Why do we spend so much time earning love, acceptance, and salvation? The crazy thing is that as soon as we understand that God’s gift is better than our performance, we will spend less time trying to earn something that is freely given.
The two gifts, trespass (sin) came into the world through Adam, and grace came into the world through Jesus Christ are not the same. It’s a gift you have to choose to receive, but the good news is it changes everything!
Sinlessness
Adam chose himself over God. He took what was not his to take. He deliberately sinned. One sin condemned the world, and it all happened because he thought he could choose himself over God.
Gracelessness
Jesus did not do it for himself. The act that brought grace to the world was the very opposite of Adam’s act. Jesus died for us, knowing full well many would turn away from him.
Deathless
Jesus paid the price for every sin – past, present, and future – not only for those who would receive Him, but for every man and woman who ever lived or who will live, and will ever live.
Grace for all
God so loved the world, He gave.
The gift is not performance-based
We can’t earn it, we don’t deserve it and yet it is freely given to all who believe. That is justification – being right with God not because of our own righteousness but because of Christ’s righteousness imputed to us.
Add-on foolishness
Our foolishness is to try and add on to this amazing, completely finished work on the cross. We think somehow we can enhance God’s love for us with our good deeds, our church attendance, our tithe. And it does not work. In fact, anything we do to earn God’s approval, takes away from the gift.
Good works are good works
The tricky bit is works are good, they are essential. What we do with them is the issue. We do good not to earn God’s grace, we do good because we have already received it. We don’t love others because they love us; we love others because God first loved us.
Jesus gave you a perfect diamond
Would you go and glue sequins on it? No. You don’t need to do that. You just need to open your mouth and show it off. That is how we should receive the gift of righteousness we have been given through Christ.
Gracious people see people differently
No one is too far gone, no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace. The price has been paid for every man, woman and child whether they are from Kenya or South Africa, Iran or Iraq, rich or poor, whatever their background, their circumstance, their past or present sins.
The future drug addict, the woman who will become an abuser, the child who will turn into a thief, are all as valuable as the most stalwart believer. The good news is when they get to that place and no-one will get through life without these problems, they are still as valuable in God’s eyes as a “perfect Christian” .
Your task is to tell people the good news
The gift is available to all but how will they know if no-one tells them? We can’t expect people to work it out for themselves or osmosis their way into some sort of spiritual understanding. We need to speak. We need to open our mouths.
It is not to smash people over the head with the Bible, it is not to beat them with their sins. It is to love them. To love them as they are just as Christ loves us in our sin.
Hospital for sinners, not a country club for saints
This means the Church should be a hospital for sinners not a country club for saints. It is to create a space where people can come and belong before they believe. It is to reach out to a world that is broken and hurting and say to them, “welcome, you are home”.
Church for kids
Children in church, not in Sunday school watching their parents but worshipping with their parents. Children who see by example what it is to follow Jesus. It is to create a space in the church where kids belong and are safe and loved.
Grace isn’t about rules and regulations. Grace isn’t about how many or which programs or how we look. Grace is about the power of God to change us from the inside out and the impact that has on our lives and the world around us.
We are not called to charge hell with a sword. We are not even called to charge the gates of hell with a AK-47. We are called to charge the gates of hell with a water pistol because God can do anything with a water pistol in the hands of those who love him with all their hearts, with all their minds, with all their souls, and with all their strength.
Go in peace
As we go about our daily lives may we remember the great price that was paid on our behalf. Let the gift change how we see ourselves, let the gift change how we see others, and let the gift set us free to be crazy enough to share the good news, not with condemnation and judgment but with love and acceptance.
I cannot expect people to live a different way if I am not willing to live a different way. Let my life give testimony to the power of grace to transform. Let people look at me and say, “there’s something different about them, they’re not like other people.”
We live in a dark and sometimes a very hopeless world, but we have the ability to be the bearers of light and hope. Not because we are better than anyone else, not because we have it all together, but because we have received a gift that is better than all our works put together. We have received a gift that has the power to change everything.
The Gift is Given
The gift has been given. The price has been paid. Now it’s up to us to receive it, live in it, and share it with the world. Are you ready?
Thoughts from Pastor Toney 