Hard Truth And Ridiculous Grace
I can’t dismiss God’s grace, and I won’t. If being right with God depends on how we measure up to the law, then the Anointed’s sacrifice on the cross was the most tragic waste in all of history! — Galatians 2:21 (The Voice).
“Grace is mentioned 170 times in the King James Version of the Bible, beginning with ‘Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord’ (Genesis 6:8 KJV). Jesus never used the word grace. God left that for Paul and the apostles, but if you want to describe grace in one word, it is Jesus. Grace (Jesus) is the answer for our guilt and failure. Grace (Jesus) is the strength we need to cope with life. Grace (Jesus) is the promise that gives us the hope that keeps us going.” — Barbara Johnson, Daily Splashes of Joy
As a former pastor's kid growing up in the church I used to hear a lot of words and phrases being tossed intermittently back and forth, most of which were almost like another language onto themselves. Words such as "fellowship," "share," "blessed and highly favored," along with many others somehow morphed into a category known as "Christianese," mainly because about the only time you might hear these words and phrases being uttered were in "religious" type settings. I remember as a teenager seeing and hearing "BIBLE," "FAITH" as acronyms--BIBLE being Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, FAITH as Fantastic Adventures In Trusting Him. There was another that really stood out, though it has taken the better part of my life to take hold of its meaning. That word? GRACE--God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
It sounds rather cutesy and admittedly it helped me commit this word to memory but what it didn't do was help me know it, live it, or experience it. It also is not a clear cut definition of what the grace of God really is.
I like to think of it as making a quilt, something I am neither skilled nor gifted to do but I have watched both my mom and my grandmothers piece one together. There are so many parts that go into its crafting; colors, styles of fabric, size, etc. When it is first pieced together it doesn't really look like much and yet the quilter knows what (s)he is working on is indeed a quilt. As it continues to be pieced together more of the dimensions can be seen and although they may be different it is still the same quilt. If that quilt were to be cut in half there may be two pieces in view but they are from the exact same quilt.
Grace...a quilt? Hmmmmmm...............................
As is the various parts and dimensions that come together to make a quilt are indeed the same whether they appear to be or not, the same can be said of the grace of God.
So many facets, so many cuts, so many dimensions of God's grace. Not only is the grace of God synonymous with the strength He daily gives us through His Gospel message ( Titus 2:11-14), it is also an integral part of our acceptance of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross:
" In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor."
Not only is there a connection between our salvation and His daily strength through His grace, there is also evidence of His gifts in Scripture. Consider 2 Corinthians 9:8--
"And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [b]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]."
Now, take a little walk with me over to Acts 4:32-35--"Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.
“Grace is mentioned 170 times in the King James Version of the Bible, beginning with ‘Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord’ (Genesis 6:8 KJV). Jesus never used the word grace. God left that for Paul and the apostles, but if you want to describe grace in one word, it is Jesus. Grace (Jesus) is the answer for our guilt and failure. Grace (Jesus) is the strength we need to cope with life. Grace (Jesus) is the promise that gives us the hope that keeps us going.” — Barbara Johnson, Daily Splashes of Joy
As a former pastor's kid growing up in the church I used to hear a lot of words and phrases being tossed intermittently back and forth, most of which were almost like another language onto themselves. Words such as "fellowship," "share," "blessed and highly favored," along with many others somehow morphed into a category known as "Christianese," mainly because about the only time you might hear these words and phrases being uttered were in "religious" type settings. I remember as a teenager seeing and hearing "BIBLE," "FAITH" as acronyms--BIBLE being Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, FAITH as Fantastic Adventures In Trusting Him. There was another that really stood out, though it has taken the better part of my life to take hold of its meaning. That word? GRACE--God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
It sounds rather cutesy and admittedly it helped me commit this word to memory but what it didn't do was help me know it, live it, or experience it. It also is not a clear cut definition of what the grace of God really is.
I like to think of it as making a quilt, something I am neither skilled nor gifted to do but I have watched both my mom and my grandmothers piece one together. There are so many parts that go into its crafting; colors, styles of fabric, size, etc. When it is first pieced together it doesn't really look like much and yet the quilter knows what (s)he is working on is indeed a quilt. As it continues to be pieced together more of the dimensions can be seen and although they may be different it is still the same quilt. If that quilt were to be cut in half there may be two pieces in view but they are from the exact same quilt.
Grace...a quilt? Hmmmmmm...............................
As is the various parts and dimensions that come together to make a quilt are indeed the same whether they appear to be or not, the same can be said of the grace of God.
