Studies in Grace, Part 1 Grace’s Result--Free Indeed!

Theologians refer to phrases like: “for I have redeemed you,” to be Old Testament references to what we New Testament believers call “grace.” The question that confronts us when mankind rejects grace is how he then must redeem himself so that he may cease to be at enmity with God. Simply put, if I determine not to promote either salvation by grace or a lifestyle of grace, what are the alternatives? Four points come to mind, all of which are popular these days.

  I can emphasize works over grace. In this scenario, I am encumbered to tell you that as a sinner you need to have a stronger commitment to Christ, demonstrated by the work you do in His behalf, before you can say that you truly believe. My problem in doing so raises several theological issues, chief of which is as a sinner s/he cannot commit to anything. He or she is spiritually dead, and as such, has no capacity for commitment to Christ for s/he has an unregenerate heart. The Scriptures abundantly teach that becoming an obedient, submissive disciple of Christ follows believing in Christ. Works follow faith. Behavior follows belief. Fruit comes after the tree is well rooted. Addressing this point, Martin Luther wrote these words during the Reformation: “No one can be good and do good unless God's grace first makes him good; and no one becomes good by works, but good works are done only by him who is good. Just so the fruits do not make the tree, but the tree bears the fruit. . .” Therefore all works, no matter how good they are and how pretty they look, are in vain if they do not flow from grace.

A second option is to give you a list of dos and don'ts. In this approach at living the Christian life, a leader arbitrarily issues a list to the new convert which comes from the authority’s personal and/or traditional preferences. It becomes the disciple’s responsibility to tell you what to do or not to do and why. S/he then sets up the conditions by which you begin to earn God's acceptance through obeying what the leader has told you to do or not to do, and you're "in." Of course, if you fail to keep the list, you're "out." This legalistic style of strong-arm teaching is one of the most prevalent methods employed in evangelical circles. Grace is strangled in such a context. To make matters worse, those in authority are so intimidating, their authority is unquestioned. Rare are those individuals with sufficient strength to confront the list-makers.

If I choose not to risk, if I go the "safe" route and determine not to promote either salvation by grace or a lifestyle of grace, there are two other alternatives that present themselves. Thirdly, I can leave no room for any gray areas. Everything, every issue, by necessity, must appear as either black or white, right or wrong. And as a result, the leader maintains strict control over the followers. In this system of attempting to live the Christian lifestyle, fellowship is based on whether there is full agreement regarding the means of living rightly before God. Herein lies the tragedy. This self-righteous, rigid standard becomes more important than relationships with individuals. We first check out where people stand on the issues, and then we determine whether we will spend much time with them. The bottom line is this: We want to be right (as we see it, of course) more than we want to love our neighbors as ourselves. At that point our personal preferences eclipse any evidence of love. I am of the firm conviction that where grace exists, so must various areas of gray exist.

Finally, if I reject grace or one of the three alternatives listed, then the inevitable choice becomes the cultivation of a judgmental attitude toward those who may not agree or cooperate with my plan. “Grace killers” are notorious for having a judgmental attitude. It is perhaps the single most un-Christ-like characteristic in evangelical circles today. A quick glance back through the halls of time will prove beneficial. Jesus found Himself standing before the brain trust of legalism, the Pharisees. Listening to Him were also many who believed in Him. He had been presenting His message to the crowd; it was a message of hope, of forgiveness, of freedom. "As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him. So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, 'If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free' " (John 8:30–32). He spoke of the liberating power of the truth. Even though the official grace killers rejected His message, He assured them it could make them free. All who embrace grace become "free indeed." But, are we brave enough to ask, “Free from what?” Free from oneself. Free from guilt and shame. Free from the damnable impulses I couldn't stop when I was in bondage to sin. Free from the tyranny of others' opinions, expectations, and demands. And free to what? Free to obey. Free to love. Free to forgive others as well as myself. Free to allow others to be who they are—even if they are different from me! Free to live beyond the limitations of human effort. Free for what? Free to serve and glorify Christ. In no uncertain terms, Jesus Christ assured His own that His truth was able to liberate them from every needless restriction: "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).

Don’t you just love that? Only in Christ Jesus are the possibilities unlimited.