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Grace, Works, and the Eternal Debate
The works vs. grace debate has been around since the 1st century Church. In that culture, of course, the argument was over issues such as circumcision, and intermingling with the Gentiles. Paul knew this best of all. He’d been given the specific task of bringing the Good News of the Gospel to the Gentiles. Upon meeting with Peter and James in Jerusalem, he discovered that they were having some trouble grasping a truly grace-centered faith. For instance, when other Jews weren’t around, James would eat at the table with the Gentiles. But when his Jewish brothers came to town, he would shun the Gentiles, and eat only with the Jews. And well... don’t get James started on the issue of circumcision! The way he sees it, if Gentiles want to be a part of his faith, then they need to show their allegiance by being circumcised. Paul, on the other hand... he just wants the Gentiles to know that Jesus will take them, just as they are. There no need to do anything to become a follower... only accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as an atonement for sins.
So maybe all this talk of Jewish rituals is a bit removed from our culture today. But the debate remains. Works or grace? Which is it? Paul is so bold to tell us that we can’t have it both ways. Either we accept grace freely, or we commit to the old Law. We can’t have a little law, and a little grace.
So why do non-Christians sometimes view Christ-followers as legalistic? Why do Christians today sometimes have a reputation for creating an atmosphere of exclusion? After all, what is it that Jesus came to do? He died to set us free from the Law, that we will not be bound to it anymore. By his sacrifice, Jesus opened the doors of salvation to every single person. In order to understand how we are to reach today’s “Gentiles”, we must take a look at the life of Jesus. Look back at the adulterous woman, the Samaritan woman at the well, and the criminal on the cross... the common theme in all of these stories is love. Jesus ushered in a brand new faith that was more about loving people than it was about rules and regulations. This makes a lot of us uncomfortable, doesn’t it? Do we accept more grace so that we can sin more? Paul says absolutely not! But we must begin to understand that grace is the origin of everything. The rest comes later.
It’s true that we will bear fruit as Christ-followers. Additionally, it’s imperative to remember how we get there. Many of us today have been taught what to do in order to be a good Christian. Follow the rules. Donate to charity. Serve at a soup kitchen. But do these deeds give way to grace? How many rules do we keep before we are saved? How much money do we give? How many people do we serve? This is not the road to salvation. But it is a result of the salvation that is born through grace. Here’s the deal: You and I have a sinful nature. We were hopelessly lost. Jesus recognized our weakness, and he loved us. He loved us not only in spite of it, but even because of it. He knew we could never get there on our own. Yet we still try today, don’t we?
Jesus loves you. Let that resonate. We’ve recited it so many times, it’s dangerously becoming an empty repetition.
He
loves
you.
Now that we’ve accepted that grace, our works will increase. If we truly grasp the height and width and depth of God’s love for us through Jesus, then it will be impossible for us to have idle hands! Our deeds will be an outpouring... a response to the perfect love and grace we so desperately need!
And the best part? God’s work is constantly growing in us. We don’t have to be perfect to make a difference or to serve in the Kingdom. Satan wants us to believe that God won’t use a broken vessel. Don’t buy it. Let God use you, faults and all. It’s ok to let everyone know you’re not perfect. God uses damaged people for His greatest work. So relax! There is freedom in Christ! So, along with our new grace mentality, where do we start? Remember what Jesus told us in Matthew 22: “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Let Jesus save you. Let God love you. And in turn, love on people.
Pass on the grace.
Article submitted Saturday, May 14, 2011 & read 8 times.
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