The question, “Is grace limited?”, is a bit too obtuse to answer definitively one way or another. Let’s examine it a bit more closely.
The grace of God makes salvation available to all men. He sent His only begotten Son to the world as a propitiation for sin. The word propitiation indicates a sacrifice that is made to atone for or pay the penalty for sin. The Bible clearly establishes the efficacy of the blood of Jesus. “By that will [the will of God] we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:10).
There are all sorts of sins. Some we determine to be much more grievous than others. For example, our society imprisons or executes murderers. However a small lie or a bit of gossip is looked upon by man as inconsequential. Not so with God. In the book or Revelation (21:8) the list of sins that will condemn a soul places lying and cowardice right beside murder and idolatry.
This shows that grace can cover any sin, no matter how great. Paul himself confessed that while an unbeliever he was guilty of persecuting Christians “to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women” (Acts 22:4). His sins were so egregious that he referred to himself not one whit behind the very worst. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief” (1 Timothy 1:15).
So the first answer to the question is that grace is unlimited in its purpose. The favor of God accomplished what was intended, granting reconciliation to God for all sinners. Like Paul, the life one has lived before his conversion is not a consideration as to whether God’s grace can cover his sin. The answer is, yes!
But, not all men are saved. So the grace of God is limited in some ways.
Grace does not make it impossible for a Christian to fall away (be lost). The scripture is clear on this matter, we can fall “from grace” (Galatians 5:4). Grace doesn’t change sin into something else. False worship remains false. Adultery remains adultery. “How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:2). Grace does not make doctrine unimportant. Paul made this clear in Galatians 1:8-9 showing that the teaching of false doctrine condemns a man. “…Let him be accursed.” Grace does not sanction fellowship with sin, “For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14). Finally, grace does not save the man who will not repent! A hard and impenitent heart treasures up wrath in the “day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God” (Romans 2:5). Question answered!