So many facets, so many cuts, so many dimensions of God's grace. Not only is the grace of God synonymous with the strength He daily gives us through His Gospel message ( Titus 2:11-14), it is also an integral part of our acceptance of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross:
" In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor."
Not only is there a connection between our salvation and His daily strength through His grace, there is also evidence of His gifts in Scripture. Consider 2 Corinthians 9:8--
"And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need [b]be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]."
Now, take a little walk with me over to Acts 4:32-35--"Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.
And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.
Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales
And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need."
What a beautiful word...grace...
Salvation...strength...abundant gifting and favor...when a believer fully lays hold of this wonderful gift of grace, everything changes.
Why?
Grace...real, authentic, true grace...is the heart of God. It is His heart through Christ's love for us...something so much deeper than a cutesy little acronym given at Sunday School...
We are chosen...
We are NOT forsaken...
We are called by name...
We are NOT our past...
He is FOR us...
He is NOT against us...
We are His...
We are who HE says we are...
Sadly, the idea of God's "ridiculous grace" has been watered down into nothing more than an excuse to lead a sloppy life, resulting into empty words being muttered at bedtime or before the last meal of the day. More people than I am able to calculate, most if not all who claim Christ, are looking for some tiny shred of covering, some minuscule glimpse of assurance, that even though they are deliberately and blatantly choosing a path that's going to lead to all kinds of destruction God's grace will still be enough for them. After all, as Voltaire once said, "God will always forgive...that's his job." Therefore why even make the attempt to seek holiness and excellence? Why not live in the now, live for the moment, and bask in every pleasure possible, seeking forgiveness at the midnight hour?
The idea of grace is rejected in every other world religion, each holding to the premise that we are to make some sort of contribution toward our salvation, be it moral living, be it attempting to live and be better. In other words, it's a "self help" type of proposition which inevitably will restore us to God. This is where walking with Christ becomes radical; as a Christ follower there is not one thing you can do or not do to earn, merit, or deserve these gifts of salvation and grace. You cannot out-sin God. Most of all...and I am stressing most of all...there is nothing you or I can or will ever do that will keep His love from us; He will never love us any more or any less than He does at this moment in time!
"What shall we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God’s grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow?
Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
Are you ignorant of the fact that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious [power] of the Father, so we too might [habitually] live and behave in newness of life.
For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God].
We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.
For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men]."
--Romans 6:1-7 Amplified
Yes...grace changes everything...
Philip Yancey in his book "What's So Amazing About Grace?" shared how he had met with a friend who was giving serious thought to leaving his wife for someone else, a "newer model" as it were, someone with less years on her and who was more than easy on the eyes and renewed his spark for life. He knew that by making this decision he would leave a wake of devastation, pain, and brokenness. He knew his wife would be way past devastated. He knew his children would bear scars that would stay with them for the rest of their lives. He knew these things and I'm pretty sure a whole lot more. Even so, he looked at his friend (Yancey) and asked this question--"Do you think God can forgive something as awful as I’m about to do?’
Yancey then went on to say it was a little while before he could answer his friend's question. It seemed to just hang there like a heavy piece of tapestry separating the two men. After his third cup of coffee, this is what Yancey had to say--"Can God forgive you? Of course. You know the Bible. Forgiveness is our problem, not God’s. But what we have to go through to commit sin distances us from God…and there’s no guarantee we will ever come back. You ask me about forgiveness now, but will you even want it later, especially if it involves repentance? Can God forgive? Yes. Will you be the kind of person who wants God’s forgiveness? That’s another question entirely." (Yancey, P. 1997. What’s So Amazing About Grace? Zondervan Publishing)
In his song "Known" Tauren Wells describes grace like this:
It's so unusual it's frightening
You see right through the mess inside me
And you call me out to pull me in
You tell me I can start again
And I don't need to keep on hiding
You see right through the mess inside me
And you call me out to pull me in
You tell me I can start again
And I don't need to keep on hiding
I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You
It's so like You to keep pursuing
It's so like me to go astray, ooh
But You guard my heart with Your truth
The kind of love that's bullet proof
And I surrender to Your kindness, oh
It's so like me to go astray, ooh
But You guard my heart with Your truth
The kind of love that's bullet proof
And I surrender to Your kindness, oh
I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You...
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous grace
To be known fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You...
Hard truth and ridiculous grace...
...the heart of God through the love of Christ Jesus...
What are we doing with this sweet gift of grace?
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