to forgive us. This is the pitcher that we see in the image of Jesus pouring out over us. Of course, we must not be careless about our sins and take for granted that God permits us to do as we please due to our selfish and pleasure-seeking desires. 

The door that we help open for others is the rewarding relationship we develop with others and our Lord Jesus, who wants us to understand that His death was necessary because He knew we would sin and that no other means of salvation could make us right with God. 5

As we embark on this remarkable journey, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How have you encountered grace in your personal experiences, and how do you bestow it on others, especially when they’ve disappointed you? Share your stories and insights in the comments below; let’s build a community where we can support each other in our effort to better reflect the grace we have been given.

Footnotes:

¹ James 5:16, 19

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

² Romans 3:24

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

³ 2 Corinthians 9:14

And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 

⁴ 1 John 1:7

7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

⁵ Acts 4:12

There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.