The Point of Grace

Grace is the revolutionary idea introduced by the death and resurrection of Jesus and handed down to us from those who saw him risen.  So what’s the point?  I recently went on a retreat where we visited a number of other religions, and it suddenly occurred to me that each one of these religions were (for the main part) self-centered.  In Islam, one prays, gives alms, makes the Haj, etc., to ensure one’s own salvation.  Some fundamentalists refuse to bathe often, for fear that their own nakedness will lead to impure thoughts.  Everything one does, it seems, is done for fear of punishment.  In Hinduism, one prays to specific gods to “get” specific things; your task in this life is to do your duty so that your soul can move higher in the next reincarnation.  In most faiths, I think, the “good deed” isn’t done for the benefit of the other, but for one’s own salvation.

Grace frees us from that cycle.  How?  Because grace says, “try, and when you fail know that your sins are already forgiven.”  That doesn’t mean (the early church was accused of this), “Go out and sin and don’t worry about it.”  It means “try to do well, but your salvation is not dependent on your own perfection.”

Now we are free to do good for others because they need it, and not for our own benefit or from fear.  Now, we give what we give because we want to help others, not because it is a command upon which our future hangs.  Now, the other is the point of our actions and our intentions, and not ourselves.  That’s the point of grace.

Oddly enough, the piece of scripture that I thought might directly contradict what I was thinking actually supports it perfectly.  “Continue to work out your salvation in fear and trembling,” was the piece I had in mind.  That, Phillipians 2:12.  But let’s add context.

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
 
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death —   even death on a cross!   Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.   Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life — in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.  But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me."

Phillipians 2:1-18

Okay, notice that “working out your salvation in fear and trembling” is half the sentence.  What’s the other half?  “Because God is going to smite you if you screw up?”  No, because the God of the Universe is working in and through you to achieve His purposes.  In other words, “guys, God has left this in your hands.  It's really, really important. Try not to screw up.”  AND, notice the text at the beginning:  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”  

That’s what I just said about what Grace frees us to do.  

As always, every time I think I’ve thought of some whoop-de-doo new spiritual insight, it turns out that it’s already there.  Anyway, go be free.