From a sermon preached by my father, Rev. Thomas Grassano, at Harvest Church in the Bronx a few years ago:

“Grace is more powerful than sin, more powerful than shame, more powerful than guilt, more powerful than our mind and flesh, more powerful than what we have done and what’s been done to us.

“By grace, we can come boldly to God in prayer. By grace, we can overcome temptation. By grace, we are given the ability to live for God and to please God.

“The law says,”Do this and live!”  Grace says, “Live! And do this …”

“The law brings condemnation and death. Grace brings justification and life.

“The law demands holiness. Grace gives holiness.

“The law focuses on what man must do for God. Grace focuses on what Christ has done for man.

“The law cries, “Condemn that man!” Grace cries, “Embrace that man!”

“God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)