“I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see!” are the words in which John Newton exults in his transformation from slave ship captain to forgiven child of God. His story is but one in millions. Even after Newton left the ships and slave trade behind, years passed before the Gospel truly changed the man and his destiny. For many years I was involved in ministry to men in prison. One of the more difficult aspects of that work is ‘jailhouse religion.’ Men how live in a rigidly controlled environment start going to church and pick up the language of the Bible. They claims to be morally reformed, ready to live differently on the outside. Within a week of their release, they have forgotten all the claims they made, all the Bible verses they read, and are back in their old ways. Why? Because they ‘got religion.’ They did not experience the Gospel’s grace!
If sin, at its root, is the attempt to establish myself apart from God, then salvation is discovering my true self in Him. Timothy Keller asserts that many people ‘are trying to save themselves by following Jesus.’ He goes on to explain. ‘It is possible to avoid Jesus as Savior as much by keeping all the Biblical rules as by breaking them. … Self-salvation through good works may produce a great deal of moral behavior in your life, but inside you are filled with self-righteousness, cruelty, and bigotry; and you are miserable. You are always comparing yourself to other people, and you are never sure if you are being good enough. … The devil prefers men and women who try to save themselves. They are more unhappy than either mature Christians or irreligious people, and they do a lot more spiritual damage.’ - The Reason for God
Religion restricts, regulates, and judges. It robs joy and celebration from life. True salvation in Christ Jesus liberates, creates, and accepts! Tragically, Christianity is too often known for pronouncements of judgment, for conflicts over who and what is right; than it is for bringing people the experience of the abundant life of which Jesus spoke. The Bible is so clear and so often ignored on this subject. Repeated the Word urges us to stop focusing on managing sin with rules and restrictions. Instead, we love Christ with our whole heart, living openly authentic lives before Him and one another because we believe and trust HIS grace.
Paul shouts a rebuke and challenge to those who would save themselves by moral religiosity.
"“Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 2:21-3:2, NIV)
The biggest difference between religion and grace is motive. Religion is fear-based and aims to escape Hell! Relationship is love-based and aims to gain Heaven! Ask many who claim to be Christian if they are really looking forward to Heaven and watch them stutter! They really are not anticipating Heaven because they do not love the One whose Throne is the center of that wondrous place. Untouched by grace, indifferent to the Spirit, they cannot conceive of leaving behind their pleasures, diversions, and things. Yet, because they fear eternal punishment, they cannot enjoy life to the full right now either. What a miserable existence.
Timothy Keller writes of the paradox of grace. “The most liberating act of free, unconditional grace demands that the recipient give up control of his life.” We find grace when we come humbly before Christ, often in complete despair, and release even our best efforts and highest achievements to Him, and trust only in the salvation that begins at the Cross and is completed at the Empty Tomb. In that moment, we become other-worldly, our highest hope fixed beyond this life. Ultimately, the rediscovery of salvation leads to the Resurrection which is the logical hope of those who know grace.
Here’s a word from the Word. I pray that the Spirit will make the words live in your understanding and draw to a re-discovery of salvation.
"And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man (Adam), so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven (Jesus Christ). I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable." (1 Corinthians 15:49-50, NIV) But, when we are raised like Him, we will say:
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:55-58, NIV)
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Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt!
Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss.
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty Cross.
Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide;
Whiter than snow you may be today.
Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within!
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Johnston, Julia H. / Towner, Daniel Brink
© Public Domain
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